Education in America - Part V: The AP Tests

This is part five of a six–part series. You can also review , , or .

ExxonMobil informs us that participation in the National Math and Science Initiative raised scores on the AP tests by 138 percent. What does that really mean?

AP (Advanced Placement) scores, unlike SAT scores, are simple and straightforward and run from a 1 to a 5—you might compare that to the common A-through-F grading scale, with 1 being an F and so on. As an example, the actual composite scores for Calculus (of importance to our conversation about math and science) are:

• 1 = 0-24 (No recommendation to receive college credit)
• 2 = 25-39 (Possibly qualified to receive college credit)
• 3 = 40-54 (Qualified to receive college credit)
• 4 = 55-69 (Well qualified to receive college credit)
• 5 = 70-108 (Extremely well qualified to receive college credit)

Are you ready for some more bad news?  While it is possible to receive college credit for a 2, it is highly unlikely; in fact, many colleges do not even give credit for a 3 but require at least a 4 and in some cases a 5. For instance, in Latin, considered a difficult subject, a 3 would possibly be accepted but in an easier subject, such as Economics, a 5 is required.

Of 3 million exams administered in 2011, 67 percent were at a 3 or below, and thus ineligible for college credit. Of the remaining 33 percent, 19 percent scored at 4 and 14 percent scored at 5.

Now to the hard numbers, and I hope this doesn’t get too bogged down, but I think it is important to understand the ExxonMobil graphic and the 138 percent improvement boast. The highest score possible in Calculus is 108. The highest achievable score possible still leaving room to improve 138 percent and not rise above 108 is 45. Any score above 45 would rise above 108 with a 138 percent improvement, so is not possible. It is highly unlikely that the training yielded an average perfect score of 108 so we have to assume that the average score was originally below 45. How much lower, I don’t know. This I do know: A 45 is below the halfway mark of the middle of a 3 and I believe it is safe, and honest, to assume that the average score of those not part of the improvement group was in the 2 category.

Here’s my point: 138 percent improvement is a pretty significant gain, almost two-and-one-half times better, so the scores of those not in the study group must have been pretty sad. The conclusion I’m left with in this whole scoring snafu is that if you can more than double your score (100 percent is a doubling) and still remain within the scoring range your score must have been pretty poor to begin with.

There are many ways to improve the scores of those tested and thereby raise the educational level of our test subjects but I thought the over $16,000 per pupil/per school year already being spent in GT was supposed to educate our children. How much more do we have to spend to achieve a reasonable level of academic proficiency?

I’m actually still looking for “the missing link” in all this. Here’s the disconnect in my mind: AP scores are a measurement of students testing for their suitability to enroll in college-level courses while the E-M Mickelson and Sally Ride initiatives (to be discussed in Part VI) are geared toward training upper-elementary and middle-school teachers. While we may not be talking apples and oranges here, we’re at least talking red delicious versus yellow delicious apples.

The bottom line I take away from this all is “Let’s raise academic standards across America.” This is the answer to our problem after how many years and trillions of dollars funneled into our public educational systems? If the present system isn’t working how long do we deny reality and continue to attempt to prop it up all the while demonizing those who opt for private or charter schools? Additionally, must we feel un-American and demonized by the teachers' unions because we might object to raising taxes ever higher and higher to prop up a failing system? When do we finally admit we need a complete overhaul?

Stay tuned for part six, where I discuss whether the ExxonMobil initiatives are enough and attempt to tie this all up.