Superintendent of Schools SUBJECT: A LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PSAT SCORES AND AP ENROLLMENT STATUS

Research Services has completed a longitudinal study of the relationship between Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test scores (PSAT) and subsequent year Advanced Placement (AP) enrollment status for Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) students. Specifically, tenth grade students who participated in the PSAT in 2001-02 or 2002-03 were examined to determine whether these students enrolled in an AP course in the following school year. The attached Research Brief examines the relationship between PSAT scores and AP enrollment status within the district, and whether this relationship varied across high schools. Additional analyses were conducted to examine whether student enrollment in specific AP courses was related to PSAT Mathematics and Verbal subtest scores. The findings detailed in this report demonstrated progress towards the Superintendent’s objective of increasing enrollment in rigorous upper level courses. This progress was attributable to the Area Superintendents ’ and Principals ’ emphasis on using PSAT test scores to assist in guiding students into AP enrollment. Results revealed a dramatic increase from 2002-03 to 2003-04 in the proportion of tenth grade PSAT students enrolled in an AP course in the following school year. For example, 46% (n=495) of 2001-02 tenth grade students with high scores on the PSAT Mathematics subtest enrolle