The Impact Of Advanced Placement (ap) Participation And Success On School-wide Student Achievement

The purpose of this study was to investigate two research questions concerning: (a) the relationship between the percentage of students within a high school who participated in the Advanced Placement program and the school-wide student achievement of a high school and (b) the relationship between the percentage of students within a high school who successfully performed in the Advanced Placement program and the school-wide student achievement of the high school. It was determined in this study that there was a statistically significant relationship between Advanced Placement (AP) student participation and school-wide student achievement and there was a statistically significant relationship between AP student performance and school-wide student achievement in public high schools in the state of Florida in the 2007-2008 school year. Additionally, information was provided for policymakers and practitioners regarding the impact of Advanced Placement on school-wide achievement and the impact on students outside the AP program. While AP participation and AP performance correlated with school-wide achievement, when the population and data were disaggregated into the most affluent, middle-income, and poorest schools, the results changed. For the poorest schools, there was no relationship between AP participation and school-wide student achievement. In the middle income and most affluent schools, however, there was a statistically significant relationship between AP participation and school-wide student achievement. Additional confirmation that Advanced Placement, as part of the overall curriculum, had a significant impact on school-wide student achievement was provided. Further research is necessary to understand the implications of the AP program on schools of various socioeconomic levels