Miami-Dade County Public Schools is one of 477 school districts in the U.S. and Canada being honored by the College Board with placement on the 4th Annual AP District Honor Roll for increasing access to AP course work while simultaneously maintaining or increasing the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP exams.
Reaching these goals indicates that the district is successfully identifying motivated, academically prepared students who are likely to benefit from rigorous AP coursework. From the AP Honor Roll, three AP Districts of the Year are selected, one for each category of district population size (small, medium, large), for their achievements in equity and excellence.
Among schools with large-size populations, Miami-Dade County Public Schools achieved higher increases in AP participation and performance than any other district in the United States over the past three academic years. These successes in increased AP access and performance are particularly noteworthy among the district's traditionally underserved student populations.
"Receiving the Advanced Placement District Award validates Miami-Dade's focus on the importance of educating students to be future leaders of our global economy," said Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho.
Miami-Dade's success is an example of why it is important to provide the opportunity for a wide range of students to participate in rigorous Advanced Placement courses, without an institutional fear of performance outcomes. During the period from 2011 to 2013, Miami-Dade County Public Schools increased the percentage of AP students earning a 3 or above on at least one AP Exam by 5 percent annually, with 46 percent of their AP students scoring 3 or above in 2013.
There was also an increased percentage of traditionally underserved minority AP students earning a 3 or above on at least one AP Exam by six percent annually, an increase of 1,561 students last year.
"Opening access to AP course offerings empowers students to engineer their own paths into a world requiring a sophisticated global skill set. Our AP students and their teachers have met this intellectual challenge, once thought to be insurmountable and made it their reality," said Carvalho.
"We congratulate the dedicated educators within Miami-Dade County Public Schools for achieving AP access and opportunity among its large student population," said Trevor Packer, senior vice president of AP and Instruction at the College Board.
"This award is likely to inspire other educators across the nation who also believe that a more diverse population of students is ready for the sort of rigor that will prepare them for success in college."