O.C. Seniors Near the Top of Class in Placement Tests

Orange County’s high school students are scoring above the state average on advanced placement tests, an important indicator of students’ potential for success in college, according to figures released Wednesday.

In Orange County, 35 of every 100 juniors and seniors who took the exam last year passed, compared to the statewide average of 23.7 of every 100. To pass, students must score at least a 3 on the exams, which are rated on a scale of 1 to 5.

The exams, which can earn students college credits and are indicators of how well they could do in higher education, are rigorous because students are allowed to skip certain college classes if they pass.

“Orange County has one of the highest results in the state,” said Barbara Wilson of the state Department of Education’s Program Evaluation and Research Division. “The county has really high academic standards, and it shows in the academic placement results.”

Fifteen school districts in the county offer the advanced placement tests. According to state figures, only two of the districts--Santa Ana and Garden Grove Unified--did not exceed the state average.

In both the Irvine Unified and and Los Alamitos Unified districts, 70% of the students tested scored passing grades.

Advanced placement classes and exams are offered at four high schools in Irvine Unified, said district assistant superintendent Bruce Givner. Increasing numbers of students in the district have been taking the exams in the hope of bypassing costly college classes, he said.

“Advanced placement is a great way for the students to get a head start in college,” Givner said. “We have teachers and parents who are encouraging students to take the exams. Parents are paying for tutoring. And students know they can get some of their college credits out of the way.”

Students are allowed to take advanced placement classes in their junior and senior years. Those who pass the tests can earn college credits in 24 subjects, including physics, calculus and literature.

California high school students showed impressive gains compared to national figures. In the past six years, the statewide average of students passing advanced placement tests was nearly double the national average of 12.7%.

Demographically, the state statistics also show that more minority students are passing the exams. Since the tests began in the 1984-85 school year, the number of Latino students who earn passing scores have increased by 253%, followed by a 207% increase among black students, 169% among American Indians and 114% among Asians.

TRENDS IN ADVANCED PLACEMENT PERFORMANCE

Number of exams passed per 100 students.

1984 1989 1990 STATE AVERAGE 9.5 20.3 23.7 COUNTY AVERAGE 12.3 30.7 35.0 Anaheim Union High * * * Brea-Olinda Unified 13.8 43.7 44.1 Capistrano Unified 15.5 48.0 48.0 Fullerton Joint Union High 7.3 32.9 34.6 Garden Grove Unified 4.0 11.4 15.5 Huntington Beach Union High 13.8 27.9 35.0 Irvine Unified 29.7 64.9 73.2 Laguna Beach Unified 10.0 39.1 62.4 Los Alamitos Unified 35.4 54.7 71.2 Newport-Mesa Unified 20.2 37.6 41.3 Orange Unified 9.8 30.4 33.9 Placentia Unified 12.1 35.6 42.1 Saddleback Valley Unified 14.4 35.9 38.0 Santa Ana Unified 6.0 17.1 21.2 Tustin Unified 17.3 27.3 24.7

* Anaheim Union does not release advance placement data.

Source: State Department of Education.