Black Student Performance on Advanced Placement Exams: Differences by State

• In Event: Students and Schools: Race, Class, and Gender Issues

Abstract

In this investigation, the overall performance of Black students in Texas, New York, and Florida on Advanced Placement (AP) exams was analyzed for the past 16 years. Through analyzing the College Board data for Black students in these three states across this year time period, statistically significant differences were present for all comparisons. Texas consistently had the lowest overall AP exam performance, with Black students in New York having the best performance. Negative cost effectiveness ratios were present for Black students in all three states for each of the 16 years and increasingly negative in Florida and Texas. As such, this lack of equity for Black students delineated in this study is well aligned with the 2013 AERA Conference Theme.

Authors

• Carolyn Davis, Houston Community College-Southwest

• John R. Slate, Sam Houston State University

• George W. Moore, Sam Houston State University

• Wally Barnes, Sam Houston State University