Every year, I take some time to look at Advanced Placement Test pass rates (Prior years posts are here and here). Advanced Placement (AP) tests are highly sought-after courses that some colleges honor for college credit. Most colleges only honor credit for a score of 4 or 5 on the test.
The California Department of Education released barebones data on these tests – simply releasing the number of tests that received a certain score. It would be nice if they released data that was broken down by subject, but no – it really is just a headcount. So all we can glean from this is simply a pass rate – the number of tests passed (with a score of 4 or 5) divided by the number of total tests taken. Below, are the top
Not only that, the scores are released a year late! This data is for the 2017-18 school year. It was released in February 2019, but I have been busy, so this is the first time I have had a chance to look at it.
The districtwide AP pass rate is 21%. But I always like to go school by school and see what stories it tells.
Here are the top 20 schools by AP Pass Rate:
Of course what jumps out of this data is the number of magnet schools, charter schools and schools with predominantly privileged student populations. There are 6 independent charter schools, 4 affiliated charter schools, 4 wall-to-wall magnets. 13 of them have more privileged populations than the rest of the district.
But before you start trying to argue that charters are the solution, you should know that 6 of the lowest 10 schools were also charter schools. In fact, of the school with a 0% pass rate, 4 of the 5 are charter schools. So don’t go extrapolating willy-nilly now.
The districtwide average on AP pass rate is 21%.
But some of the more interesting stories are buried in the data. Here are some:
- Bell High school had a pass rate of 12.5% on 1,605 tests. That is the 5th highest number of tests. Similarly Francis Polytechnic gave 1,455 tests and had a pass rate of 14.6% These schools are giving a LOT of tests, and probably offering a variety of AP tests, but their results are below the district average.
- Many charter networks had extremely mixed track records. Alliance, for example had their Stern campus with a 28% pass rate, while their Schmidt campus had a 6% pass rate.
- Several years ago, many large campuses were divided into smaller schools. But this seems to have simply created greater achievement gaps within the schools. For example, Marquez High in Huntington Park, has LIBRA academy with a 21% pass rate and the Institute of Applied Medicine, which has a 4% past rate.
I think the best way to interpret this data is to go community by community. In some neighborhoods, charter schools outperform the transitional school. But in others, they do not. For example, in Highland Park, Franklin High (10% pass rate) outperforms the closest charter, Academia Avance (2% pass rate). Still, 10% is below the district average. It’s a lot to unpack.
To facilitate more of these comparisons, here is a link to look at all the schools in LAUSD.
Nerd,
Welcome back. It hasn’t been the same without you.
And now that you have returned, you are stealing my thunder. Why do so many charters and magnets “perform” better? You nailed it:
“Of course what jumps out of this data is the number of magnet schools, charter schools and schools with predominantly privileged student populations. There are 6 independent charter schools, 4 affiliated charter schools, 4 wall-to-wall magnets. 13 of them have more privileged populations than the rest of the district.”
Attention education reformers: Wealthier students “perform” better in school. Other students are highly motivated due to positive conditions at home. And others overcome all sorts of hurdles due to unknowable factors. (See Occam’s Razor)
Are schools and teachers factors? Of course. But the almost religious reliance on data to qualify their impact and effectiveness for the past 20 years has led us down a path of destruction for public education. I’m hoping more people are beginning to see the correct light.
For education-reform types who are seeking dogma, the best I can do to satisfy them is to alter a quip from former Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart: “I don’t know how to judge good teaching exactly, but I know it when I see it.” Let’s start there, try it for 20 years, and compare notes.
I think what we need from you now, Nerd, is a name change.
How about “School Common Sense Nerd?”
Now that’s a name I would have faith in.