Peabody High AP Students Score Above State, National Averages

Peabody High students continue to make great gains in Advanced Placement courses that will better prepare them for college, according to a recent report from Mass. Insight Education.

The Mass. Math & Science Initiative is the largest statewide high school AP math, science and English education program and now partners with 66 high schools to strengthen and expand AP course offerings, while increasing both enrollments and scores. On the North Shore, Salem High, Salem Academy and Danvers High have also teamed up with Mass. Insight.

The Boston-based nonprofit reports that the largest increase on participation at PVMHS over three years of the program is in AP science – 38 up to 258 students or 578 percent – while the biggest increase in scores is in English – 15 up to 83 qualifying scores or 453 percent.

There has also been a 300 percent growth of students who scored 4s and 5s (college level As and Bs), going from 33 to 132.

Peabody began its partnership with Mass. Insight in 2009 after receiving a privately funded five-year grant for $640,000.

While financial incentives within the initiative targeted at both teachers and students initially generated criticism from the teachers’ union, the AP program at Peabody High has undoubtedly blossomed in the past three years. Annual reports have shown a year-over-year uptick on enrollments and exam scores, while more AP courses have also been added to the curriculum.

The MMSI approach includes extensive teacher training and mentoring, Saturday study sessions and other academic supports for students, but the most unique and controversial component has been the performance-based rewards.

Teachers and students receive cash rewards for hitting certain goals under performance agreements, participating schools sign with MMSI, which include specific enrollment and achievement targets.

Mass. Insight and school officials shared the latest report with students last month to kick off the new school year.

Prior to MMSI, only 99 students were enrolled in AP math, science and English courses, but that number soared to 284 in 2010 and continued a sizable climb to 379 in 2011 and 441 in 2012. The projected enrollment at this time is 449 for 2013. That’s an increase of 372 percent over four years.

In terms of actual exams taken in those three years, the numbers are: 275, 372 and 428.

And that’s not all, reports Mass. Insight.

In order to earn college credits on the AP, students have to score 3 or greater on their spring exams (5 being the top score). In 2009, only 66 students scored 3 or greater, while that number likewise climbed to 133 in 2010, 171 in 2011 and 246 in 2012. The goal for 2013 is 280.

Those scores actually put PVMHS juniors and seniors significantly above state and national performance averages on the AP, according to data from the College Board.

In the United States, only 140 students per 1,000 juniors and seniors scored a 3 or greater on an AP math, science or English exam in 2012. In Massachusetts, that number increased to 203. But based on Peabody students’ performance that year, 275 would have scored as highly on AP exams.

Mass. Insight also broke down the scores by low-income students, minorities and females and all three categories showed significant gains.