Harford Students Are Taking More AP Classes, Tests

Harford County Public Schools saw a 7 percent increase in participation in Advanced Placement assessments, and an 8 percent growth in SAT tests in 2011.

More than 4,000 students took AP classes in Harford County last year, with many taking more than one advanced class. Harford can also boast 1,585 graduates who took the SAT.

“As our Board of Education’s strategic plan shines a light on college readiness, we will work to build on the successes of our students with respect to the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) and AP coursework,” HCPS Superintendent Robert M. Tomback said in a release. “The increased level of SAT/AP participation in Harford County illustrates that our students understand and value the importance of these national tests as the foundation and keys to their future.”

One of every four Harford County 10th- through 12th-graders took at least one AP course, and one of every six took an AP exam.

More than 60 percent of the AP exams administered in Harford County were scored at the "college mastery level," which often qualifies students for collegiate course credit, according to the HCPS release.

Statewide, Maryland seniors scored slightly lower than last year on SATs.

Here's how Harford stacks up. The highest score possible in each category is 800.

According to The Sun, nine Marylanders scored a perfect 2400, and 4 percent of students scored at least 700.