More Leander ISD Kids Took Advanced Placement Exams In 2019

LEANDER, TX — More Leander ISD students students took Advanced Placement exams in 2019, with the total number of AP exams taken reaching a new high, school district officials said.

In 2018–19, Leander ISD saw a 6 percent increase over the 2017–18 school year in the number of AP exams taken, with an identical increase in the number of students testing, outpacing the district’s 4% student enrollment growth.

LISD reported that 4,709 students took 9,086 AP exams in 2019, up from the 4,453 students who took 8,538 exams in 2018. The percentage of students who met criteria (scoring a 3 or higher) remained consistent at 71 percent, officials added.

LISD also achieved a 48 percent rating on the College Board’s Equity and Excellence indicator. This indicator represents the percentage of LISD’s students in grades 10–12 who scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam, as well as the percentage of the senior class who scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam during high school, officials explained.

Because of LISD’s efforts to grow the AP Program, 1,576 students earned 1,649 AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the 2019 AP Exams, district officials said. The growth represents an 11 percent increase from the previous year’s AP Scholar distinctions. One of the most prestigious of the awards is the National AP Scholar for which a student must earn an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams and 4 or higher on at least 8 AP Exams. LISD had a 56 percent increase in this award category.

— Leander ISD