Data from the College Board, shows the racial gap that exists in AP exams is narrowing in Arizona. For example, African-American students made up a 12% greater share of Arizona's student population in 2007 than they did in 2002, but the share of students taking AP exams who were African-Americans jumped by 63% during the same period. Latino students grew 18% as a share of the student population from 2002-2007, but 41% as a share of those taking AP exams. Those scoring a 3 or above did not increase by as much as those taking the exams, however, but it at least indicates schools (or somebody) is encouraging more students of color to take AP exams, with many passing.
The state still lags the nation in the percent of students who take AP exams, which is not a good sign if we intend to be the Sillicon Desert and not a minimum wage wasteland.
The rural blog The Daily Yonder points out that rural students are less likely to take AP exams. This is a big issue for rural economic development, since AP exams indicate a head start on college, and a head start on better jobs. But it is a chicken or the egg argument: are there not good jobs in rural areas because people don't go to college, or do people not go to college because (at least if they intend to stay in their community) they don't see a need to do so for the low wage jobs available in their community?
Arizona still lags the nation in the percent of students who take AP exams, which is not a good sign if we intend to be the Sillicon Desert and not a minimum wage wasteland.
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When I was teaching high school English AP in the fall of 2005, I went to a conference of AP teachers at ASU Polytechnic in Mesa, and there was a big push on to get more minority representation in AP classes. I was really impressed with a Tucson high school teacher who presented; he had amazing scores from his (almost entirely Latino) AP students. (But that movie was made years ago.)
Arizona is at the bottom of the states in education. I've taught for over 33 years, with classes in 6 states, and I'd say the state is the worst. On most rankings it never rises above 48th.
The truth is, if you have kids and you want them to have a future, I'd advise you to move if you can sell your house without taking too much of a loss and move to a more progressive state. Like Alabama or Kentucky.
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