A Relational Study Between Advanced Placement Courses And Students’ Academic Achievements In America

The Advanced Placement Program(AP)in the United States was developed about 50 years ago.A vast majority of high schools have continuously offered AP course since then.At the same time,scholars have consistently examined effect of AP courses on students’ academic achievements.Researches mainly focus onthe number of AP courses high school students complete and theeffect of AP courses on student high school completion.In recent years,more and more scholars examined relationships between AP courses and students’ college academic achievement.In past several years,high schools in China started offering AP courses.Some of them offered American AP courses,and others worked with Peking University and Tsinghua University to develop their own AP courses.Whileit seems that high schools are excited about this opportunity,some scholars questioned if AP courses help students improve their academic achievements,and if it is,how effectively Chinese universities and high schools can collaborate on course development,and probably more importantly,how universities may use AP grades in college admissions evaluation.To help answer these questions,this study examines if there is a significant difference in AP course offering among high schools,and if there is a relationship between AP course offering and students’ academic achievements.The study uses descriptive analysis and multiple regression analysis models to analyze the differenceinAP courseoffering among193 public high schools in California,andto explore the relationship between AP courseoffering and university admissions,and the relationship between AP course offering and academic performance at college.The results show that:1)On average,high schools located in suburban areas offer more AP courses overall,and in different subject areas(e.g.,History,Mathematics,etc.)than those located in urban and rural areas.Controlling for school size and school rankings,suburban high schools offer significantly more AP courses overall,and in subject areas(history/social science AP courses,mathematics AP courses,language other thanEnglish AP courses,visual &performing arts AP courses and college-preparatory elective AP)than urban and rural high schools do.2)On average,high schools at highschoolrankings offer more AP courses overall,and in different subject areas(e.g.,History,Mathematics,etc.)than those at middle and low school rankings.Controlling for school location and school size,high schools at high school rankings offer significantly more AP courses than those at middle school rankings,and high schools at middle school rankings offer significantly more AP courses than those atlow school rankings.And high schools at high school rankings are more likely to offer mathematics AP courses and laboratory science AP courses.3)The more graduates a high school has,the more AP courses it offers.Controlling for school location and school rankings,thenumber of graduates has significant positive correlation with AP course offering.4)AP course offering in high schools has significant positive correlation with applicants,matriculates,admission rate,the first school year GPA,college graduation GPA and graduation rate in the University of California.Controlling for the variables of school location,school size and school rankings,the regression analysis results show that AP course offering in high schools has significant positive correlation with applicants,matriculates,admission rates and college graduation rate.5)Students’ high school GPA has significant positive correlation with matriculates,admission rate,the first school year GPA,college graduation GPA and graduation rate in the University of California.Controlling for school location,school size and school rankings,the regression analysis results show that students’ high school GPA has significant positive correlation with the first year semester GPA and graduate GPA.The study recommends that China should encourage more high schools to participate in the AP program and provide more opportunities for high school students to learn advanced knowledge and experience college course teaching.It also recommends that for those schools that have offered AP courses or will consider offering AP courses,it would help students develop their skills in different areas if AP courses cover all subject areas.Finally,as more students take AP courses overall,universities may use student achievement as one of many admissions criteria to evaluate student academic preparedness.It is important to note that the number of AP courses different schools offer varies,so universities should use this criterion with caution.Otherwise,it may result in an issue with inequality.