Michigan's public school students are not just hitting the books—they're setting new records while they're at it. In a testament to their academic prowess, a historic number of students in the state have taken and excelled in Advanced Placement (AP) exams this past year. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) reported that 65,906 students dove into college-level material through AP courses, marking an increase of 4.5% from the previous year.
The numbers certainly paint a picture of success. According to data from the College Board released by the MDE, 49,708 students scored between 3 and 5 on the exams—grades considered to signify at least a qualified understanding of the course material. This is up by an impressive 11.2% from 2024. What's more, the total number of exams taken was 118,219, a step up from last year's 110,901. This flurry of academic activity underscores the state's commitment to expanding learning opportunities and boosting high school graduation rates.
Interim State Superintendent Dr. Sue C. Carnell noted, per the Michigan Department of Education, "These programs prepare students for higher education or the work world while engaging them in learning in areas of interest, which in some cases prevents students from dropping out." Efforts to promote the benefits of AP classes by the MDE, including mailing letters to parents of high schoolers identified as likely to succeed in AP courses, have borne fruit as participation numbers swell.
It's not just about increasing numbers, but also about fostering equity and access. Dr. Pamela Pugh, President of the State Board of Education, highlighted that "AP participation and success are also on the rise for students of color, which demonstrates that we are making progress when it comes to equity." Data shows a significant upward trajectory in participation and scoring among Black and Hispanic or Latino students, with a 13.9% and 3.2% increase in participants, respectively, from the previous year, per the Michigan Department of Education.
