More Hawaii public school students are getting high scores on their Advanced Placement exams than ever before, according to a recently released national College Board report. 

The report shows that participation is up, too.

The College Board defines AP success as receiving a three or higher on an exam. The tests are based on a five-point scale.

Roughly 11 percent of the state’s graduating class scored a three or higher on an AP exam last year. That’s compared to a national rate of 20 percent.

Despite the lower-than-average success rate, AP expansion in Hawaii has garnered national recognition, a state Department of Education press release says.

About 4,700 Hawaii public school students took roughly 6,700 AP exams in the 2011-2012 school year, according to the press release. About 2,600 students got threes or higher. 

Over the last five years, DOE schools have seen a 48 percent increase in AP exams taken and a 35 percent increase in the number of students scoring 3 or above. Mililani High School led the state with students scoring 3 or above on 398 exams last year. Other high schools enrolling large numbers of students in AP courses and posting high scores include Campbell, Moanalua, Roosevelt and McKinley high schools.

The country at-large saw a 30 percent increase in the number of test-takers and an 18 percent spike in the number of students scoring a three or higher.

The press release also points to higher rates of AP participation among lower-income students. In 2012, 756 low-income Hawaii students took at least one AP exam, up from 553 in 2011. About a third of the low-income students last year scored a three or higher, up from 195 in 2011. 

AP courses are offered in 34 subjects. Students who score a three or higher are typically eligible for college credit in that subject. 

Click here for the national AP report and here for Hawaii-specific results.

Courtesy of gruntzooki

— Alia Wong