Davis has 3 of the top 10 HS in the state

Utah students again rank high on AP tests compared to nation
By Lisa Schencker
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 02/18/2008 06:23:43 AM MST

More Latino students in Utah are taking Advanced Placement tests, but more work still is needed to increase their participation and that of other minority students on the tests, a state education official said Wednesday.
    White students still accounted for most AP tests taken last year - 85.5 percent, according to data released Wednesday by the College Board. Latino students, who made up 8.9 percent of Utah high school students, accounted for just 5.4 percent of exams taken.
    But the College Board noted that while the state's Latino student population grew 29 percent over the past five years, their participation rate in AP testing more than doubled, from 237 in 2002 to 476 in 2007, a jump lauded by the Utah State Office of Education.
    "While it's good news, it's important to realize we all need to continue our efforts," until Latino and other minority students participate at the same rate as white students, said Associate State Schools Superintendent Larry Shumway.
    He attributed the jump in Latino students' participation to at least two things: counseling in junior high school that steers them toward the classes they'll need to eventually reach AP classes, and the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program in high schools, which targets female and minority students.
    The board's report noted 14,096 Utah students took a total of 22,609 AP exams in 2007 and that 14,891 of those tests came in with a score of 3, 4 or 5, which is good enough to earn college credit.
    That gave the state's public school students an overall pass rate of 65.9 percent, compared with the national passing rate of 57.2 percent.
    Utah students' passing rate on the tests ranks them ninth in the nation, according to the College Board.
    lschencker@sltrib.com
   
    Top 10 public high schools for passing rates on Advanced Placement tests:
    * Davis High School, Kaysville, 84%
    * Wayne High School, Bicknell, 83%
    * Brighton High School, Cottonwood Heights, 82%
    * Timpview High School, Provo, 82%
    * Viewmont High School, Bountiful, 81%
    * Bountiful High School, Bountiful, 80%
    * West High School, Salt Lake City, 80%
    * Skyline High School, East Millcreek, 79%
    * Bingham High School, South Jordan, 78%
    * Mountain View High School, Orem, 78%
    Source: The College Board