Mississippi has set another record in education, this time with Advanced Placement exam scores being the subject of positive news. During the 2024-25 school year, 11,393 Mississippi public school students took 16,145 Advanced Placement (AP) exams, with a record high of 9,155 exams earning a qualifying score.
The rate of exams achieving a qualifying score reached an all-time high of 56.7%. AP exams are rigorous, standardized tests developed by the College Board — a nonprofit membership organization of schools, colleges, and other educational institutions that provides standardized tests and materials to support college readiness and admissions — that students take in high school to demonstrate mastery of course curricula at the next level.
Compared to 2023-24, the numbers mark an 8.4% decrease in students taking AP exams, an 8.8% decrease in tests taken, and an 18.4% increase in passing scores on exams. Since 2013, the overall number of Mississippi students taking AP courses and passing AP exams has more than doubled, the state’s Department of Education reports.
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Research shows AP students are better prepared for college and more likely to graduate in four years than their counterparts who do not take AP courses. Mississippi is one of 37 states that has established a consistent statewide AP credit policy. Mississippi’s AP policy entitles students who score three or higher on an AP exam to earn at least three college credits at any public university or community college in the state.
The Mississippi State Board of Education requires all high schools to offer and enroll students in advanced courses, including AP classes, in the four core subject areas of English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Participation in AP and other accelerated courses is a factor in school and district accountability grades.
