Md. ranks number 1 in AP scores, again

BALTIMORE (WMAR) - Maryland has ranked first in advanced placement success for the fourth straight year.

The College Board released it's annual report today on the Advance Placement (AP) program, and once again Maryland ranked on top.

In 2011, nearly 28% of Maryland seniors earned a score of 3 or higher on one or more of the AP exams, the highest in the nation and 1.5% better than 2010, according to the College Board's "Annual AP Report to the Nation." .

A score of 3 or higher is the threshold at which many higher education institutions award college credit for high school students in an AP assessment.

Maryland placed second to Florida in the total percentage of seniors completing an AP exam.

"Rigorous high school programs prepare our students for success in both college and careers, and we have a proud history of encouraging our students to get involved in AP and other high-level academics," said Interim State Superintendent of Schools Bernard J. Sadusky. "We seek to give our children a formidable foundation in learning, which will give them countless options down the road."