Maryland again top-ranked in Advanced Placement

The College Board has announced that Maryland students have achieved yet another top national ranking in Advanced Placement (AP) success.

"Because of the better choices we've made together to invest in our children's future, we've built the #1 public schools in the nation," said Maryland Gov. O'Malley in response. "Thanks to our hardworking students, our dedicated educators and our outstanding parents, Maryland's high school students have achieved the nation's best performance on AP exams for seven years in a row - outperforming their peers and gaining the skills they need to learn, earn and grow in the future."

O'Malley said that among the most important investments to be made is public education. He said it's paid off.

"Even in the toughest times, we've chosen to increase school funding 45 percent since 2006. Those investments are giving our principals, our teachers and our students the resources to continue to lead the nation in graduation rates, student achievement and the highest participation rate in AP science, technology, engineering and math exams in our state's history."

According to the College Board's "Annual AP Report to the Nation," the percentage of Maryland seniors who earned a score of 3 or higher on one or more AP exams reached 28.6 in 2012, the highest percentage in the nation and an increase over the 27.9 percent tallied in 2011.

The percentage of Maryland graduates scoring a 3 or better on the exams has nearly doubled in the past decade.  In 2002, 16.5 percent of Maryland's graduating seniors received at least a 3 on an AP exam.