VIDEO: Dallas minority students set the AP curve

“Some colleges might actually give credit, they would give credit three credit hours for an AP exam score. So, it’s good for kids,” Dr. Ann Smisko, assistant superintendent.

Advanced Placement, or AP, exams have been around since the early 1950s. Today the exam, which is administered as an end of course test, gives students the opportunity to earn college credit.

“I have a great passion for math, so it was an easy course for me to take,” said Kenneth Bailey.

Not all students would agree that advanced placement calculus is easy. Kenneth Bailey, a senior at Lincoln High School, who tested in classes like government, chemistry and English 4 Literature scored well in a number of courses. Smisko says, he was not alone.

“In particular, our Dallas minority students outperformed their peers in other urban districts,” said Smisko.

The numbers impressed top administrators, and here’s why.

1,557 AP exams were passed with a score of three or higher, earning the district’s minority students 7,000 college hours, which is a total cost savings of $2.1 million in college tuition.

“They’re graded from one to five, and a three on that exam is considered a qualifying exam which means it’s a good score,” Smisko said.

But that’s not all.

The results also show these students are twice as likely to pass an AP math or science exam.

“The class I scored the highest in was AP calculus,” said Bailey.

Scores he plans to propel his career in civil engineering.