AP Distinction

The results are in, and it was another extraordinary year for Jesuit High School’s Advanced Placement (AP) program, with record-setting results across the board in 2015-16.

The school announced its highest-ever pass rate (84%) on the AP exams taken this May, while also continuing the tremendous growth and expansion of the AP program. During the 2015-16 school year, Jesuit offered more AP courses (20) with more students enrolled in AP than ever before – 346 students taking 693 exams.

An amazing five AP courses at Jesuit earned perfect 100% pass rates, and two others were near-perfect (99% and 98%).

“Once more, our AP scores reflect the commitment of our teachers and students to academic excellence,” said Debbie Pacheco, Jesuit’s assistant principal for academics. “As we continue to expand our AP program and become more inclusive, our scores continue to increase. I could not be more proud.”

The 100% pass rates were achieved in the two AP art classes taught by Kevin Ball ’03 (Art: 2-D and Studio Art: Drawing); the two AP math courses taught by Molly Biebel (Calculus AB and Calculus BC); and in AP Psychology taught by Bill Eggert ’77.

In AP testing, scores are reported on a 5-point scale, with a score of 3 or better considered passing. American colleges and universities typically grant placement and course credit to students who obtain high scores on the examinations.

Jesuit's AP results compare favorably to national and state averages. Of all AP tests taken nationally in 2015, 57.5% earned a passing score (3 or better). Of all AP tests taken in Florida in 2015, 50.4% earned a passing score.

Jesuit's AP Psychology and Calculus scores are particularly outstanding. This is the first year AP Psychology was offered at Jesuit, and Eggert taught three sections, with every student passing the AP exam.

The two AP Calculus courses achieved the highest average score of any Jesuit AP course. Calculus AB students averaged 4.9, and Calculus BC students averaged 4.8. Of the 50 students who took either Calculus AB or Calculus BC, 46 earned the highest possible score of 5.

Human Geography (taught by Vindri Gajadhar, and pictured on the homepage), Jesuit’s lone AP course for freshmen, achieved a 99% pass rate. Last year, in the first year of AP Human Geography at Jesuit, the pass rate was 98%. AP English Language, taught by Greg Malafronte ’05, had a 98% pass rate this school year, after scoring a 100% last year.

Among the other very high AP exam pass rates at Jesuit this past school year are Statistics (95% - teacher April Bombka), Chemistry (94% - teacher Debbie Pacheco), Spanish Language (92% - teacher Juan Cruz), English Literature (88% - teacher Paul Davis), Biology (86% - teacher Amy Martin), and Latin (83% - teacher Nick Werner).

These exemplary results are occurring as Jesuit has significantly expanded its AP offerings and vastly increased AP enrollment:

• The 693 exams taken by Jesuit students in 2016 is a 62% increase over 2014 (429), and more than triple 2009 (223).
• The 346 students enrolled in AP courses in 2016 is a 65% increase over 2014 (224), and nearly triple 2009 (125).
• The 20 AP courses offered in 2016 is four more than last year (16 in 2015) and more than double seven years ago, 2009, when Jesuit offered 9 AP courses.
• Jesuit’s overall pass rate of 84% is up 28 points from 2009 (56%) and is three points higher than Jesuit's previous best, 81% in 2014. 

Jesuit’s AP test protocol maintains the integrity of the school’s pass-rate data, since all enrolled AP students at Jesuit must take the AP exam in that course. (Some schools allow students in AP courses to opt out of the AP test.)

For the 2016-17 school year, Jesuit is continuing its Advanced Placement development with the implementation of AP Capstone, an innovative program offered by fewer than 2% of high schools nationwide that allows students to develop the research, collaboration, and communication skills vital to future success, and to earn an AP Capstone Diploma.

Developed as a response from higher education faculty and college admissions officers, AP Capstone complements the in-depth, subject-specific rigor of AP courses and exams. AP Capstone consists of a two-course sequence: AP Seminar and AP Research. Students who complete AP Seminar and AP Research with scores of 3 or higher, and receive scores of 3 or higher on four AP Exams in subjects of their choosing, receive the AP Capstone Diploma.

For more information on Jesuit’s AP Capstone program, click here.

AP scores are reported on a 5-point scale, with a score of 3 or better considered passing:

5 = extremely well qualified
4 = well qualified
3 = qualified
2 = possibly qualified
1 = no recommendation

"Qualified" means the test taker is capable of doing the work of an introductory-level course in a particular subject at college. Most colleges and universities grant credit and placement for scores of 3, 4, or 5.

The Advanced Placement program, created by the College Board, offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. The AP curriculum for each of the various subjects is created for the College Board by a panel of experts and college-level educators in that field of study.