Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District students again earn top scores on AP, IB exams

 

Challenges posed by the unexpected mid-semester switch to distance learning didn't deter students in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District from again earning top scores on Advanced Placement examinations and International Baccalaureate evaluations for 2020.

In fact, the number of AP examinations taken by freshman through senior students at the district's four comprehensive high schools increased to 4,443 from 4,260 last year, the previous record high.

Passing scores at each high school this year easily outdistanced the just-under 60% pass rate posted on the more than 4.5 million exams administered to all AP students globally in 2019.

Exams were administered in up to 26 of the 32 AP subject areas during a two-week May 11-22 window, with students generally answering timed essay-type questions with computers, instead of the hand-written multiple-choice and essays mixtures required in past years.

A passing score – three or higher on a five-point scale – can earn university-level credit and allow students to bypass introductory courses, with decisions on credit and placement made by individual universities.

Here's how the four high schools fared, according to district-provided data:

El Dorado: 934 tests were administered in 21 subjects, up from 880 tests in 24 subjects last year. Hawk pass rate was 79% this year, 80% last year and 79% on 861 tests in 2018.

Esperanza: 709 tests were administered in 23 subjects, down from 726 tests in 26 subjects last year. Aztec pass rate was 77% this year, 81.5% last year and 80% on 703 tests in 2018.

Valencia: 1,684 tests were administered in 26 subjects, up from 1,652 tests in 28 subjects last year. Tiger pass rate was 87% this year, 86.7% last year and 87.8% on 1,531 tests in 2018.

Yorba Linda: 1,116 tests were administered in 23 subjects, up from 1,002 tests in 27 subjects last year. Mustang pass rate was 85% this year, 91% last year and 88% on 992 tests in 2018.

Some schools offer AP classes beginning the freshman year. For example, at Valencia, 162 mostly ninth grade students took the Computer Science Principles exam, posting a 95% pass rate.

And again this year, the most popular exam was English Language and Literature, administered to mostly juniors: 132 at El Dorado, 118 at Esperanza, 226 at Valencia and 132 at Yorba Linda.

The International Baccalaureate program at Valencia posted a 94% pass rate, with 394 out of 421 evaluations earning a four or higher on a seven-point scale.

Students were evaluated in 20 subjects, based on internal assessment, the teacher's predicted grade and statistical analysis and trends of prior testing years, according to longtime program coordinator Fred Jenkins.

A total 61 of 62 students earned the full IB diploma for 2020 for a 98% pass rate, much better than the 78.75% worldwide rate. Jenkins noted 78 seniors are candidates for the full diploma in 2021 and 101 current juniors in 2022.