Number of AP Test Takers and Scores Are Up, but Racial Gap Persists

By Beckie Supiano

The number of high-school students taking Advanced Placement examinations continues to rise, as does the number of students who perform well on them, according to a report released on Wednesday by the College Board. Yet College Board officials expressed concern about the participation rates and performance of minority students, particularly African-Americans.

The College Board, a nonprofit association, administers 37 different Advanced Placement, or AP, exams that let