Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Most Acceleration Students Perform Well, But Outcomes Vary by Program Type

Report 06-25, March 2006




Report Summary

  • Over a third of high school seniors who graduated in 2001-02 took at least one accelerated course during high school. The availability of these courses, which include Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Dual Enrollment, varies substantially among school districts and schools, as does student participation.
  • Most (71%) of these students earned the test scores and grades needed to become eligible to receive college credit. However, this outcome varied substantially among the programs. Only slightly more than half (54%) of AP students took and passed the exams needed to be eligible to earn college credit for their courses. In contrast, almost three-quarters (73%) of the IB students took and passed their qualifying exams, and while 91% of the students participating in dual enrollment earned high school credit, 86% earned college credit.
  • Compared to other states, Florida had the highest participation rate for AP exams in 2004 but relatively low pass rates for AP exams in 2004. Florida had the highest number of IB participants in the nation, and was among the top 10 states in student performance on IB exams.


Related Reports
  1. University Students Benefit from Acceleration Courses, But Often Retake Math and Science Courses
    Report 09-30 June 2009
  2. More Than 17% of Acceleration Courses and Exams Do Not Result in College Credit, Which Costs State Almost $6 Million
    Report 09-21 March 2009
  3. Modifying Advanced Placement Program Incentive Funding Could Produce Significant Cost Savings
    Report 09-12 February 2009
  4. Student Participation in Acceleration Programs Has Increased; Legislature Has Taken Steps to Reduce Program Costs
    Report 08-70 December 2008
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
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