Of students who took Advanced Placement (AP) examinations last spring at TMI – The Episcopal School of Texas, 83 percent received qualifying scores of 3, 4 or 5 on a scale of 1 through five. Of these qualifying scores, 65 percent merited the two highest score points. By comparison, only 18.1 percent of students nationwide received scores of 3 or above in 2011 (the most recent year available).

AP courses are college-level courses, for which high-school students may earn college credits by qualifying with scores of 3 and above. Administered by the College Board, AP exam scores are reported on a five-point scale as follows: 3, qualified; 4, well-qualified; and 5, extremely well-qualified.

During the 2011-2012 school year, TMI students took AP courses in subjects including Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, English, European History, Government, Physics, Spanish, Statistics, Studio Art and U.S. History. Of the 174 students from last year’s sophomore, junior and senior classes who took a total of 174 AP exams, two-thirds earned the highest possible score.

“Advanced Placement results are one indicator of the excellence of the work done by our teachers and students,” said Bob Ridewood, Upper School division head. “We congratulate not only the AP students and their teachers but all the teachers who helped prepare our students for this kind of academic success.”

More than 90 percent of four-year colleges and universities accept AP credits, enabling students to complete requirements and to move into major studies faster.