Bossier, Caddo School Districts Improve in AP Scores

The Louisiana Education Department has released 2014-15 numbers on Advanced Placement scores, and both Bossier and Caddo Parish Public Schools have shown marked improvements.

The Bossier School System is being singled out as a leader in the state for its 2015 scores. The number of high school students taking AP courses increased last school year, as did the number who scored a three (our of a possible five) or higher on exams.

DOE says the district's scores rank among the top in the state. A total of 1,140 students in Bossier took AP exams in 2014-15, marking a 41% increase over the previous academic year. In 2012-13, only 291 students took AP exams.

In other statistics, 304 students scored a three or higher on the AP exams, a 50% increase from just one year ago. Of those, 81 took multiple AP exams and scored a three or higher.

"I want to applaud both our students and teachers for these outstanding results," said Bossier Schools Superintendent D.C. Machen. "This is also indicative that investing in public schools by increasing student access to AP courses and providing professional development for teachers is truly a win for the betterment of our community."

In May 2014, Bossier Schools was awarded a nearly $1-million grant by the National Math and Science Initiative to exand the AP program.

In Caddo Parish, students set records this year, earning nearly 1,500 college credit hours. District high schools saw a 13% increase in students passing AP tests, with 41.4% scoring a three or higher on this year's exams -- the highest percentage in the region and nearly 10% higher than the Louisiana state average.

Schools such as C.E. Byrd High and Caddo Magnet High continue to lead the region in advances. Results show Byrd students saw a single-year increase of 20.4%, with 53.7% of students passing AP exams. At Magnet High, students scored the highest in north Louisiana, with 70.7% of students taking exams and scoring a three or above.

Credits earned by Caddo Parish students taking this year's AP exams will save families an estimated $362,000 in tuition costs.

"Our students and staff have worked diligently to not only increase access to AP coursework, but numerous opportunities for earning college credit while in high school," said Caddo Schools Superintendent Lamar Goree. "Today's results demonstrate our continued commitment to progress and show a sizable gain in students who now will enter college with credits already completed."