College Board and Project Lead The Way recognize over 3,000 students with AP + PLTW Student Achievement
INDIANAPOLIS – More than 3,000 high school students across the country successfully completed an Advanced Placement® (AP®) and Project Lead The Way (PLTW) pathway, signifying their readiness for college and careers, the College Board and PLTW announced this week. The second year for student recognition shows tremendous growth across numerous categories:
- The number of students receiving the AP + PLTW Student Achievement more than doubled to 3,047 students.
- The number of students earning recognition in more than one pathway increased more than 300 percent, from 18 to 75 students.
- Two students are the first to receive the recognition for the AP + PLTW Computer Science pathway.
“The AP and PLTW pathway is one of the best ways to prepare and propel students into STEM careers, particularly for the 9 million STEM jobs opening up within the next decade,” said Trevor Packer, senior vice president of AP and Instruction at the College Board. “The strong increase in participation shows students see the value in working toward both college and career success.”
Students from 48 states earned the AP + PLTW Student Achievement, emphasizing their depth of knowledge and applied learning and skills. States with the highest number of students earning the AP + PLTW Student Achievement are as follows:
- California – 402 students
- Maryland – 340 students
- Texas – 330 students
- Illinois – 291 students
- Indiana – 192 students
“Students must have relevant learning experiences that combine content knowledge with real-world applications to thrive in our rapidly evolving economy,” said PLTW President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Vince Bertram. “These students have demonstrated they are prepared to succeed in their post-secondary endeavors and position themselves for our country’s most in-demand jobs.”
The AP + PLTW pathways focus on computer science, engineering, and biomedical science and combine PLTW’s hands-on, applied learning programs with the advanced coursework of AP courses to give students both the applied and academic learning they need for college and career success.
To receive the AP + PLTW Student Achievement, students must earn three qualifying scores in a pathway: one AP Exam score of 3 or higher; one PLTW End-of-Course assessment score of Proficient or higher; and a third qualifying score of either 3 or higher on the AP Exam or Proficient or higher on the PLTW End-of-Course assessment.
To date, students have submitted nearly 20,000 total applications for the AP + PLTW Student Achievement. These credentials will be sent to colleges and universities across the country as evidence of the students’ commitment to learning and achievement. Students currently pursuing an AP + PLTW Student Achievement should submit their completed application by June 30, 2018, for recognition in fall 2018. For more information, visit https://www.pltw.org/our-programs/ap-pltw.
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a nonprofit organization that provides a transformative learning experience for K-12 students and teachers across the U.S. PLTW empowers students to develop in-demand, transportable knowledge and skills through pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. PLTW’s teacher training and resources support teachers as they engage their students in real-world learning. More than 10,500 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia offer PLTW programs. For more information on Project Lead The Way, visit pltw.org.
The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of over 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education. Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success — including the SAT® and the Advanced Placement Program®. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators, and schools.
For further information, visit collegeboard.org.
###
Media Contacts:
Jennifer Erbacher
PLTW Senior Director of Communications
(317) 669-0871
jerbacher@pltw.org
College Board Communications Office
communications@collegeboard.org
212-713-8052