TRENDS IN ADVANCED COURSE EXAMINATION TAKING BY ETHNICITY: A MULTI-YEAR TEXAS STUDY

In this investigation, we analyzed trends of Texas students by ethnicity who completed one or more Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations over the past 11 years. Archival data on students enrolled in traditional Texas high schools who took these exams over the past 11 years were obtained from the Texas Education Agency. The percentage of students who completed an examination has increased over the past 11 years, although achievement gaps by ethnicity persist and have widened. Statistically significant differences were present in the percentages of students who scored at or above the criterion with large effect sizes. Implications of our results and suggestions for future research are provided.