NPS Students Achieving Success On Advanced Placement Exams

NEWARK, N.J. – The percentage of Newark Public Schools students who earned a score of three or higher on Advanced Placement (AP) exams grew by 30 percentage points over the last five years, according to data released by the College Board.

In Spring 2025, 1,723 district students took AP exams, a substantial increase of 1,014 from 2023, and more than three times the 514 students who took AP exams in 2021.

Meanwhile, 51 percent of test-takers earned a score of three or higher on the exams’ five-point scale, higher than the 42 percent who met the threshold in 2024 and more than double the percentage of students who scored three or higher in 2021.

A score of three or higher is a gateway to college credit. Many colleges recognize this threshold and award credit in the respective subject area, saving families valuable tuition dollars.

The Newark Public Schools outperformed the New Jersey state average across our high schools on the following AP Exams: AP Seminar (Global Studies and Science Park), AP Literature (Arts), AP 3-D Arts and Design (Arts), AP Digital Art (Arts), AP Language (Science Park and Technology), AP African American Studies (Arts, Science Park, and Weequahic), AP U.S. History (Science Park and Technology), AP Psychology (Science Park), AP Biology (Science Park), AP Statistics (Science Park), AP Spanish Language (Arts, Barringer, Central, East Side, Science Park, University, and Weequahic), AP French (Central and Science Park), AP 2-D Arts and Design (Arts and East Side), AP Drawing (East Side), AP Pre-Calculus (Data Science, Science Park, and Technology), AP Calculus AB (East Side, Science Park, and Weequahic), and AP Calculus BC (East Side and Science Park).

“This achievement is proof that Newark Public Schools students are more than ready to meet and exceed the highest academic challenges,” said Superintendent León. “The growth in both participation and performance on AP exams reflects the talent, commitment, and perseverance of our students, the dedication of our teachers, and the support of our families. Together, we are building a culture of excellence that prepares every student for college and beyond.”

“The success of our students on AP exams is a testament to the vision of our district and the hard work happening every day in our classrooms,” said Board of Education President Hasani K. Council. “When more students are not only taking on rigorous coursework but also excelling, it shows Newark Public Schools is moving in the right direction. We are incredibly proud of our scholars and grateful to the educators and families who continue to support them.”