In Nov. 2023, Business Insider reported that low-income students are failing Advanced Placement (AP) tests in droves, while College Board, the test administrator, is raking in profit.

According to reporter John L. Dorman, “increasing access to AP coursework has been a significant part of the organization’s work over the past 20 years. And part of that push by the AP has been to increase the number of low-income students taking courses and exams, which requires a significant educational and financial investment.”

Though some schools do waive AP testing fees, a majority of public schools require a testing fee, often to the tune of $98 per test. Those who are below the poverty line, however, can have that fee reduced (previously, the fee was waived, but in 2023, College Board announced the fee would be reduced to $36 per exam). College Board earns $5-6 million per year on AP testing, Dorman claims.

The New York Times reported on high failure rates on AP tests as early as 2010; the College Board is transparent about these rates and posts them on their website. Depending on the test, anywhere from 15-30% of students do not earn a passing score (3). Fewer earn a 4 or higher, which is typically the score necessary at (some) public universities to earn college credit for the equivalent class.

“[Taking AP tests] depends on what you want to do, for example, if you want to do something in the physics field then AP Physics will help you,” junior Fenil Patel said. Patel is a student currently taking AP Physics 1 and took the AP World History test last year.

However, Dorman alleges, “The performance levels for low-income test-takers has not dramatically shifted from the early 2000s: 60 percent of students from this demographic group only earned a 1 or 2 out of a possible 5 on the exam, which precludes them from earning college credit for the AP course.”

These numbers are supported by a Nov. 2023 investigation by The New York Times and a 2020 data analysis study conducted by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.

The State of Illinois claims its students lead the nation in AP test performance, and in West Chicago, approximately 68% of students pass their AP tests with a score of 3 or higher.

“We’ve have almost 600 exams total taken last year for AP classes. Sixty-five percent of our test takers [are] receiving a three or above. So really good, good numbers that we’re proud of,” Dr. Will Dwyer, West Chicago Community High School Principal, said.

As is the case nationally, students who qualified as low-income performed at a slightly lower standard than those who are not considered low-income. The average score among WEGO students who qualified for fee reduction was 2.84, while the average score among those who did not was 3.12.

Looking at the whole picture, however, the results are promising, according to Dwyer.

“We’re above the national average – in terms of our state and national average – with our scores, and our overall number of kids get a three or higher,” Dwyer said.

A 2016 research report published by College Board notes achievement gaps between students with and without fee reductions, but found that students who take an AP test – regardless of whether they pass – are more likely than non-AP test takers “to have higher likelihood of enrolling, persisting, and graduating from four-year colleges.”

Each year toward the end of spring, students at WeGo prepare for exam season, with many high achieving students cramming for AP tests, PSATs, SATs, and the Illinois Science Assessment, juniors having to take the latter two of these exams back to back. All this testing can be quite stressful to students, especially for those who have a plethora of obligations outside of school, which lower-income students may have more of, considering some do work to support themselves and sometimes even their families.

“I think [AP tests] are worth the time and money because it provides new insights for high school students and is a great challenge to make you stronger in your academics,” freshman Niyati Patel said. Patel is currently taking AP Human Geography and AP Computer Science Principles.

While the school does offer SAT prep during the second semester, it comes at a price: $350 for 8 classes, once a week.

WCCHS has looked into other options to prepare students for college, such offering as more dual credit courses with the College of DuPage, but that comes difficulties as well.

“One of the challenges with that is we have to have a willing partner in our community college, they have to be willing to certify that the teacher we have in whatever content or it might be meet their standards that they would have for a college professor on their campus. Unfortunately, us as well as all of the high schools in DuPage County, we struggle a little bit with the College of DuPage and getting them to agree to grant dual credit status to a lot of our classes,” Dwyer said.

It can also be challenging to find cost-effective options outside of the College Board’s curriculum since they have such a considerable presence in high schools and higher education.

“The College Board is the organization that most colleges in the country that have decided for those exams, SAT, Advanced Placement, that those are the exams that they will use, as one of their parameters to measure whether or not a student will be successful as a student at that university, or whether or not they should give that student credit before they attend that university,” Dwyer said.