Glen Cove Advanced Placement program sees record growth

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Glen Cove High School’s Advanced Placement program was in the spotlight during the Board of Education meeting on January 8, as administrators presented a comprehensive five-year analysis of student performance. The data revealed significant growth in participation, higher test scores, and recognition from the College Board, reflecting the district’s efforts to cultivate a strong college-going culture.
Dr. Alexa Doeschner, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology, opened the presentation by emphasizing the district’s goals. “We strive to increase the number of students taking AP exams and help them succeed,” Doeschner said. “The College Board correlates success in college with the number of APs students are exposed to in high school. That’s why we introduce students as early as ninth grade to these opportunities.”
Participation in Glen Cove’s AP program has risen steadily over the last five years. In 2024, a record 318 students took 639 exams, a jump of 100 exams from the previous year. This represents a significant increase compared to 2020, when 215 students took 401 exams. The percentage of students scoring a three or higher—a benchmark for college credit—also improved to 70.13%, rebounding strongly from a dip during the pandemic in 2021, when it fell to 59.81%.
In science and math, students have shown consistent gains. Dr. Doeschner pointed to AP Environmental Science, which is predominantly taken by ninth-grade students. “Not only have we seen a rise in the average score to 2.9, but we’re also surpassing the global average of 2.8,” she said. Similarly, students in AP Calculus BC achieved an impressive mean score of 3.75, indicating mastery of one of the most rigorous high school math courses.
In the humanities, AP U.S. History and AP World History students outperformed global averages, scoring mean scores of 3.6 and 3.21, respectively. “It’s inspiring to see our students not only meet but exceed international benchmarks,” noted Dr. Doeschner.

Language courses also stood out, with AP Spanish Language and Culture students achieving an average score of 3.64, above the global average of 3.54. While some subjects, such as AP Statistics and AP Literature, experienced slight dips in average scores, the district is actively analyzing this data to strengthen instructional practices.
Glen Cove High School was recognized on the College Board’s AP School Honor Roll, earning a Bronze designation overall. This honor reflects the school’s commitment to expanding AP access and helping students achieve college readiness. The school excelled in “College Optimization,” receiving the highest Platinum distinction for the percentage of students taking five or more AP exams during their high school careers. “This Platinum recognition underscores our focus on preparing students early, with ninth-grade courses like AP Environmental Science and AP Human Geography playing a key role,” said Dr. Doeschner.
The school also celebrated its AP Scholars, with 126 distinctions awarded to students. Among these were 56 AP Scholars, 11 AP Scholars with Honor, and 28 AP Scholars with Distinction, reflecting steady growth since 2020. Additionally, students earned prestigious AP Capstone Diplomas and AP Seminar and Research Certificates, demonstrating their ability to conduct in-depth research and analysis.
“These honors are not easy to achieve,” Doeschner noted. “Our students are scoring at least a 3.5 on five or more exams, showing their dedication and hard work. It’s truly amazing to see their accomplishments.”
“We’re thrilled to see more students challenging themselves,” said Superintendent Maria Rianna. “As a district, it’s been our goal year after year to encourage more children to take AP courses and to prepare them for success. The data proves that our efforts are working.”