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.