Advanced Placement Biology Scores: A Comparison of Scores for White and Hispanic Students from California, Texas, and Arizona

Abstract

The performance of White students and Hispanic students from California, Texas, and Arizona on the Advanced Placement (AP) Biology exam were compared using archival data from the College Board from 2016 through 2019. Pearson chi square tests yielded statistically significant differences in all four-year comparisons of White and Hispanic students in all three states. White students from California had the highest percentage of students earn a 3 or higher for all four years, Arizona had the second highest percentage of White students earn a 3 or higher for all four years, and Texas had the lowest percentage of White students earn a 3 or higher for all four years of comparison. Hispanic students from Arizona had the highest percentage of students earn a 3 or higher for all four years, California had the second highest percentage of Hispanic students earn a 3 or higher for all four years, and Texas had the lowest percentage of Hispanic students earn a 3 or higher for all four years of comparison. It was discovered a majority of White students who took an AP Biology exam, from 2016 to 2019, earned a passing score (3 or higher), while the majority of Hispanic students who took an AP Biology exam failed to earn a passing score (3 or higher), that would result in college credit. Implications of these findings are discussed. Key Words: AP Biology, Hispanic students, College Board