Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District placed on The College Board’s 8th Annual AP District Honor Roll

The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD) has been named to The College Board’s 8th Annual AP District Honor Roll for the second time – previously in 2011. This recognition comes as a direct result of increased participation and access to Advanced Placement (AP) course work while additionally increasing or maintaining the percentage of students scoring a 3 or higher on AP Exams.

According to The College Board, just 447 school districts in the United States and Canada were named to the 8th Annual AP District Honor Roll, with less than eight percent of recognized school districts located in the state of California. As a result, PYLUSD stands as one of only four school districts in Orange County and one of only 34 school districts in California to receive this matching distinction.

“We are extremely proud of the opportunities our Board of Education has continued to support throughout the years,” shared Deputy Superintendent Candy Plahy. “Our teachers and site administrators work diligently to ensure students have access to rigorous AP courses and are successful in completing and passing AP Exams.”

Since 2015, PYLUSD has significantly increased its participation and access to AP Exams. Over the last three years, an additional 246 students took rigorous college level coursework, increasing the number of exams administered by 441 while maintaining an overall 85% pass rate. Substantially, these totals exceed the 4% growth threshold required in large school districts like Placentia-Yorba Linda.

Set forth by The College Board, inclusion on the 8th Annual AP District Honor Roll is based on the examination of three years of AP data from 2015 to 2017 using the following criteria:

— Increased participation/access to AP by at least 4% in large districts, at least 6% in medium districts, and at least 11% in small districts;

— Increased or maintained percentage of American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students taking exams and increased or maintained the percentage of American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students scoring 3+ on at least one AP Exam; and;

— Improved performance levels when comparing the percentage of students in 2017 scoring a 3 or higher than those in 2015, unless the district has already attained a performance level at which more than 70% of its AP students are scoring a 3 or higher.

“This recognition truly belongs to those who work closest with our students to help nurture college and career readiness through AP and many other offerings,” Plahy expressed.

The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District is honored to have received the AP District Honor Roll recognition as it reflects the district’s steadfast vision of preparing each and every student for success now and in the future.

Click here to see The College Board’s 8th Annual AP District Honor Roll list.