AP test participation up 16.2% over prior year in Mississippi

AP test participation up 16.2% over. AP test participation up 16.2% over prior year in Mississippi.

Key points

• Education Bianca Vasquez Toness, Associated Press October 1, 2026.
• The number of students in Mississippi taking AP courses and passing the associated exams has doubled overall since 2013.
• The book, Do What Works, features a chapter by Governor Tate Reeves and Dr.
• Offering accelerated courses such as AP classes plays into accountability scores the Mississippi Department of Education assigns to districts and schools.
• Narcotics unit investigating Ole Miss deaths urges Mississippi lawmakers to act on state's controlled substance laws.

Notably, the number of students in Mississippi taking AP courses and passing the associated exams has doubled overall since 2013.

More of Mississippi's public school students are taking advantage of advanced placement courses. It education leaders say helps them not only prepare for college but provides necessary college credit.

All public schools in the state are required to offer AP courses. The courses provide students who earn a three or higher on the AP exam with college credit that can be referred to a university or community college.

Meanwhile, the Mississippi Department of Education stated Monday that the number of students taking AP exams rose by 16.2% during the 2025-26 school year when compared to the year prior. Passing scores on those exams rose by 12.6%.

"I would like to congratulate the students, parents and teachers who worked hard to be approved for advance placement, " House Education Committee Chair Rob Roberson (R) informed Magnolia Tribune. "They deserve all the credit for this. I look forward to the day that we need more teachers for advanced placement and it's the norm not the exception."

Meanwhile, the Department of Education documented that 13, 233 public school students in the state were administered close to 19, 000 AP exams during the 2025-26 school year, of which 10, 305 earned a qualifying score.

Thirty-six other states in the nation have a statewide AP credit policy. Students who perform well can save funds on their higher education as AP courses are available in the subject areas of English Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies.

Offering accelerated courses such as AP classes plays into accountability scores the Mississippi Department of Education assigns to districts and schools. Districts can additionally receive funding to assist cover the cost of AP exams taken by low-income students. Regarding the Author(s).

Jeremy Pittari is a lifelong resident of the Gulf Coast. Born and raised in Slidell, La., he moved to South Mississippi in the early 90s. Jeremy earned an associate in arts from Pearl River Community College and went on to attend the University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned a bachelor's of arts in journalism. A week after Hurricane Katrina, he began an internship as a reporter with the community newspaper in Pearl River County. After graduation, he accepted a full-time position at that news outlet where he covered the recovery process post Katrina in Pearl River and Hancock Counties. For almost 17 years he wrote concerning local administration, education, law enforcement, crime, business and a variety of other topics. Email Jeremy: [email protected].

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Taken together, the developments around AP test participation up 16.2% over prior year in Mississippi point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.