Massachusetts officials say state has highest-ever AP exam participation and pass rates

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez said Massachusetts has the highest percentage of students taking and passing Advanced Placement exams of any state in any year, a result he called a milestone for students and the state’s education system.

"We're number one in the country on advanced placement exams," Commissioner Pedro Martinez said at a press event, adding that the state's result is 11 percentage points higher than the national average of 25%. He said the state is also the top-performing state for the percentage of Black students taking and passing AP exams and that overall AP participation continues to rise.

The announcement drew attention for its implications for college access and equity. Officials emphasized that passing AP exams can translate into college credit — potentially saving families money — and that expanding AP access is part of a broader strategy that includes early college programs and new, higher graduation standards.

Martinez described steps taken to expand opportunity: the state has subsidized exam fees for low‑income students and, he said, "so far, we've helped 50,000 low‑income students take nearly 91,000 exams." He framed the subsidies and course expansion as deliberate efforts to increase participation across racial and income groups.

Reporters asked whether recent College Board recalibrations or a press release indicating possible content issues affect the outcome. Martinez said any recalibration by the College Board applies to all states and described the College Board review process, adding that the department "feels pretty comfortable with the data that we shared today" and that officials will look into any discrepancy. The governor also noted the press office could provide additional detail.

Officials linked the AP results to other education priorities. The governor praised teachers and said investments in early learning, literacy and career‑technical programs complement AP and early college pathways. Martinez said raising graduation standards and continuing to expand course offerings should help narrow persistent gaps that existed before the pandemic.

The announcement did not include a statewide AP percentage expressed as a single figure in the press text beyond the comparison to the national average; officials repeatedly said they would stand by the presented results and that the press office can provide further detail if needed. The administration indicated it would follow up on any specific data questions raised by reporters.

Next steps: state officials said they will continue expanding AP access and early college options and will respond to data‑clarification requests through the press office.