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AP pass rate rises to 64%; district outlines OnRamps and dual-credit participation and supports
Summary
Administrators reported improved AP performance (64% pass rate, up 15 percentage points), 263 students in OnRamps with college-algebra performance at 29% eligibility for UT credit, and 2,525 students enrolled in traditional dual credit. Trustees pressed for increased AP exam participation and more financial support.
Dr. Shannon Ramirez presented district results for advanced-academics programs: 762 individual students were enrolled in AP courses (1,018 course seats) for 2025-26, and the district recorded a 15 percentage-point increase in AP performance to a 64% pass rate (scores of 3, 4 or 5 on AP exams).
Ramirez described supports put in place for AP students and teachers, including use of the Albert online resource, AP teacher meetings, AP preparedness courses, and student test-prep weekends. "We increased our AP performance by 15%. We are at a 64% pass rate," Ramirez said. She also said the district reimburses students who pass AP exams and offers payment plans and grant-help options to reduce financial barriers.
OnRamps (the University of Texas dual-credit program) enrolled 263 students in 470 OnRamps courses. Ramirez reported variable eligibility for UT credit by course: chemistry 100% eligible, computer science 91%, physics 94%, physics lab 88% and college algebra 29% eligible. She said college algebra has been identified for targeted supports rather than removal, with a professional-development plan for the first-year teacher and additional University of Texas webinars.
Trustees and administrators discussed a gap between course seats and AP exams taken (about 504 tests taken against the number of seats), with trustees asking whether exam fees and the opt-out policy contribute to lower participation. Ramirez said the district asked students to take exams, provided subsidized fees for low-income students, offered payment plans, and waived fees in extreme need cases; administration intends to provide counseling resources and grant information before school starts.
Trustees asked the administration to bring data about whether students opted out of AP exams for financial reasons; Ramirez said she would request that information from college-and-career counselors. Trustees expressed an interest in setting clearer expectations that enrollment in an AP course should include taking the exam when feasible.
