Maryland public high schools offer the highest percentage of college-level courses in the nation, according to Newsweek magazine's June 15 analysis in its annual "America's Top High Schools" issue.
In previous issues, Newsweek deemed states with big populations the top achievers. But since it accounted for each state's size, Maryland ranks first with 29.5 percent of schools offering college-level courses - more than 5 percentage points higher than the second-place state, Virginia.
FOR THE RECORD - An article in Wednesday's editions contained the incorrect number of schools in Baltimore County cited by Newsweek magazine for providing a high percentage of college-level courses. There are nine. The Baltimore Sun regrets the error.
These results reflect the total number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Cambridge tests given at a school in May, divided by the number of seniors graduating in May or June, according to Newsweek. The courses are designed to better prepare students for college.
Three of Baltimore City's schools made what Newsweek calls "The Challenge Index," along with seven in Baltimore County, 10 in Anne Arundel, four in Howard, and two each in Carroll and Harford.
"We're very excited about it and, in some ways, not totally surprised," state schools Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick said. She emphasized the state education department's close relationship with the College Board and its efforts to push even more students into higher-level courses.
Grasmick said she's also "pleased" because state schools have eliminated any achievement gap for Hispanic students and narrowed the gap for African-American students.
Hispanics totaled 6.1 percent of Maryland's population last year, and 6.9 percent of the seniors who scored 3 or higher on the AP exam were Hispanic, said Bill Reinhard, the state education department's spokesman. African-Americans were 38 percent of the population, compared with the 9 percent who scored 3 or higher last year.
