By Joanna Miller, Correspondent 

Prior Lake High School students have shown an increase in the percentage of Advanced-Placement (AP) tests taken over the past three years.

Principal Dave Lund said the school saw a 25 percent increase in students taking the AP tests to receive college credit in 2008, compared to 2007.

As well, the number of students tested has risen over the years, from 148 in 2006 to 232 in 2007 and 290 in 2008.

To earn college credits, students must score a three or higher, the threshold used by most colleges to award college credit for the coursework. Students may take up to three AP courses, Lund said, with most students taking two or fewer AP courses.

In 2006, 239 AP exams were taken by PLHS students and 166 tests were passed, at a 69 percent passage rate. In 2007, 328 AP exams were taken by PLHS students with 229 tests passed, or a 70 percent passage rate.

Lund said the rate increased again in 2008, with 480 total tests taken and 346 passing with a 72 percent passage rate.

The local increase mirrors statewide data from the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, which shows a more than 6 percent increase in the number of Minnesota students taking AP tests. The data also shows a nearly 8 percent increase in the number of students scoring a three or higher on the exams.

 Joanna Miller can be reached at jmiller@swpub.com.