Students in Highland Park ISD are taking more advanced placement tests and performing better on the exams, the district’s board of trustees heard during an Aug. 12 meeting.
HPISD students took 3,878 advanced placement tests in 2025, and received passing scores of at least 3 out 5 on 85% of those exams.
The number of tests taken by HPISD students has risen by almost 700 since 2021, when students took 3,188 tests. Passing rates have grown by more than 20% in the past five years. The percentage of passing exams increased from 80 to 85% between 2024 and 2025, according to a presentation from deputy superintendent Shorr Heathcote.
Advanced placement exams measure students’ mastery of college level material. Many colleges and universities grant credit for scores of 3 or higher on the exams, though some top schools require a score of a 4 or 5, or accept the scores for class placement but do not award college credit.
Click HERE to view the entire presentation given at the Aug. 12 meeting. Highlights of students’ performance on AP exams included:
- English Language and Composition: 96% of 347 testers passed the exam in 2025. 77% passed in 2024.
- English Literature and Composition: 90% of 311 testers passed the exam in 2025. 85% passed in 2024.
- English Language Arts Seminar: 100% of 55 testers passed the exam in 2025. 96% passed in 2024.
- Calculus AB: 91% of 151 testers passed the exam in 2025. 94% passed in 2024.
- Calculus BC: 100% of 68 testers passed the exam in 2025, the same percentage as in 2024.
- Biology: 100% of 102 testers passed the exam in 2025. 98% passed in 2024.
- Chemistry: 100% of 82 testers passed the exam in 2025. 97% passed in 2024.
- Environmental Science: 87% of 260 testers passed the exam in 2025. 76% passed in 2024.
- Human Geography: 95% of 193 testers passed the exam in 2025. 83% passed in 2024.
- Physics I: 86% of 93 testers passed the exam in 2025. 82% passed in 2024.
- Macroeconomics: 72% of 251 testers passed the exam in 2025. 65% passed in 2024.
- Psychology: 69% of 321 testers passed the exam in 2025. 58% passed in 2024.
- US Government and Politics: 70% of 383 testers passed the exam in 2025. 65% passed in 2024.
- US History: 94% of 387 testers passed the exam in 2025. 86% passed in 2024.
- World History: 95% of 284 testers passed the exam in 2025. 93% passed in 2024.
- Spanish Culture and Language: 100% of 48 testers passed the exam in 2025. 96% passed in 2024.
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HPISD students outscored the global average in 23 of the 32 subject areas where the district reported results.
Board member Bryce Benson called the data encouraging. “We set high goals, and the ed services team at the administrative level is delivering,” he said, “and I just want to thank you and say job well done. And I know that you’re not resting on your laurels, but I do want to acknowledge that a lot of progress has been made.”
Board members also evaluated 2025 STAAR data during the meeting.
The board reviewed whether the district had met goals to increase the percentage of students scoring at the masters, or highest, level on certain tests. It also considered how the percentage of HPISD students scoring at the masters level compared to students’ performance in three other high performing districts.
The district met its goals for improvement in 2025 on six of the eight STAAR tests with board goals. Scores improved on all eight exams where goals had been set. The district has set new goals for 2026 STAAR tests.
