WOHS AP test scores continue to rise, report concludes

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Students at West Orange High School continue to excel in national testing, according to a report released by the school district’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

A five-year study showed an increase in the number of students scoring 3 or higher on AP tests. AP scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible number a student can receive. Students receiving scores of 3 to 5 can often receive college credit for taking AP exams.

“Over the past two years, West Orange High School’s overall mean score increased 0.5 — on a 5.0 scale — and the percentage scoring a 3 or above increased by 16 percent,” said Kimberly Mancarella, assistant principal for curriculum, operations and activities.

AP Scholar Awards during the past two years included 96 awards, including a National AP Scholar. AP Scholars are those who receive grades of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams. AP Scholars with Honors are those who receive an average grade of 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more exams. AP Scholars with Distinction are those who receive an average grade of 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of those exams. And National AP Scholars are those in the United States who receive an average grade of at least 4 on all AP exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.

In West Orange, there were 44 AP Scholars in 2015, 54 in 2016, 41 in 2017, 50 in 2018 and 44 in 2019. There were 19 AP Scholars with Honors in 2015, 26 in 2016, 19 in 2017, 13 in 2018 and 27 in 2019. There were 20 AP Scholars with Distinction in 2015, 24 in 2016, 31 in 2017, 15 in 2018 and 24 in 2019. There were two National AP Scholars in 2015, two in 2016, five in 2017, one in 2018 and one in 2019. 

In 2015, 340 students took 712 AP exams, and there were 132 scores of 1, 147 scores of 2, 180 scores of 3, 160 scores of 4 and 93 scores of 5. In 2016, 340 students took 683 AP exams, and there were 74 scores of 1, 125 scores of 2, 171 scores of 3, 159 scores of 4 and 154 scores of 5. In 2017, 342 students took 701 AP exams, and there were 120 scores of 1, 147 scores of 2, 186 scores of 3, 152 scores of 4 and 96 scores of 5. In 2018, 333 students took 650 AP exams, and there were 83 scores of 1, 154 scores of 2, 178 scores of 3, 147 scores of 4 and 92 scores of 5. And in 2019, 274 students took 530 AP exams, and there were 27 scores of 1, 83 scores of 2, 140 scores of 3, 159 scores of 4 and 121 scores of 5.

  West Orange High School