The Top 50 AP Schools In Iowa
AP in Iowa
The AP program began in the mid-1950s on the East Coast, and although it has become, according to former U.S. Education Secretary Richard Riley, “the gold standard,” Iowa’s participation has been historically low. Until recently, Iowa ranked among the lowest in the nation on AP exams per student population, in part because of the large rural demographic.
The number of schools in Iowa offering AP opportunities and the number of Iowa students taking AP exams has increased substantially since 2001. Despite the increase in the number of exams, Iowa student performance remains high. In 2023, the percentage of Iowa exams with a score of 3 or higher was 64.9%, which compares favorably to the 2023 national average of 60.2%.
AP in Iowa, 2001-2023*
| Year |
| Indicators of Growth in Iowa* | 2001 | 2022 | 2023 |
| Number of high schools that offered at least one AP exam | 156 | 221 | 190 |
| Number of AP exams taken | 5,995 | 17,594 | 17,327 |
| Number of upperclassmen taking at least one AP exam | 4,069 | 11,929 | 12,346 |
| Percentage of their exams with a score of 3 or higher | 67% | 61.8% | 64.9% |
The Belin-Blank Center is committed to delivering AP programs to Iowa’s students and support for professional development to teachers through multiple programs.
Iowa Online Advanced Placement Academy
The Belin-Blank Center, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Education, has made a concerted effort to bring AP opportunities to all schools in Iowa, but especially to rural schools, so that geography will not determine educational opportunity. The Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA), with funding from the State of Iowa, offers online AP courses, AP Teacher Training, and I-Excel above-level testing for selected 4th-6th graders.
Senior Year Plus Program
In 2008, the Iowa legislature passed the Senior Year Plus program (Iowa Code 261E) "to provide increased and more equal access to college credit and advancement placement courses" (Senior Year Plus: Guide for Educators and Educational Administrators, January 2023, from the Iowa Department of Education, p. 5).
The Senior Year Plus statute (Iowa Code 261E.4) "compels all school districts to make AP courses available to students" (p. 19, Senior Year Plus: Guide for Educators and Educational Administrators).
Parents and students should expect that school districts will comply with the state code that defines school district obligations for providing advanced coursework. The School District Obligations are detailed in Senior Year Plus: Guide for Educators and Educational Administrators on page 18.
Schools that are "unable to offer AP® courses directly may expand opportunities to students through the Iowa Online AP® Academy (IOAPA)" (Senior Year Plus: Guide for Educators and Educational Administrators, January 2023, from the Iowa Department of Education, p. 18).
Advanced Placement Summer Institute
The Belin-Blank Center hosts the Advanced Placement Summer Institute (APSI), a professional development opportunity, to prepare teachers to deliver AP courses successfully. The next APSI will be in summer 2024 and will be offered both in-person at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA and online.
The Senior Year Plus program includes a provision for teacher preparation for teaching AP courses: "A school district shall ensure that AP® course teachers are appropriately licensed by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners in accordance with Iowa Code Chapter 272 and meet the minimum certification requirements of the national organization that administers the advanced placement program." (Senior Year Plus: Guide for Educators and Educational Administrators, August 2023, from the Iowa Department of Education, p. 18).
References
AP Data and Research 2023
Iowa Department of Education - Senior Year Plus Guide