Hinsdale D-86's AP Scores Up: Official

BURR RIDGE, IL – Hinsdale High School District 86 saw increases in its Advanced Placement passing rates last school year, an official said Thursday.

A year ago, the district saw a pandemic dip of about 10 percent in its AP scores, Superintendent Tammy Prentiss said.

In AP European History, the district's passing rate was 87 percent, exceeding the national rate of 59 percent and the previous year's district rate by 16 percentage points. The district's passing rate was 3 percentage points over the best in the last decade, which is how long the district's records go, Prentiss said.

In AP Biology, she said, the passing rate was 86 percent. That exceeded the 68 percent national rate and last year's district rate by 27 percentage points. The local passing rate was 1 percentage point over the district's best in the last 10 years.

In AP English Literature, the school experienced a 94 percent passing rate, exceeding the national rate of 78 percent and the previous year's district rate by 34 percentage points. The 94 percent rate was 18 percentage points better than its previous high in the last decade.

Hinsdale South saw a 15 percent increase in its overall AP passing rate, the highest in the last 10 years. Central saw its passing rate bump up 4 percentage points in the last year.

The district saw its overall passing rate increase by 8 percentage points, returning to 2018 levels, Prentiss said.

Prentiss said the district planned a full report on its AP test performance in October.

Nearly 45 percent of students in District 86 took at least one Advanced Placement course in the 2020-21 school year, according to the Illinois Report Card.

A passing score is a 3 out of 5 or better.