The Advanced Placement (AP) program represents a critical element in Houston Independent School District's (HISD's) efforts to inject rigor into the high school classrooms. Since 2009, the AP course offerings in HISD have been vastly expanded, with more campuses offering a wider selection of AP courses that exposes a larger percentage of the high school population to academic rigor. Significantly more HISD students are taking and completing AP courses, taking and passing AP Exams, and earning AP Awards now than before 2009. Some highlights of AP in 2014-2015 include: (1) The number of high school students taking at least one AP Exam increased by 9 percent to 13,929 in 2014-15 from 12,837 in 2013-14; (2) The number of AP Exams taken by high school students increased by 13 percent to 25,127 in 2014-15 from 22,277 in 2013-14; (3) Enrollment in AP courses increased to 37 percent in 2014-15 from 34 percent in 2013- 14 for students enrolled in grades 10-12; and (4) The number of AP Awards presented to HISD students increased by 133 to 1,650 in 2014-15 reflecting a 9 percent increase compared to 2013-14.