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. Dramatically more HISD students are taking AP courses, completing them, taking more AP exams, earning AP exam scores of at least a 3, and receiving AP awards at a record pace. Among the highlights of AP in 2012-2013 are: (1) Student participation in AP courses increased from 35.9% in 2012 to 36.1% in 2013 in the district; (2) The number of AP exam takers decreased by 3.2% from 13,403 in 2012 to 12,966 in 2013. However, the number of AP testers in 2013 represents an increase of 128% compared to 2009 when 5,694 HISD students took AP exams; (3) The number of AP exams taken decreased by 2.3% from 23,227 in 2012 to 22,693 in 2013. However, the number of exams taken in 2013 represents an increase of 96% compared to 2009 when HISD students took 11,594 AP exams; (4) 33.2% of all AP exams taken in 2013 by HISD students in grades 9-12 had AP scores of 3 or higher compared to 30.6% in 2012, reversing a declining trend experienced during 2009-2012 as the number of AP tests taken ramped up significantly; and (5) The number of AP awards presented to HISD students increased by 253 to a new district record of 1,480 reflecting a 20.6% increase in 2013 compared to 2012, building upon the 10.7% gain in AP awards in 2012 compared to 2011.