Press Release  Massachusetts Students Again Rank #1 in Nation on AP Tests, Earn Highest Scores on Record 

Boston — Governor Maura Healey is today celebrating Massachusetts students for again earning the highest scores on Advanced Placement (AP) exams last year and breaking the all-time record for the highest percentage of graduates who scored 3 or higher on an AP exam. Results released today by the College Board show that 35.8 percent of students who graduated from Massachusetts public high schools in 2025 scored a 3 or higher on an AP exam which was the highest in the nation this year and for any year. 

In addition, Massachusetts ranked the highest state in the country (behind Washington, D.C.) in terms of the percentage of Black or African American students taking an AP exam and third in the country in terms of the percentage of graduates taking any AP exam.  

“Congratulations to Massachusetts students, educators and families on this incredible accomplishment,” said Governor Healey. “We are so proud that our students are yet again leading the nation in AP scores and breaking all-time records. It’s also great to see more students than ever before taking these exams, which help prepare them for success after graduation. We’re going to keep working every day to build on these accomplishments and make sure every student receives the highest-quality education.”

“Advanced classes give students a leg up on college, preparing them for rigorous coursework and potentially earning them college credit, which helps them graduate more quickly and at a lower cost,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This success is amazing to see and a great indicator of what’s happening in Massachusetts classrooms.”   

A score of 3 or higher out of 5 on an AP exam shows a student’s ability to complete work for an introductory college course in that subject area. Many colleges will award students college credit for AP scores of 3 or higher.  

“Massachusetts’ progress is a testament to students’ hard work, educators’ dedication and support, and our shared belief that every student deserves access to a high-quality education that sets them up for success in college, career or any path they choose. This is worth celebrating and I hope all students will take these results as a sign that they should consider taking advanced coursework,” said Acting Education Secretary Amy Kershaw.

Governor Healey has prioritized additional ways for students to earn college credit while still in high school, including expanding the growing number of Early College programs across the state. She recently announced her goal of enrolling 100,000 students in Early College programs within 10 years.

“The AP results for Massachusetts’ class of 2025 are a great example of what students can do, and I hope other students will see these numbers and realize that they, too, should try advanced coursework,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez. “Congratulations to the students, educators and families who made the results possible!”

The state’s efforts to expand access to AP courses and exams have included subsidizing AP exam fees for low-income students and working with partners such as Mass Insight’s AP STEM & English Program. The exams cost $99 each without a fee subsidy. During the current school year, the state has committed to funding up to $1.1 million for AP and International Baccalaureate exam fee subsidies. With the state’s contribution, low-income students — or their school will only need to pay — $22 per AP test. Under this administration, Massachusetts has subsidized 90,783 AP exams for nearly 50,000 low-income students.

Highlights from this year’s results include:

• 35.8 percent of 2025 Massachusetts public high school graduates scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam during high school, the highest percentage in the nation and the highest on record.
  • Nationally, 24.8 percent of public high school graduates scored a 3 or higher.  
  • Massachusetts has been at the top of this metric in several other years, most recently for students who graduated in 2024.  
• Between 2015 and 2025, the percentage of Massachusetts graduates scoring 3 or higher grew 6.4 percentage points, from 29.4 percent to 35.8 percent.

Participation:

• 86.1 percent of Massachusetts public high schools offer at least one AP course.
• 48 percent of Massachusetts 2025 graduates took an AP exam during high school, the third highest in the country behind Washington, D.C. and New York. That 48 percent participation in Massachusetts represents a 5.8 percentage point increase from 42.2 percent in 2015.  
• 37.3 percent of Black or African American Massachusetts 2025 graduates took an AP exam during high school (the second highest percentage in the country), and this represents a 7.5 percentage point increase from 29.8 in 2015.  
• 36.9 percent of Hispanic or Latino Massachusetts 2025 graduates took an AP exam during high school (the 12th highest percentage in the country), and this represents an 8.3 percentage point increase from 28.6 percent in 2015.  

Chart source: The College Board 

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