How Inclusive, Diverse, and Equitable Is Advanced Placement Human Geography? A Comparison of Participation and Performance by Ethnicity and Race

Abstract

The Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography course offers a geographic perspective for students to study differences, dynamics, and disparities in society and the globalized world. This article seeks to relate this thematic diversity to the profile, participation, and performance of the exam takers in comparison to other subjects, with a special emphasis on race and ethnicity. The online database on AP exams released annually by the College Board served as a starting point to analyze data on exam scores by subject and ethnic group. The results point out that participation and scores are improving for ethnic minority groups, especially for Black students, but their achievements remain below the average grades and the performance by those of other ethnicities. It is suggested that measures and policies beyond participation and effectiveness and with a focus on equity are necessary to overcome structural inequalities in teaching and learning. AP Human Geography should not only be conceived as a diverse discipline, but also as a critical and inclusive social science to support ethnic minority students and other marginalized groups to be successful in their education.