Parents of 80,000 Students to Get Letters About Potential for Advanced Placement Success

Michigan One of Two States Using PSAT Results to Identify Students
to Take Rigorous College-Level Courses

LANSING – The parents of more than 80,000 Michigan students are being mailed letters that inform them that their children have the potential for success in a rigorous advanced placement (AP) course and to earn college credit while in high school.

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is sending the letters this week.

Michigan is one of only two states partnering with the College Board to use the Advanced Placement Potential Tool that identifies students who are likely to score a 3 or higher on a given AP exam, based on the student’s performance on the spring 2025 Preliminary SAT 8/9 test or Preliminary SAT 10 for students in grades 8-10. Scoring a 3 or higher on an AP exam may qualify high school students to receive college credit while in high school.

“One way that we keep Students First is to encourage them to take rigorous AP courses if they can be successful in those classes,” said State Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko. “Students who take AP classes are better positioned to succeed in college. They can get a head start on higher education if they do well enough in AP courses to receive college credit while in high school, and they and their parents save money with reduced tuition costs.”

This year MDE is partnering with the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP), to send letters to the parents and guardians of 80,500 students.

“Helping students recognize their potential early is critical to planning their futures and preparing for the next step,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “This effort ensures families receive clear, timely information about the opportunities available to their children. It reflects a shared commitment with the Michigan Department of Education to expand access to rigorous learning opportunities, preparing more Michigan students for lifelong success.”

The College Board offers 40 AP courses in seven subject categories.

In 2025, a record 65,898 Michigan public school students took an AP exam, a 4.5% increase from 2024 that continues a multi-year upward trend, with 63,053 students in 2024 and 56,885 in 2023.

The participation rate in AP exams for African American students in Michigan increased 13.8%, compared to 6.1% nationally, and the number of African American students who scored a 3, 4 or 5 on their AP exams increased by 34.8% last year, exceeding the national increase of 26.5%—a strong indicator of both access and success. The 10-year growth in the percentage of African American students in grades 10, 11 and 12 who took AP exams in Michigan was 73%, compared to 28% nationally.

The participation rate in AP courses for Hispanic students in Michigan increased by 3.2% and the number of Hispanic students who scored a 3 or higher on the AP exam increased by 12.5%, demonstrating continued, steady growth. The 10-year growth in the percentage of Hispanic/Latino students in grades 10, 11 12 who took AP exams in Michigan was 173%, compared to 77% nationally.

The AP program consists of college-level courses developed by the College Board’s AP Program that high schools can choose to offer and corresponding exams that are administered once a year. 

The College Board administers the PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10 and SAT assessments and has developed the AP Potential tool to identify AP students and choose the AP courses that interest them. The AP Potential Tool is rooted in a long line of research showing that PSAT scores, and by extension SAT scores, predict performance on specific AP exams—often with more accuracy than other traditionally used methods. Students may be recommended for and prove to be successful in AP courses without being identified by the AP Potential tool, but the tool offers assistance to those seeking to provide guidance to students and families. 

Each AP course is modeled on a comparable introductory college course in the subject. Each course culminates in a standardized college-level assessment, or AP exam, given in May each year. 

Students who are ready for college-level work can explore options such as dual enrollment, Early Middle College, career and technical education (CTE) programs, or the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme. The letter to parents and guardians encourages students to consider these challenging opportunities. School counselors are encouraged to share information about these options with students.

“It’s important to provide students with rigorous courses, whether they are through AP, Early Middle College, CTE or International Baccalaureate programs,” Maleyko said. “Use of the AP Potential tool aligns with several goals in Michigan’s 10 Strategic Education Plan.”

Those goals are Goal 4, to expand secondary learning opportunities for all students; Goal 5, to increase the percentage of all students who graduate from high school; and Goal 6, to increase the percentage of adults with a postsecondary credential. 

If a school does not offer AP courses, school leaders can learn more about how to start an AP Program on the College Board’s website. Part of the process of starting an AP program is the use of the AP Potential Tool. Local school districts may also consider partnering with Michigan Virtual to offer AP courses. 

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