DMPS STUDENTS SET RECORDS IN AP PARTICIPATION AND EXAM ACHIEVEMENT

Nearly 4,000 Des Moines Public Schools students are taking college-level Advanced Placement courses this year, the most in district history.

 

A record 61% of DMPS students who took AP exams in spring 2026 earned a score of 3 or higher – the benchmark many colleges and universities use to award college credit.

 

As of Oct. 1, 3,993 students were enrolled in AP courses. 

 

The results matter because access and achievement are rising at the same time. The share of DMPS test takers earning a 3 or higher has increased by about 11 percentage points in two years, even as participation in AP courses and exams has continued to grow.

 

 

“These results are worth celebrating, and what makes me proudest is that more of our students are choosing to challenge themselves,” said Superintendent Matt Smith. “We’ve always known our students are capable of incredible things. What’s different now is that more of them are stepping into something new and sticking with it when it gets hard. That’s the kind of courage we want for every student in Des Moines Public Schools.”

 

Advanced Placement courses are rigorous, college-level classes that students take in high school. At the end of the course, students may take a standardized AP exam scored on a 1-to-5 scale. Colleges and universities set their own policies, but many award credit or advanced placement for qualifying scores, commonly a 3 or higher.

 

District leaders link the increases to expanded access to advanced coursework, more college and career pathways, and stronger curriculum in elementary and middle grades. Students with financial need may qualify for reduced-cost AP exams through a grant program.