<p>I have an idea to reform the Newsweek ratings. Perhaps it’s not perfect, but it would help some.</p>
<p>The author’s main focus was to reward schools for encouraging AP widely. The problem with this, as has been mentioned, is that performance on the exams is ignored. The author’s response is that he feels schools would be restrictive in allowing who takes the AP exams.</p>
<p>A potential solution? Have a point system, where an AP “5” gets 5 points, an AP “4” gets 4 points, etc. Then, add up all the points & divide this by the number of graduating seniors. For example, let’s take three imagined schools:</p>
<p>School A: 500 Seniors, 250 exams, 50 5’s, 50 4’s, 50 3’s, 50 2’s, 50 1’s
School B: 500 Seniors, 200 exams, 100 5’s, 60 4’s, 20 3’s, 20 2’s
School C: 500 Seniors, 375 exams, 25 5’s, 50 4’s, 75 3’s, 100 2’s, 125 1’s</p>
<p>School A: 750/500 = 1.50
School B: 840/500 = 1.68
School C: 875/500 = 1.75</p>
<p>It is worth noting that there is a heavy emphasis both on offering many exams AND on performing well on the exams. For example, School B performed better on less exams than School A and scored higher; School C performed worse on more exams than School A and scored higher.</p>
<p>Maybe it’s not perfect, but it seems a much better alternative. Any complaints?</p>