How many high schools offer AP courses, by state

60.3% of the 20,553 U.S. public high schools with a CRDC 2021-22 record offered at least one Advanced Placement course, leaving 39.7% with none. Access was widest in West Virginia (92.7% of high schools) and narrowest in North Dakota (22.5%).

CRDC 2021-22 AP flag · high schools open in 2024-25 · this page first published · data checked · method

U.S.60.3%50 states measured
Widest access92.7%West Virginia
Narrowest access22.5%North Dakota
High schools offering AP by stateAK 52%; AL 70%; AR 83%; AZ 41%; CA 58%; CO 57%; CT 87%; DC 74%; DE 85%; FL 65%; GA 74%; HI 82%; IA 51%; ID 30%; IL 66%; IN 81%; KS 28%; KY 57%; LA 55%; MA 83%; MD 89%; ME 78%; MI 49%; MN 29%; MO 42%; MS 69%; MT 33%; NC 69%; ND 23%; NE 31%; NH 76%; NJ 87%; NM 45%; NV 57%; NY 78%; OH 53%; OK 53%; OR 51%; PA 83%; RI 88%; SC 75%; SD 24%; TN 68%; TX 60%; UT 57%; VA 86%; VT 92%; WA 47%; WI 75%; WV 93%; WY 36%AK: 52%AK52%ME: 78%ME78%WI: 75%WI75%VT: 92%VT92%NH: 76%NH76%WA: 47%WA47%ID: 30%ID30%MT: 33%MT33%ND: 23%ND23%MN: 29%MN29%IL: 66%IL66%MI: 49%MI49%NY: 78%NY78%MA: 83%MA83%OR: 51%OR51%NV: 57%NV57%WY: 36%WY36%SD: 24%SD24%IA: 51%IA51%IN: 81%IN81%OH: 53%OH53%PA: 83%PA83%NJ: 87%NJ87%CT: 87%CT87%RI: 88%RI88%CA: 58%CA58%UT: 57%UT57%CO: 57%CO57%NE: 31%NE31%MO: 42%MO42%KY: 57%KY57%WV: 93%WV93%VA: 86%VA86%MD: 89%MD89%DE: 85%DE85%AZ: 41%AZ41%NM: 45%NM45%KS: 28%KS28%AR: 83%AR83%TN: 68%TN68%NC: 69%NC69%SC: 75%SC75%DC: 74%DC74%OK: 53%OK53%LA: 55%LA55%MS: 69%MS69%AL: 70%AL70%GA: 74%GA74%HI: 82%HI82%TX: 60%TX60%FL: 65%FL65%
High schools offering AP by stateAK 52%; AL 70%; AR 83%; AZ 41%; CA 58%; CO 57%; CT 87%; DC 74%; DE 85%; FL 65%; GA 74%; HI 82%; IA 51%; ID 30%; IL 66%; IN 81%; KS 28%; KY 57%; LA 55%; MA 83%; MD 89%; ME 78%; MI 49%; MN 29%; MO 42%; MS 69%; MT 33%; NC 69%; ND 23%; NE 31%; NH 76%; NJ 87%; NM 45%; NV 57%; NY 78%; OH 53%; OK 53%; OR 51%; PA 83%; RI 88%; SC 75%; SD 24%; TN 68%; TX 60%; UT 57%; VA 86%; VT 92%; WA 47%; WI 75%; WV 93%; WY 36%AK: 52%AK52%ME: 78%ME78%WI: 75%WI75%VT: 92%VT92%NH: 76%NH76%WA: 47%WA47%ID: 30%ID30%MT: 33%MT33%ND: 23%ND23%MN: 29%MN29%IL: 66%IL66%MI: 49%MI49%NY: 78%NY78%MA: 83%MA83%OR: 51%OR51%NV: 57%NV57%WY: 36%WY36%SD: 24%SD24%IA: 51%IA51%IN: 81%IN81%OH: 53%OH53%PA: 83%PA83%NJ: 87%NJ87%CT: 87%CT87%RI: 88%RI88%CA: 58%CA58%UT: 57%UT57%CO: 57%CO57%NE: 31%NE31%MO: 42%MO42%KY: 57%KY57%WV: 93%WV93%VA: 86%VA86%MD: 89%MD89%DE: 85%DE85%AZ: 41%AZ41%NM: 45%NM45%KS: 28%KS28%AR: 83%AR83%TN: 68%TN68%NC: 69%NC69%SC: 75%SC75%DC: 74%DC74%OK: 53%OK53%LA: 55%LA55%MS: 69%MS69%AL: 70%AL70%GA: 74%GA74%HI: 82%HI82%TX: 60%TX60%FL: 65%FL65%
High schools offering AP by stateAK 52%; AL 70%; AR 83%; AZ 41%; CA 58%; CO 57%; CT 87%; DC 74%; DE 85%; FL 65%; GA 74%; HI 82%; IA 51%; ID 30%; IL 66%; IN 81%; KS 28%; KY 57%; LA 55%; MA 83%; MD 89%; ME 78%; MI 49%; MN 29%; MO 42%; MS 69%; MT 33%; NC 69%; ND 23%; NE 31%; NH 76%; NJ 87%; NM 45%; NV 57%; NY 78%; OH 53%; OK 53%; OR 51%; PA 83%; RI 88%; SC 75%; SD 24%; TN 68%; TX 60%; UT 57%; VA 86%; VT 92%; WA 47%; WI 75%; WV 93%; WY 36%AK: 52%AKME: 78%MEWI: 75%WIVT: 92%VTNH: 76%NHWA: 47%WAID: 30%IDMT: 33%MTND: 23%NDMN: 29%MNIL: 66%ILMI: 49%MINY: 78%NYMA: 83%MAOR: 51%ORNV: 57%NVWY: 36%WYSD: 24%SDIA: 51%IAIN: 81%INOH: 53%OHPA: 83%PANJ: 87%NJCT: 87%CTRI: 88%RICA: 58%CAUT: 57%UTCO: 57%CONE: 31%NEMO: 42%MOKY: 57%KYWV: 93%WVVA: 86%VAMD: 89%MDDE: 85%DEAZ: 41%AZNM: 45%NMKS: 28%KSAR: 83%ARTN: 68%TNNC: 69%NCSC: 75%SCDC: 74%DCOK: 53%OKLA: 55%LAMS: 69%MSAL: 70%ALGA: 74%GAHI: 82%HITX: 60%TXFL: 65%FL
High schools offering AP by stateAK 52%; AL 70%; AR 83%; AZ 41%; CA 58%; CO 57%; CT 87%; DC 74%; DE 85%; FL 65%; GA 74%; HI 82%; IA 51%; ID 30%; IL 66%; IN 81%; KS 28%; KY 57%; LA 55%; MA 83%; MD 89%; ME 78%; MI 49%; MN 29%; MO 42%; MS 69%; MT 33%; NC 69%; ND 23%; NE 31%; NH 76%; NJ 87%; NM 45%; NV 57%; NY 78%; OH 53%; OK 53%; OR 51%; PA 83%; RI 88%; SC 75%; SD 24%; TN 68%; TX 60%; UT 57%; VA 86%; VT 92%; WA 47%; WI 75%; WV 93%; WY 36%AK: 52%AKME: 78%MEWI: 75%WIVT: 92%VTNH: 76%NHWA: 47%WAID: 30%IDMT: 33%MTND: 23%NDMN: 29%MNIL: 66%ILMI: 49%MINY: 78%NYMA: 83%MAOR: 51%ORNV: 57%NVWY: 36%WYSD: 24%SDIA: 51%IAIN: 81%INOH: 53%OHPA: 83%PANJ: 87%NJCT: 87%CTRI: 88%RICA: 58%CAUT: 57%UTCO: 57%CONE: 31%NEMO: 42%MOKY: 57%KYWV: 93%WVVA: 86%VAMD: 89%MDDE: 85%DEAZ: 41%AZNM: 45%NMKS: 28%KSAR: 83%ARTN: 68%TNNC: 69%NCSC: 75%SCDC: 74%DCOK: 53%OKLA: 55%LAMS: 69%MSAL: 70%ALGA: 74%GAHI: 82%HITX: 60%TXFL: 65%FL

High schools offering AP

  • 22.5% to under 44.5%
  • 44.5% to under 56.6%
  • 56.6% to under 69.9%
  • 69.9% to under 82.7%
  • 82.7% and up

D.C. is one city system, so it is in the table but not ranked among the 50 states.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 (AP offered); NCES CCD 2024-25 (school level and status).

Widest access: the top ten

High schools offering AP, highest ten statesWest Virginia 92.7%; Vermont 91.5%; Maryland 88.7%; Rhode Island 87.9%; New Jersey 87.3%; Connecticut 86.5%; Virginia 86.0%; Delaware 85.4%; Arkansas 83.1%; Massachusetts 82.9%; U.S. 60.3%.0255075100West Virginia92.7%Vermont91.5%Maryland88.7%Rhode Island87.9%New Jersey87.3%Connecticut86.5%Virginia86.0%Delaware85.4%Arkansas83.1%Massachusetts82.9%U.S. 60.3%
High schools offering AP, highest ten statesWest Virginia 92.7%; Vermont 91.5%; Maryland 88.7%; Rhode Island 87.9%; New Jersey 87.3%; Connecticut 86.5%; Virginia 86.0%; Delaware 85.4%; Arkansas 83.1%; Massachusetts 82.9%; U.S. 60.3%.0255075100West Virginia92.7%Vermont91.5%Maryland88.7%Rhode Island87.9%New Jersey87.3%Connecticut86.5%Virginia86.0%Delaware85.4%Arkansas83.1%Massachusetts82.9%U.S. 60.3%
High schools offering AP, highest ten statesWest Virginia 92.7%; Vermont 91.5%; Maryland 88.7%; Rhode Island 87.9%; New Jersey 87.3%; Connecticut 86.5%; Virginia 86.0%; Delaware 85.4%; Arkansas 83.1%; Massachusetts 82.9%; U.S. 60.3%.050100West Virginia92.7%Vermont91.5%Maryland88.7%Rhode Island87.9%New Jersey87.3%Connecticut86.5%Virginia86.0%Delaware85.4%Arkansas83.1%Massachusetts82.9%U.S. 60.3%
High schools offering AP, highest ten statesWest Virginia 92.7%; Vermont 91.5%; Maryland 88.7%; Rhode Island 87.9%; New Jersey 87.3%; Connecticut 86.5%; Virginia 86.0%; Delaware 85.4%; Arkansas 83.1%; Massachusetts 82.9%; U.S. 60.3%.050100West Virginia92.7%Vermont91.5%Maryland88.7%Rhode Island87.9%New Jersey87.3%Connecticut86.5%Virginia86.0%Delaware85.4%Arkansas83.1%Massachusetts82.9%U.S. 60.3%

Narrowest access: the bottom ten

High schools offering AP, lowest ten statesNorth Dakota 22.5%; South Dakota 23.6%; Kansas 28.4%; Minnesota 28.7%; Idaho 30.3%; Nebraska 30.5%; Montana 32.9%; Wyoming 36.0%; Arizona 41.2%; Missouri 41.7%; U.S. 60.3%.020406080North Dakota22.5%South Dakota23.6%Kansas28.4%Minnesota28.7%Idaho30.3%Nebraska30.5%Montana32.9%Wyoming36.0%Arizona41.2%Missouri41.7%U.S. 60.3%
High schools offering AP, lowest ten statesNorth Dakota 22.5%; South Dakota 23.6%; Kansas 28.4%; Minnesota 28.7%; Idaho 30.3%; Nebraska 30.5%; Montana 32.9%; Wyoming 36.0%; Arizona 41.2%; Missouri 41.7%; U.S. 60.3%.020406080North Dakota22.5%South Dakota23.6%Kansas28.4%Minnesota28.7%Idaho30.3%Nebraska30.5%Montana32.9%Wyoming36.0%Arizona41.2%Missouri41.7%U.S. 60.3%
High schools offering AP, lowest ten statesNorth Dakota 22.5%; South Dakota 23.6%; Kansas 28.4%; Minnesota 28.7%; Idaho 30.3%; Nebraska 30.5%; Montana 32.9%; Wyoming 36.0%; Arizona 41.2%; Missouri 41.7%; U.S. 60.3%.04080North Dakota22.5%South Dakota23.6%Kansas28.4%Minnesota28.7%Idaho30.3%Nebraska30.5%Montana32.9%Wyoming36.0%Arizona41.2%Missouri41.7%U.S. 60.3%
High schools offering AP, lowest ten statesNorth Dakota 22.5%; South Dakota 23.6%; Kansas 28.4%; Minnesota 28.7%; Idaho 30.3%; Nebraska 30.5%; Montana 32.9%; Wyoming 36.0%; Arizona 41.2%; Missouri 41.7%; U.S. 60.3%.04080North Dakota22.5%South Dakota23.6%Kansas28.4%Minnesota28.7%Idaho30.3%Nebraska30.5%Montana32.9%Wyoming36.0%Arizona41.2%Missouri41.7%U.S. 60.3%

The question and the method

Advanced Placement is one of the main ways US high schoolers earn college credit and signal rigor to admissions. Across the 51 state systems with enough reporting high schools, what share offer AP at all, and where are the widest "AP deserts"?

Each high school open in 2024-25 (CCD level "high") is matched to its CRDC 2021-22 record; a school counts as offering AP when the record reports at least one AP course. The state figure is the share of its reporting high schools that offer AP; states need at least 20 reporting high schools.

Limits. This measures the share of high schools that offer any AP course, counted by school, not by student. States with many small rural high schools score lower here even when most students attend a larger school that does offer AP. It also counts only whether AP is offered, not how many courses, how many students enroll, or whether other advanced pathways (dual enrollment, International Baccalaureate, Cambridge) fill the gap. The CRDC AP flag is self-reported by schools.

Every state

All 51 as a table
StateRankHigh schools offering APHigh schools
West Virginia192.7%109
Vermont291.5%47
Maryland388.7%230
Rhode Island487.9%58
New Jersey587.3%434
Connecticut686.5%193
Virginia786.0%321
Delaware885.4%41
Arkansas983.1%295
Massachusetts1082.9%374
Pennsylvania1182.7%659
Hawaii1282.2%45
Indiana1381.0%385
New York1478.3%713
Maine1577.9%113
New Hampshire1675.5%94
South Carolina1775.4%228
Wisconsin1875.1%523
Georgia1974.1%475
District of Columbianot ranked73.8%42
Alabama2069.9%316
Mississippi2169.3%199
North Carolina2268.6%595
Tennessee2367.8%376
Illinois2466.4%706
Florida2564.7%790
Texas2659.8%1,920
California2758.3%2,084
Colorado2857.1%429
Utah2956.7%187
Nevada3056.6%145
Kentucky3156.5%340
Louisiana3255.3%262
Ohio3353.4%901
Oklahoma3453.3%471
Alaska3552.1%71
Oregon3651.0%255
Iowa3750.7%345
Michigan3848.5%879
Washington3946.8%551
New Mexico4044.5%200
Missouri4141.7%554
Arizona4241.2%451
Wyoming4336.0%89
Montana4432.9%173
Nebraska4530.5%262
Idaho4630.3%195
Minnesota4728.7%722
Kansas4828.4%359
South Dakota4923.6%178
North Dakota5022.5%169

Source: U.S. Department of Education, Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 (AP offered); NCES CCD 2024-25 (school level and status).

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Sources

Source: U.S. Department of Education, Civil Rights Data Collection Advanced Placement courses by school · 2021-22

Compiled from official source data by .