The Largest AP Course Launch in History — And Why It Matters

In its first year, AP Precalculus drew over 184,000 students — the largest launch in AP history — and reached learners often left out of advanced math. It’s opening doors for first-generation, Black, Hispanic, rural, and later-starting students who didn’t take Algebra I or Geometry in middle school.  ASMSA Executive Director Corey Alderdice explores how the course is reshaping the calculus pathway. For younger students, it’s a springboard to AP Calculus and other STEM classes; for seniors, a rigorous capstone that builds confidence before college. Teachers praise its design, accessibility, and real-world impact, marking AP Precalculus as more than a new course — it’s a redefinition of who gets to pursue higher-level math.

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