STEP.com student successes

• Newport News students have shown improvement in 11 out of 12 SOL assessments in science and mathematics from the beginning of the USP effort and from the baseline year of 1999-2000.
•  The achievement gap on the Virginia SOL exams was reduced in 27 out of 28 tests.
• Since 1999, there has been an increase in the number and percentage of underrepresented students completing algebra II, chemistry, physics, and Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate math and science.
• The percentage of traditionally underrepresented students completing upper level science and mathematics courses with a C or better has increased.
• The percentage of students passing AP mathematics exams with a score of 3 or better has increased since 1999. The number of African American students scoring 3 or higher on the AP mathematics exams increased 144 percent from 1999.
• The gap in performance between African American and white students decreased 18 percentage points from 1999 to 2002 on AP mathematics exams.