Livingston High School students took more Advanced Placement exams this spring than ever before, with 95% scoring a 3 or higher, according to data the district presented at the Aug. 20 board meeting. The school year begins Monday, Aug. 31.
Natalie Topylko, the district's director of curriculum and instruction of STEM and testing, told the Board of Education on Thursday, Aug. 20, that 1,020 students sat for AP exams this year, up 33 from 987 in 2025. The district administered 2,740 total exams, compared to 2,645 last year, according to the district's assessment presentation. The West Essex Tribune first reported the results.
That's a record. The growth marks five consecutive years of rising AP participation at LHS. In 2022, 833 students took AP exams. That number climbed to 886 in 2023, 930 in 2024 and 987 in 2025 before crossing 1,000 this year.
Pass rates rose alongside participation. This year, 974 of 1,020 test-takers earned a 3 or above. That 95% rate is up from 94% in 2025, 91.3% in 2024 and 86% in 2022.
A total of 594 students earned AP Scholar designations, with an average score of 4.35 across that group. Of those, 354 earned AP Scholar with Distinction, the highest tier, while 83 earned AP Scholar with Honor and 157 earned AP Scholar.
Twenty-nine students earned the AP Capstone Diploma, which requires research-based coursework beyond standard AP classes.
ACCESS scores show progress for long-term learners
Topylko's presentation also covered ACCESS for ELLs results, which measure English language proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Of 116 English language learners tested, 96 had been in the district two years or fewer. Among that newest group, 43% scored at or above the 4.5 proficiency benchmark, while 67% of the six students enrolled five or more years met that mark.
The district noted that WIDA, the organization behind the ACCESS test, recently completed new standard-setting, meaning 2026 scores may not compare directly to prior years.
Twelve students took the Dynamic Learning Maps assessment, given to students with significant cognitive disabilities. Four scored at target or advanced in English, and five reached that level in math.
What's next
The next Board of Education meetings are a workshop on Tuesday, Sept. 8, and a voting session on Tuesday, Sept. 29, both at 7 p.m. at the Administration Building, 11 Foxcroft Drive, in hybrid format.
