Overall, high school students here scored 3 or better on 53 percent of AP exams this year, up from 52 percent the year before. A score of 3 or better is enough to earn college credit for the subject.

Johnston students fared best in calculus, language and composition, and U.S. history, with scores of 3 or better on 80 percent of the exams taken. Performance was worse in statistics, with a passing rate of less than 50 percent.

“We didn’t do as well on statistics as we should have,” said Keith Beamon, associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction. “There are some targeted meetings to address that.”

“We didn’t get any worse, but we didn’t get any better,” Beamon said of the overall scores. “We still have some work to do.”

Princeton High School saw the largest jump in passing scores — from 38 to 80 percent. The school offered advanced placement classes in U.S. history, math and English last year.

Principal Kirk Denning said he wanted to keep that percentage high. “We have got a very strong senior class academically,” he said. “They did well on the AP scores last year, and they will do well this year.”

North Johnston High School saw its passing rate fall from 60 percent to 46 percent. Principal Ross Renfrow said the school had taken steps to raise scores this year.

“It is always a concern to us to see the [scores] drop off from one year to the next, but a lot of that depends on the number of kids taking the exam,” Renfrow said. “I think for the county, and particularly our school, the future is bright, and we will be able to offer more AP classes. I think more students will step up to the plate and take the challenge of enrolling in more AP courses.”

At Clayton High School, 119 out of 234 tests scored a 3 or higher. That is a decrease to 51 percent this year from 56 percent in 2007.

Smithfield-Selma High School had 83 out of 174 tests score 3 or higher. That is an increase from 42 to 48 percent.

At South Johnston High School, 70 out of 128 tests scored 3 or higher. That is a decrease to 55 percent from 67 percent.

West Johnston High School had 144 out of 243 tests score 3 or higher. That is an increase to 59 percent from 50 percent.

Johnston County Middle College had six out of 21 tests score 3 or higher.

Schools with smaller enrollments, such as Princeton, are more likely to see a dramatic change from passing rates one year to the next, Beamon said.

“You just have got to know it can swing wildly based on just a few kids in terms of how they have applied themselves to the course,” he said.

The key is to keep the focus on helping students pass the tests, Beamon said.

“We have a curriculum specialist who will be devoting more of his time looking at issues regarding AP teaching and learning here in the district,” he said. “We are also encouraging the schools to use extra time for remediation. And lastly, teacher training, teacher training, teacher training.”