They went digital
High school goes textbook-free after doubling AP® scores
When Tustin High School introduced Shmoop's AP® Test Prep into their AP US History classes and saw pass rates nearly double for the subject, the school was ready to invest more heavily in Shmoop programs.
How it began
Tustin High School, based in Orange County, California first signed on with Shmoop to integrate Advanced Placement® test prep into their curriculum. Using funds from voter approved 'Measure S' for Tustin Unified School District, Tustin High School introduced Shmoop to thousands of 11th- and 12th-grade AP students.
AP® Test Prep results
One of the most promising results from the AP exams was that Tustin's percentage of college-eligible scores (a score of ‘'3' or above) doubled over a two year period, following the initial pilot with Shmoop.
Tustin High School AP® Test Scores
| YEAR | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| % tests that scored 3+ | 31% | 30% | 32% | 46%* | 69%** |
**Shmoop added for all AP courses; 2x higher % vs. previous year
"The demographics of Tustin Unified School District mirror the state of California's, so it's exciting to think that one day we could be shrinking achievement gaps across the state through greater access to quality online content like this," said Jonathan Blackmore, Principal at Tustin High School.
Their AP exam results proved that trading in old textbooks for an online blend of interactive AP practice exams, video answer explanations, individual analytics dashboards, and timed drills was the perfect ingredient for AP success.
Going beyond AP
Following the successful outcomes of AP test scores, Tustin moved forward to introduce additional Shmoop resources into their classrooms. Now, they’ve implemented Shmoop's full suite of digital middle- and high-school math curriculum.
"Shmoop really leveled the playing field for kids of all socioeconomic backgrounds, so we're excited to roll it out to a greater extent," said Grant Litfin, Director of Secondary Education at TUSD. "Even the most interactive digital textbook is about $60 - $80 per student and that's as cheap as you can usually get it, so the fact that Shmoop was more cost-effective and a one-stop shop for a whole world of resources, including test prep and online courses, served the purpose we need."
Tustin High School’s AP exam results proved that trading in old textbooks for an online blend of interactive AP practice exams, video answer explanations, individual analytics dashboards, and timed drills was the perfect ingredient for AP success.
AP is a trademark registered and/or owned by the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.
