Susan White

Nearly 1.4 Million High School Physics Students — Enrollments in AP and second-year courses up 26% even though number of graduates down in 2012–13

Since 1987, the Statistical Research Center at the American Institute of Physics has regularly conducted a nationwide survey of high school physics teachers to take a closer look at physics in U.S. high schools.1 We contact all of the teachers who teach at least one physics course at a nationally representative sample of all U.S. high schools—both public and private schools. Our most recent survey was conducted during the 2012–13 school year. While our questionnaire covers a number of areas of interest, in this article we examine the number of students enrolled in high school physics courses and the types of courses offered. We also take a closer look at the prior physics experience of students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) Physics classes.

Self-reported “best” resources for teachers

In over 80% of the schools where physics is taught, there is only one teacher teaching the subject, so most teachers cannot readily turn to a colleague at their schools for answers or suggestions about issues that deal specifically with physics. When physics teachers do have questions about physics content, the most often reported “best” source for answers is the Internet. Potentially demonstrating a better personal network or a better familiarity with the resources available to them, teachers who had completed physics education courses were significantly less likely to use their class texts as the best answer source. Instead, they were more likely to rely on college or university teachers. Having access to resources beyond the class text can help teachers develop a more nuanced understanding of physics concepts, as well as a better sense of perspective about the content they teach.

Preparing Your Students for Careers in Science and Engineering: How Is Your State Doing?

With one glance at the starting salaries of new bachelors degree recipients in Fig. 1, a teacher or parent can see the career fields to which their high school students interested in the best economic opportunities might aspire: several engineering fields (chemical, electrical, mechanical), computer science, physics, and mathematics.