Collection and Reporting of Student Race and Ethnicity Data

The collection and reporting of race and ethnicity was updated in 2015-16 to align with U.S. Department of Education guidelines. Because of these changes, use caution when you interpret College Board reports and make comparisons between 2015-16 results and race and ethnicity subgroup data from prior years.

Test takers now complete a two-part question that asks them to indicate their racial and ethnic group.

Ethnicity categories are:

• Cuban
• Mexican
• Puerto Rican
• Another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin
• Not of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin

Race categories are:

• American Indian or Alaska Native
• Asian (including Indian subcontinent and Philippines origin)*
• Black or African American
• White (including Middle Eastern origin)
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

*Prior to 2016, this category was Asian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander.

Important changes:

• Students may select all options that apply. In prior years, they were asked to select one option.
• Students who identify as both “Hispanic” and another race are reported as “Hispanic.”
• Students reported as “Two or more races” are non-Hispanic.
• Although “Other” as an option is no longer available, it may continue to be reported until all students have answered the new two-part question.