More Latino and Native American students are taking Advanced Placement courses and scoring well on AP exams, while African-American students still lag behind, according to a report issued Wednesday.

“The data in this report indicate that these (African-American) students are not yet always receiving adequate preparation for the rigors of a college-level course,” said Trevor Packer, vice president of the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program. “When students of any background receive preparation for AP, there are differentials in performance.”

“Major initiatives remain needed to ensure adequate preparation of students in middle school, ninth and 10th grades so that all students will have an equitable chance of success when they go on to take AP courses and exams later in high school,” added Packer.

In the fifth annual “AP Report to the Nation,” research shows that, despite strides made by educators to provide traditionally underrepresented students with access to AP courses, African-American students are less likely to pass the exams or even take the classes. Published by the College Board, the nonprofit association that monitors the AP Program, the report indicates that many African-American students are often not receiving adequate preparation for the courses, thus setting them up to fail. The College Board’s research shows that students who have taken AP courses cite lack of confidence and readiness as reasons for not taking the exams.

Packer noted that the reason the gap has significantly closed between White and Hispanic students is because initiatives have been implemented in states that have large Hispanic student populations. States like Florida, Texas and California have all been involved in AP-related multi-year student reform initiatives that use AP as a capstone. States with large African-American populations are just beginning to address disparities, he said.

For example, Alabama, which has introduced state-backed initiatives, shows the biggest improvement in AP enrollment and success among African-American students. “It’s in the degree of effort and policy that a state has put into place,” Packer said during a telephone conference.