TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida students rank fourth nationally in advanced placement test scores, an increase from sixth the prior year.

The College Board on Wednesday released 2012 results that also showed Florida had the highest advanced placement participation rate for a fourth straight year.

Students scoring 3 or better on a five-point scale receive college credit for taking advanced placement courses.

In Florida, 27 percent of 2012 high school graduates scored a 3 or higher. That's up from 24 percent in 2011. The state's participation rate was 53 percent, an increase from 47 percent the prior year.

Twenty-nine percent of Florida's Hispanic students scored a 3 or better. That's up one percentage point.

Among African-Americans graduates, 7.4 percent made 3 or higher compared to 7.1 percent last year.