Many more Chicago Public Schools students are enrolling in rigorous Advanced Placement courses. That’s what the district reported today.

One in eight high school students took at least one AP class last school year.

Participation in the courses has more than doubled over the past five years. That’s thanks to an effort by school officials to give middle-of-the-road students more challenging work.

AP courses have become standard for college-bound high school students nationwide.

More CPS students are also passing the tough AP exams that accompany the courses, with pass rates up 55 percent in the last 5 years.

The news is a glimmer of hope for Chicago high schools, which have been slow to show improvement despite years of reform efforts.