Physics Taking in US High Schools and in the Southeastern US

In 1987, only one high school graduate in five had completed at least one high school physics course. By 2005, this number had improved to one in three. Of course, national data can obscure regional differences. The Statistical Research Center (SRC) at the American Institute of Physics (AIP) has conducted a regular nationwide survey of a representative sample of high school physics teachers at both public and private high schools across the US since 1987. The seventh round of data collection was completed in June of this year. In this talk, I will present the most recent nationwide results and compare them to high school physics taking in SESAPS states. Attendees at this session will be among the very first to hear results from the 2008-09 survey. I will highlight the proportion of high schools offering physics on a regular basis, physics enrollments, and the variety of physics courses now being taught in US high schools.