I’m just curious how AP classes are at your school. I was so used to how my school handles AP courses that some of the things I’ve read on this site confused me.
My high school pays for every single AP exam that we take (we have 2000 students.) The only reason why a student would pay anything for the exam is if they missed it due to a non-emergency (like sleeping in.) This is to push everyone to take the best and most challenging classes, regardless of their income.
So, how are AP courses handled at your school? Do you have to pay the full amount for each exam, even if you take multiple? Are AP classes taken by the majority of students, or only by the top students? If you have to pay to take the exam, do only rich people take the class at your school?
At my school you could get it fully paid for if you have very limited financial resources, but if you get free/ reduced lunch you automatically get a reduction in the price of your test from college board (I think they were $91 w/o reduction & $62 with this year). Everyone who is taking an AP class is encouraged to take the test if they can afford it or pass (sometimes the teachers will pay for someone’s test)
Everybody has to pay at my school for every single exam that we take. We have around 2200 students. Almost 90% take an AP test sometime during high school; many take far more. I don’t know if financial aid is offered to the low-income, but I’d assume that it’s whatever College Board gives you.
But our district is broke. Most of the money that goes to the school is raised through (pricey) donations.
Our school is in a pretty high-income area, but it can still get pricey if you’re taking 4-5 AP tests a year junior and senior year (what top students do; max possible per year is 5, but many self-study some as well).
Everyone pays for every single exam he takes. I think mostly everyone takes AP classes, but I know that not every senior takes the AP exams for them. I know that people who self-study AP Chinese or have prepared for it through Chinese school are waitlisted to take the AP Chinese exam at my school (students enrolled in the actual class are given priority); however, I know someone who went to a different high school to take the exam. I don’t personally know anyone who has self-studied or self-studies APs, but I imagine there are lots of people who do so, considering that I come from a very competitive school in the Bay Area.
Everyone pay for every test they take. Nearly 70% of my school takes minimum one AP exam (that means AP Psych and AP Human Geography). The more difficult AP exams are taken but the top 30%. The cost is $105 for each test. We have 20 AP classes (give or take). My school is filled with rich people so…
A handful of people self study. I self studied AP Statistics; I know people who have self studied AP Chem and AP Physics C, as well as others who self studied easier APs, like AP Psych, AP Art History. There are those that take the language that they are fluent in. The school I attend is quite competitive.
Our school and county paid for all the AP exams students took with the exception of self study exams. Everyone at my school (I graduated in 2014) takes AP exams, certain AP classes are actually required to graduate (its a STEM magnet school). Everyone must take at least AP US gov, AP Lit or Lang (you can get out of this, but its very difficult; you have to either take English 12 online from the county or take it online in the summer), and an AP math course (almost everyone takes AP calc BC and/or AB)
At my school, the test is paid by the school for each class you take, but you have to pay if you miss it for a non-emergency reason. I am unsure what is done for retake exams and self studied ones.