My high school does not offer AP Studio Art or any other AP Art courses

I am a High Schooler (sophomore) at California - Bay Area. I am currently in Art-2 and would like to do an AP in Art (perhaps AP Studio Art) as I love art and plan to go to an Art school. Unfortunately my school does not have any AP in art (the focus of most kids is primarily STEM). Any tips on where can I do AP Studio Art outside of my HS? I tried to look around me but only see other High schools that offer the program.

You don’t have to do AP Art. Talk to your teacher. Maybe you can do an independent study art course with your teacher??

You don’t have to be enrolled in an AP class to submit a portfolio. Sit down with your art teacher, and find out what is required for the portfolio, then sort through your work to find pieces you can submit, and plan future projects with the portfolio requirement in mind.

You can submit portfolios as many years as you wish, but will need to send different work each year.

Can you dual enroll in a Community College Art class?

My D who was accepted to both NYU (ED, Studio Art) and Pratt (EA) chose not to take AP art even though it was offered by her school. First, the credits are not accepted by the schools she had in mind. Second, and most importantly, it did not fit her timeline or help with her college portfolio. She needed to have her portfolio for admissions finalized by November at the latest. She wanted to spend the early fall working on her portfolio based on the input she had received from the schools she was applying to, not requirements from College Board. Remember that you submit your portfolio for you AP classes in the spring, well after your college portfolio is due for schools. Plus the requirements are often a lot different.

Instead, D arranged to have independent study for art at her high school. She was in the classroom with AP students, but worked on her own projects.

The vast majority of students enrolled in AP art were NOT applying to art schools.

I do recommend taking art classes outside of your high school. D took figure drawing, fashion illustration and portfolio development classes in NYC during the school year at Pratt and FIT. She also spent summers at residential art programs, one run through NY State (summer before junior year) and a summer art intensive thought NYU (summer before senior year.)

I agree with the previous comments. It’s also not your fault your school doesn’t offer AP art related classes. I would recommend to just challenge yourself as much as possible. Maybe if there’s an art shop nearby, you could get a job there or at a local studio.