Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

Advanced Placement (AP) Courses give students the opportunity to earn credit or advanced standing at most of the nation's colleges and universities. AP Courses are more challenging and stimulating than regular high school classes. AP courses explore subjects in greater depth, give greater opportunity for individual accomplishment, take more time, and require more work.

To earn AP credit, a student must take the AP exam at the end of the spring semester. Registration for exams begins early first semester, with the deadline usually in October or early November. A score of 3, 4, or 5 can qualify a student for college credit. High school credit is awarded in any case, based on the semester course grade (note: a grade of "F" will receive no credit). Students are encouraged to check with each institution they are interested in attending to find out specific information about the acceptance of AP credit. 

For more AP testing information contact Alexa Berra, AP Coordinator at 314-633-5937 or aberra@afftonschools.net or www.collegeboard.org
Questions about individual AP classes should be directed to the teacher for that course.

Courses Available*

Getting Started with AP Classroom

All AP students must create a College Board account and join the 'AP Classroom' for each course. 

• Ensure you do not already have an account to avoid making more than one account (if you have taken the PSAT, SAT, or an AP class before, you already have an account made.) 

• A common error when creating an account -- If you have a 63123 zip code, you may need to put your city as Affton, not St. Louis. 

• At the start of the school year, students will be given 'join codes' for each of their AP courses. Instructions will be provided in class for how to join your AP Classroom(s) on College Board.

Making a Testing Decision

AP testing decisions are due on Thursday, October 29th. Login to your College Board account -- on the "Week at a Glance" page, each course will have the option to "Register for Exam." 

• All AP students must indicate a testing decision in College Board for each of their AP classes, whether they want to test or not.

• The cost per test is $40

• Up until the deadline, you will be able to change this decision as needed. 

Need help deciding?

Should I Take the AP Exam? With Pros and Cons to Consider

Should I Commit to Taking AP Exams?

Benefits of AP

Students should be sure to do their own research to help make the correct decision for themselves, including speaking with their parents/guardians, AP teacher(s), the AP testing coordinator, the college and career counselor, and/or friends who have taken AP classes/tests.  Please also use the graphic below for additional information, including links to resources that can help with your testing decision(s). This graphic can be particularly helpful for making a decision on how you earn college credit in classes that offer dual enrollment in addition to AP college credit. 

For AP classes that do not have a dual enrollment option,  taking the AP test is the only way to receive college credit for that course. Those classes are: AP Physics 1, AP Calculus, AP Seminar, AP Precalculus, AP Statistics, and AP Psychology.

Testing Cost and Fees

Affton students pay $40 per AP test they sign up for.

• Fees are added to the parent portal in Infinite Campus in April. An email will be sent out when fees are added.

• Students on the free and reduced lunch program pay $15 per test; this reduced rate will be applied automatically

Any changes to your testing status after the October 29th deadline will incur fees. 

• Change from No to Yes any time after October 29th : $40 test fee plus a $40 late fee

• Change from Yes to No any time after October 29th: $40 cancellation fee (This includes dropping the class!! You can still choose to take the test, but if you choose not to, the fee is $40 either way)

• Late testing for any reason other than illness or emergency (doctors note may be required) : $40 test fee plus a $40 late testing fee

26-27 Schedule and Information