Advanced Placement

Purpose of Advanced Placement

Advanced Placement (AP) is a nationwide program designed to prepare secondary students for higher education. LWSD offers a variety of AP classes that provide rigorous, college-level curriculum in various subjects and the opportunity to earn college credits or advanced college standing. AP classes and testing are open to all high school students (grades 9-12) in Lake Washington School District (LWSD) and are taught by AP teachers trained to instruct their AP course.  

In May of each year, towards the end of AP courses, students are eligible to take an AP test for college/university credit. Please note that although all students are encouraged to take the AP exam for each course, it is not a requirement for enrollment, high school credit or grade in the class. 

The AP Experience   

Taking AP classes in high school helps students prepare for college-level academics.   

The benefits of taking AP classes include:  

  • Increased academic rigor in line with college/university courses   
  • Deeper exploration of a course’s content knowledge Ad 
  • Development of higher-level research, analysis, and critical thinking skills  
  • Ability to get a head start on college requirements by earning college/university credits

Receiving college credit for AP through AP exams

Students who meet all performance standards on AP exams may be eligible to receive college credit. Colleges determine if credit or advanced standing is granted based on their institutional policies. Many colleges and universities worldwide recognize AP achievements and grant credit.

Graduation pathways requirement

Students have the opportunity to meet the graduation pathway requirement by earning a C+ in an identified AP course or scoring 3 or higher on the AP exam.

NOTE: AP courses are indicated throughout the catalog with "#" before the course title.   

More information about AP   

AP courses and descriptions are listed in each school’s course catalogue which is posted on the school website. Not all AP courses are offered at all schools. For specific course and enrollment information, students should contact their school counselor. For general information about AP courses and exams, visit CollegeBoard.com  

AP Exams

The following AP Exams are currently offered through Lake Washington School District*:

Art & Design (Studio Art, 2D Drawing) Human Geography
AP Art History Japanese Language
Biology Macroeconomics
Calculus AB Microeconomics
Calculus BC Music Theory
Chemistry Pre-Calculus (new)
Comparative Government & Politics Psychology
Computer Science A Physics 1
Computer Science Principles Physics 2
English Language Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism
English Literature Physics C: Mechanics
Environmental Science US Government & Politics
European History Seminar
French Language Spanish Language
Statistics World History

*AP Exams offered each year are based only on courses offered that academic year by the district. AP courses vary at each high school. 

Chinese Language, German Language, Italian Language, Latin Language, African American Studies and Spanish Literature & Culture are not courses LWSD currently offers and will therefore not have exams offered for these content areas. 

AP Exam registration and payment

Lake Washington School District encourages all LWSD students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses to take College Board’s qualifying AP test(s) in May. 

Completing the registration for an AP exam is a two-part process. You must follow both steps to ensure a complete registration. Only complete registrations will be allowed to take the exam. 

AP Exam Registration process
Step 1: Register for exam through your College Board account.

You must have a College Board account to register. Many students already have an account.

The same College Board account is used for the PSAT, SAT and AP.  

Do NOT create a second account - this may prevent scores from being shared with correct colleges.
 
  • Receive a JOIN CODE from your teacher. 
  • Enter this JOIN CODE on College Board’s MyAP Classroom for each exam you are planning to take. 

    Students who are self-studying for an AP exam should reach out to their school’s AP Coordinator for an ‘Exam Only’ join code. 

    Students who are testing with accommodations should reach out to their school’s AP Coordinator for an ‘ATC’ join code. 

Step 2: Pay for your exam at your school

  • Payments can be made with cash, check or credit card with your school’s Bookkeeper or online through the LWSD payment site at https://payments.lwsd.org/
  • Please see your school’s AP Coordinator if you qualify for financial assistance 

Both steps must be completed by October 31, 2023, 11:59 p.m. 

Incomplete registrations will result in an exam not being ordered. 

Students who miss the October registration and payment window will have the opportunity to order and/or pay during the late registration window. This will incur a $50 late fee per exam. 

AP Exam registration deadlines and fees

Order type Dates Description Exam cost (per exam)
Registration window October 2, 2023, 12:01 a.m. - October 31, 2023, 11:59 p.m. Exam(s) ordered and paid for during the regular fall registration window.  $100
Late registration window - available to LWSD students ONLY February 26, 2024, 12:01 a.m. - March 8, 2024, 11:59 p.m. Exam ordered during the late registration window will incur a late fee.  $100 + $50 late fee* = $150 
Unused/canceled exams   Exam(s) canceled or not taken by a student will incur a cancellation fee from College Board and LWSD of $45 

Refund to student, per test: 

$100 - $45 = $55 

*Important Notes: 

  • Late order fees do not apply to AP single-semester courses offered in the second semester. 
  • Late fees ($50 per exam for exams ordered after October 31, 2023, 11:59 p.m.) apply to all students, including students who qualify for reduced fee exams
  • Students needing help with financial assistance should contact their school’s AP Coordinator. 

Students are strongly encouraged to register during the regular Registration Window to avoid incurring additional fees. 

AP Exam dates

Week 1
Date Time & Subject
Monday, May 6, 2024

8:00 a.m. - Art History

8:00 a.m. - US Government & Politics

12:00  p.m. - Chemistry

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

8:00 a.m. - Microeconomics

8:00 a.m. - Human Geography

12:00 p.m. - Seminar

12:00 p.m. - Statistics

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

8:00 a.m. - English Literature & Composition

12:00 p.m. - Comparative Government & Politics

12:00 p.m. - Computer Science A

Thursday, May 9, 2024

8:00 a.m. - Environmental Science

12:00 p.m. - Psychology

Friday, May 10, 2024

8:00 a.m. - European History

8:00 a.m. - US History

12:00 p.m. - Macroeconomics

5:00 p.m. - Art & Design submission deadline

 

Week 2
Date Time & Subject
Monday, May 13, 2024

8:00 a.m. - Calculus AB

8:00 a.m. - Calculus BC

12:00  p.m. - Precalculus

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

8:00 a.m. - English Language & Composition

12:00 p.m. - Physics C: Mechanics

2:00 p.m. - Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

8:00 a.m. - French Language & Culture

8:00 a.m. - World History: Modern

12:00 p.m. - Computer Science Principles

12:00 p.m. - Music Theory

Thursday, May 16, 2024

8:00 a.m. - Spanish Language & Culture

12:00 p.m. - Biology

12:00 p.m. - Japanese Language & Culture

Friday, May 17, 2024

8:00 a.m. - Physics 1

12:00 p.m. - Physics 2

 

Late testing  

Occasionally, circumstances make it necessary for students to take an exam during the late testing window. To preserve the security of AP Exams, alternate versions of the exams are used for late testing. All students who participate in late testing must take these alternate exams on the scheduled late-testing dates at the scheduled times.   

Late exams take place at the LWSD Resource Center and transportation must be provided by the student.  

There will no longer be the opportunity for Late Exception testing. Please look carefully at the above exam schedule so that you are not signing up for multiple exams given on the same day/time. 

Testing with accommodations 

Students should contact their school’s SSD Coordinator for assistance in applying for accommodations to be used with College Board AP Exams. 

Students using accommodations will receive a separate join code for registration purposes. 

Accommodations testing takes place at the LWSD Resource Center (Alternate Testing Cohort). LWSD Resource Center: 16250 NE 74th Street, Redmond, WA  98052. 

Transportation must be provided by the student.  

What is College Board?

College Board develops and administers standardized tests and curricula to promote college-readiness and as part of the college admissions process. 

https://collegeboard.org/

https://accommodations.collegeboard.org/how-accommodations-work/for-each-test/ap-exams

https://accommodations.collegeboard.org/

Contact information for AP Coordinators

Eastlake High School Chase Covington chacovington@lwsd.org
International Community School Rebecca Zavala rzavala@lwsd.org
Juanita High School Breck Ivy bivy@lwsd.org 
Lake Washington High School Joe Joss jjoss@lwsd.org 
Redmond High School Nikole Lalas
Ellen Zambrowsky-Huls

nlalas@lwsd.org
ezambrowsky-huls@lwsd.org  

Tesla STEM High School Heidi Cooperrider hcooperrider@lwsd.org
WANIC Skills Center Jana Robertson jrobertson@lwsd.org