10/15/2024 Update on the 2023 Advanced Placement Pacesetter Awards
The Wisconsin Advanced Placement Advisory Council (WAPAC) along with DPI announced the 2023 Advanced Placement Pacesetter Awards. WAPAC is comprised of Wisconsin educators that are dedicated to expanding access to Advanced Placement (AP) coursework and rigorous learning for all students.
The Pacesetter Awards are unique to Wisconsin. They are used to recognize participation and a culture of excellence at a particular school. They are a celebration of excellence from across our state rather than a competition. Schools are acknowledged for their efforts at three levels, which are awarded based on the combination of the AP student Participation Rate as well as the Percent of Students Earning a Score of 3 or Higher on the AP Exam(s):
Pacesetter Level |
School's Student Participation Rate onan AP Exam(s) |
Percent of Students Earning a Score of 3 or Higheron an AP Exam(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 30% or more | 70% or more |
| Level 2 | 20% or more | 65% or more |
| Level 3 | 10% or more | 60% or more |
The story announcing the 2023 Pacesetter Awards can be found at Pacesetter Announcement. The list of 2023 Pacesetter Awardees can be found at AP Pacesetters.
5/1/2024 Update
The College Board recently released a list of AP School Honor Roll. The good -- although not surprising -- news is that there were so many schools across the state. Note that there are now four levels of distinction: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. These schools can also earn the AP Access award for those schools showing "...a clear and effective commitment to equitable access to advanced coursework." To see the list, see Honor Roll. A hearty congratulations goes out to each school!
In more great news, the College Board also recently announced the Wisconsin schools who received the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award.
For AP Computer Science A
Brookfield East High School
For AP Computer Science Principles
La Crosse Central High School
Kettle Moraine High School of Health Sciences
Northland Pines High School
Oostburg High School
Washburn High School
This is important because per College Board, “... female students who take AP Computer Science Principles in high school are more than 5 times as likely to major in computer science in college.”
Scholarships, Internships and Professional Development opportunities:
College Board Opportunity Scholarships for Students
The College Board has recently announced their new College Board Opportunity Scholarships for students. More information about this scholarship can be found at College Bd Opportunity Scholarship
AP and IB Test Fees for Low-Income Students - Requirements in State Law
Wisconsin public school districts are responsible by law to pay Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exam fees for students that qualify for free or reduced-price meals. This requirement is found in Wis. Stat. sec. 120.12(22), under the section on School Board Duties. The full text is as follows:
Wis. Stat. sec. 120.12 (22) Advanced Placement Examinations. Using federal, state, local, or private funds, pay the costs of advanced placement examinations taken by pupils enrolled in the school district who satisfy the income eligibility criteria for free or reduced-price lunches in the federal school lunch program under 42 USC 1758 (b) (1).
School districts pay a reduced fee for AP exams. For the 2024-25 school year, AP exams ordered on-time cost $99 (except for on-time AP Seminar and AP Research exams which cost $147 per exam). The College Board provides a $37 fee reduction for students that qualify for free or reduced-price meals and the school is expected to forgo its $9 rebate for the exam. School districts, then, pay $53 per exam for students who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Similarly, the school district would pay $101 for each AP Seminar exam & each AP Research exam for students who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. There is no limit to the number of exams students can take.
There is no reduced fee for IB exams, so school districts are responsible for the full cost.
AP and IB Test Fees for Low-Income Students - Use of Title IVA Well-Rounded Educational Opportunities Funds
Districts that receive Title IVA federal funds can use a portion of those funds to cover the cost of Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams for students who are eligible for free or reduced price meals. As noted in the U.S. Dept. of Education's Non-Regulatory Guidance, the Well-Rounded Educational Opportunities language in section 4107 describes how an allowable use of these funds can be for “[p]romoting access to accelerated learning opportunities including Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college high schools.” More information about the Well-Rounded Educational Opportunities Non-Regulatory Guidance can be found at Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants .