10/2025 Update
The 2024 AP School Honor Roll awards are available. There are four levels of distinction: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. "[T]he AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening participation." To see the list, see Honor Roll. Congratulations to each school!
4/23/2025 Final Report from the DPI Advanced Placement (AP) Programming & Planning Workgroup
The DPI and a dedicated group of educators from across the state collaborated to determine ways that schools could increase access, participation, and success for historically underserved students in Advanced Placement coursework and exams. The group's final report and the corresponding infographic provide ideas and potential solutions that can help improve AP access, participation, and success at the high school level.
4/3/2025 Digital AP Testing Webinar
On 4/2, DPI and the College Board hosted a webinar on digital AP testing procedures and related information. A copy of the slide deck from this webinar is available at Wisconsin DPI-AP Coordinators slide deck. A recording of this webinar is available for viewing at this Coordinator webinar link.
10/15/2024 Update on the 2022-23 Advanced Placement Pacesetter Awards
The Wisconsin Advanced Placement Advisory Council (WAPAC) along with DPI announced the 2022-23 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.
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 2025-26 school year, AP exams ordered on-time cost $99. Note that AP Seminar and AP Research now cost the same amount ($99) as any other AP 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. The final cost to fee-reduced students is $0. 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 .