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Advanced Placement (AP)

The San Mateo Union High School District administers the Advanced Placement (AP) Exam in many subjects at five of its six high schools (CHS offers the International Baccalaureate Program). “Taken each May by students all over the world, the AP Exam is the final step students take after a year of hard work in an AP class. These standardized exams are designed to measure how well students have mastered the content and skills of the course — a successful score could even earn them credit and advanced placement in college."   

If an SMUHSD student is enrolled in one of the course offerings, they can find preparation materials at this website:

Each SMUHSD school offers a different set of AP Exams. Students can find out which exams are offered at each school by going to their school website:

 

As interest by students nationwide in the Advanced Placement (AP) Examination program increases, the District has established clear guidelines regarding students who do not take a SMUHSD AP class during the school year but can still take AP exams on our campuses in May. What follows is a summary of who may take the exams if they have not enrolled in an SMUHSD course.

Scenario #1: SMUHSD Students Not Enrolled in an SMUHSD AP Course

  • SMUHSD students interested in taking a World Language Exam not offered at their site (and in which they are also not enrolled since it is not offered):

    • SMUHSD Students may participate in exams as space allows at another school site

  • SMUHSD students who want to “self-study” for an exam:

    • SMUHSD Students enrolled in an online/virtual AP course via an online provider (UC Scout, BYU, etc.):

      • Students are NOT allowed to take an AP Exam with the SMUHSD through this method. We would encourage them to take a Concurrent Enrollment course with the Community College in this case or a CLEP assessment (https://clep.collegeboard.org/) at Cal State East Bay. Students should verify their post-secondary institution recognizes the exam for the intended purpose of taking the exam before enrolling.

    • SMUHSD students who want to self-study with a book/online tutoring options:

      • Students are NOT allowed to take an AP Exam through this method. We encourage them to take a Concurrent Enrollment course with the Community College or a CLEP assessment (https://clep.collegeboard.org/) at Cal State East Bay. Students should verify their post-secondary institution recognizes the exam for the intended purpose of taking the exam before enrolling.

Scenario #2: Design-Tech High School Students who live in SMUHSD attendance areas

  • These students may take AP Exams at SMUHSD high schools, as space allows.

Scenario #3: Home-schooled students who live in the attendance area of the SMUHSD

  • These students may participate in the exams closest to home with the appropriate exam(s), as space allows.

Scenario #4: Home-schooled Students who live outside of the SMUHSD Attendance Area

  • These students are not allowed to take an AP Exam in the SMUHSD

Scenario #5: Public School Students who live outside of SMUHSD

  • These students are not allowed to take an AP Exam in the SMUHSD

Scenario #6: Private School Students in or outside of SMUHSD

  • These students are not allowed to take an AP Exam in the SMUHSD