Advanced Programs
Advanced Placement (AP)
AP Program
Since its inception in 1955, the Advanced Placement Program has provided motivated high school students with the opportunity to take college-level courses in a high school setting. Students who participate in the Program not only gain college-level skills, but in many cases they also earn college credit while they are still in high school. AP courses are taught by dedicated high school teachers who follow course guidelines developed and published by the College Board. There are currently more than 110,000 teachers leading AP courses in high schools worldwide. AP teachers are some of the world's finest. The Program is strengthened by their participation in professional development workshops and Summer Institutes.
Students who participate in accelerated learning opportunities such as AP or IB are 30% more likely to graduate from high school, 25% more likely to enroll in college, and 22% more likely to persist in college than their peers who did not take accelerated classes in high school (REL Northwest).
The AP Exams
The AP Examinations are administered each year in May and represent the culmination of college-level work in a given discipline in a secondary school setting. AP Exams are administered at nearly 15,000 schools around the world. Each AP Exam is given an overall grade of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, with 5 indicating a student who is extremely well qualified to receive college credit and/or advanced placement based on an AP Exam grade. Five of our comprehensive high schools in the Beaverton School District (Aloha, Beaverton, Southridge, Sunset, and Westview) offer students the opportunity to take at least one AP course in preparation for the May exams. Information about a particular AP program can be obtained in the school's Counseling Office.
AP Testing Process
- BSD Students Enrolled in AP Course(s)
- BSD Students NOT Enrolled in AP Course(s)
- AP Exam Frequently Asked Questions
BSD Students Enrolled in AP Course(s)
BSD & AP
The Beaverton School District offers AP testing to registered BSD students. BSD students enrolled at an AP school and enrolled in an AP course where the test is offered by the school are given priority for registration.
Current BSD AP students need to check with their school’s AP Coordinator for registration dates and information.
- ACMA - Cyndy Banks
- Aloha - Scott Baker
- Beaverton Academy of Science and Engineering - Nivedita Prabhakar
- Beaverton - Kristi Russell
- Westview - Kara Ferris
BSD Students NOT Enrolled in AP Course(s)
BSD Students NOT Enrolled in AP Course(s)
Please complete this AP Exam Registration Form by October 15, 2024 to indicate which AP Exam(s) you wish to register to take in May 2025. After your request has been received and processed, you will receive an email with further information. Please note that AP test seat availability will not be determined until approximately the 3rd quarter, as open seats are based on availability after AP-enrolled BSD students have registered for their exams. Filling out this form does not guarantee a testing seat, but will place you on a waitlist for potential open seats for the below listed exams.
All test seats for non-AP-enrolled BSD students will be assigned based on seat availability and a first-come first-served basis, which is determined by the completion of this form. Students and families are encouraged to fill out this form ASAP.
There is an $81 registration fee per exam, due November 1, 2024, which must be paid prior to the test being ordered. If your student qualifies for meal benefits (free or reduced-price lunch), test-fee assistance is available. Please do not attempt to pay the fee until you have received confirmation of seat availability, as well as a personalized exam-only join code from BSD.
Options for payment:
Pay Online! Using a Visa, Discover, or Mastercard debit or credit card, you may make secure online payments for your students with no transaction fees here: https://or-beaverton.intouchreceipting.com/
Pay In-Person at your student’s home school in the Main Office - cash or check only.
AP Test-fee assistance: If your student qualifies for meal benefits (free or reduced-price lunch), test-fee assistance is available.
Students not enrolled in BSD are unfortunately not eligible to test at a BSD school. For non-BSD students interested in registering for AP Exams, please contact Portland Public Schools or Forest Grove School District.
AP Exam Frequently Asked Questions
AP Exam Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there now multiple steps to exam registration?
The College Board has launched the new MyAP system nationwide in August 2019 for May 2020 AP® Exams.The online Exam Group JOIN Code component will allow College Board to personalize student exam materials for exam day, and eliminate the need for pre-administration sessions.
In addition, by also joining the Class Group, students will be able to access homework and test assignments that include secure questions from the AP® Question Bank. Students will also have access to review materials and resources online and from Smartphones.
My exam is not listed under the list of Exam Join Codes in the “Next Step” Join Code email I received from APTS. What do I do?
Please contact info@aptsusa.com for assistance. Exam Join Codes will not be issued by phone. Please make sure to email from the same email address listed on your exam payment form.
I have not yet received the “Next Steps – Exam Join Code” email from APTS and it’s been more than 24-hrs since my payment processed. What do I do?
The “Next Steps – Exam Join Code” emails are sent to the STUDENT email address on the exam payment form. Please check your junk mail folder in case the email was delivered there. If you still are unable to find the email, please contact info@aptsusa.com for assistance. Exam Join Codes will not be issued by phone. Please make sure to email from the same email address listed on your exam payment form.
What if I can’t log into my College Board profile or can’t remember if I have one?
Students create College Board profiles to access their AP, PSAT and SAT scores. You may already have an account if you have taken any of these exams in the past. Don’t create a second account! Each student should have only ONE College Board account during their high school careers which houses AP, PSAT and SAT scores and information. For log in help visit: https://pages.collegeboard.org/account-help or https://myap.collegeboard.org
Students may also call College Board AP Services for Students: 1-866-630-9305 or email apstudents@info.collegeboard.org
Which information should I provide on my College Board MyAP Registration Profile?
- Students should use their legal name (to match school records), so that the name will also match the government or school-issued photo ID at exam check in. College Board also sends scores electronically to colleges/universities. A discrepancy in name can result in score reporting issues and delays.
- Students should use an email address that they will have access to BEYOND high school.
I missed the November deadline to register for my exam. What do I do?
Students who miss this deadline will be subject to a $40 per exam late fee. The last day to submit an exam payment that includes this late fee is March 1, 2020.
What College and University Credit opportunities are there for these exams?
College and universities AP Credit Policies can be found on the College Board’s AP Credit Search site. To see college credits offered for AP exams at Oregon State University, University of Oregon, Portland State University and Portland Community College, click here
Can I change when I take the exam?
Exam dates/times are set by The College Board. Occasionally, situations arise that prevent a student from being able to take their AP exam on the regularly scheduled day/time. Please speak with your school’s AP® Coordinator.
Is there financial aid available for the 2025 AP exams?
Families may apply for a fee reduction or fee waiver of AP exam fees. If you qualify for free or reduced price lunch, or if you are having difficulty paying for your AP exams, check in with your high school’s AP Coordinator.
You will be provided with a fee waiver or fee reduction code to apply to the APTS deposit payment form. This code will reduce/waive your amount due as approved. ALL Students who want to register for an exam must complete the online deposit form to enable receipt of the Off Campus Exam Codes.
What if I have an Individualized Education Plan or 504 plan?
The College Board must approve any changes or modifications to the AP exam administration. Students who wish to receive testing accommodations must contact their high school counselor ASAP. They will work with you to file the appropriate paperwork with College Board before the January 24, 2025 filing deadline.
What if I have two AP exams on the same day?
Students who would like to register for two exams offered on the same day should complete the deposit form fully and submit payment. The student will be contacted by APTS to alert them which of the two AP Exams they have been assigned to for an alternate date and what the date/time details are. Assignments will be made based on numbers and space/proctor availability. Please see your high school AP Coordinator to get information on late testing dates. You will not be assessed the $45 fee to take a late exam in this case.
Can I take an exam as a “walk-in” (showing up on exam day to register and sit for an exam)?
Students who have not registered for an AP exam by the registration deadline will not be allowed to take an AP exam.
What if I can’t take the AP exam on the offered date?
College Board makes provisions for when students are not able to take the AP Exam on its regularly scheduled date/time. In some cases, a $45 fee will be assessed for each exam taken on an alternate date/time. Please see you high school AP Coordinator for details.
Do I need to excuse my absence with other teachers during the exam?
Your school will have a roster of which students will be out of the building on exam days. You are responsible for all schoolwork missed during your absence for AP exams. Schools will be notified of students who do not show for their AP exams(s).
How long will my AP exam take to complete? Can I leave early?
Per College Board’s security regulations for exams, students may not leave the test until time is called and all examinees are excused together. If a student leaves without permission, their exam will be collected and submitted separately to College Board. Their score will be cancelled and no refund will be possible. Exams are approximately 4 hours. Please be prepared for the duration of the exam. For afternoon exams, it is the student’s responsibility to communicate with coaches, families and employers about their AP exam schedule.
Click here for AP Estimated Exam Testing Times by exam
How do I access my scores?
AP Scores will be available online in early July 2025. Students will be emailed by the College Board (to the email specified on your College Board MyAP Profile) to alert you that your results are ready for access. You will then be able to log into your College Board Profile via http://apscore.org to retrieve your scores.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Primary Years Programme (PYP)
Middle Years Programme (MYP)
A challenging framework that encourages students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world, the MYP is inclusive by design; students of all interests and academic abilities can benefit from their participation.
-ibo.org
MYP Schools in Beaverton
Authorized (having been fully vetted by International Baccalaureate)
- ISB (Grades 6-10)
- Mountainside High School (Grades 9-10)
- Tumwater Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Diploma Programme
“Research suggests many benefits to choosing the DP. The programme aims to develop students who have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge – students who flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically.”
-ibo.org
Authorized (having been fully vetted by International Baccalaureate)
- ISB (Grades 11-12)
- Mountainside HS (Grades 11 - 12)
- Southridge HS (Grades 11-12)
- Sunset HS (Grades 11-12)
Candidate Schools (awaiting final verification from International Baccalaureate)
- None at this time
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB) began in the late 1960's when nineteen schools involved in the international school system piloted a program designed to bring consistency to course offerings and develop an assessment system leading to a diploma respected by universities around the world. Schools in North America, the fastest area of growth for the IB, have turned to the IB as one means of introducing rigor to their course offerings and prepare students for the transition to higher education.
The IB is an option for motivated students interested in a rigorous and comprehensive course of studies. In grade eleven, students begin a two-year program designed to prepare them for IB assessments and exams in six subject areas. The areas include English, a second language, social science, science, mathematics, and the arts or another IB elective. In addition to testing in six areas, IB diploma candidates must also complete an interdisciplinary course entitled Theory of Knowledge, produce a 4,000 word research paper and fulfill the Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) requirement made up of enrichment and community service activities outside the normal school day.
IB course offerings are labeled either Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL). Students enrolled in HL courses take their exams after two years of study. Most SL offerings test after one year of instruction. Diploma candidates must have satisfied IB requirements in three HL and three SL courses by the end of their senior year but are limited to a maximum of two exams as juniors. All exams are scored from 1 to 7 with a total score of 24 necessary to earn an IB diploma.
The International School of Beaverton (ISB), Mountainside, Southridge, and Sunset are among the Oregon schools authorized to offer the IB diploma program. During the month of May, 2024, BSD students sat for 2189 IB exams in 22 different subject areas. This is a marked increase over the District's first testing year, 2001, when 101 students took exams in 18 subjects.
International Baccalaureate Certificates
Students not interested in earning an IB diploma may earn IB certificates in one or more of the HL and/or SL courses offered at their school. Colleges and universities typically give credit for HL exam scores of 5 or above. Some institutions also give credit for SL exams. Parents and students should contact specific universities to investigate credit recognition policies.
Participation in IB Courses
The IB programs in the Beaverton School District are very inclusive and open to all motivated students interested in a rigorous and comprehensive course of studies.
International Baccalaureate (IB) FAQ
Q: My daughter received an application from her teacher last night and I have a question. This is a class or series of classes, not a curriculum, is that correct?
A: You're right, the curriculum is the one mandated by the state for all of our middle schools. The program (a team of students and teachers working through a series of classes--just like a normal middle school team) will have a focus on environmental science. The other difference will be the series of field experiences, related to environmental sciences, that the students and teachers will participate in on a weekly basis.
Q: Where can I find out what advanced programs each school already has to offer?
A: Ask in the Counseling Center of your high school.
Q: What is unique about the IB program?
A: The Theory of Knowledge course, the 4,000 word extended essay, the CAS, and the two year commitment to six areas of study, plus the tests scored using international standards makes the program unique.
Q: How do IB classes compare with AP classes?
A: IB and AP courses feature college level curriculum. IB uses international standards of excellence, AP uses national standards of excellence. IB is a diploma program, AP allows students to take one or more courses which are not connected. IB Higher Level exams are recognized for college credit, AP exams are also recognized for college credit. IB has an oral component in most classes, AP has an oral component in foreign language only. IB students prepare for exams in all areas; AP students generally choose AP exams in their area of strength.
Q: What is a "typical" IB student profile?
A: IB honors diversity, but what the students have in common is their love to learn and their high motivation.
Q: How much homework is involved in this program?
A: The average is three hours a night, but it varies.
Q: If my son/daughter did not take a foreign language in middle school, will that be a problem?
A: No, a student will be prepared to take the foreign language exam if he/she starts in ninth grade.
Q: What do students need to do to get into the IB program?
A: Find out as much as possible about the requirements of the program. Formal applications will be available at the end of the sophomore year.