Deep sigh: AP Exams again

[Roadrunner]

1 hour ago, Ad astra said:

Yes, that's precisely why we've been homeschooling for the past two years. We live in the rural Midwest where academic rigor is rarely prioritized. My eldest qualified for a gifted IEP at public elementary school but it was only enrichment with almost zero differentiation and meaningful academic support. Grade skip was not an option for both sides. It was basically a waste of time.
Both kids love homeschooling and have been thriving at home. We get nothing from local ps and are fine with it, at least for now.  
However, homeschooling high school would be different and more tricky because of this "closed door" policy of local public schools. Also, most social, academic and extracurricular opportunities for teenagers only exist within the ps setting in my area. I would like my ds to be able to take PSAT, AP exams, AMC 10, etc. for sure, just like other ps students, and build a strong college application. Enrolling him in public high school seems the only guaranteed way to be a part of these and I feel hesitant to gamble on it.
Unfortunately, this also means my 11yo ds would have to repeat a lot of core subjects in high school since, for example, he's already doing Geometry this year while our local high school only offers up to AP Calc AB.
Really, I would love to continue homeschooling through high school "if" there were equal access to tests and ECs for us since I could easily outsource much better quality online AP courses following our own timeline. 
Guess we can't have it all...

You can do a math placement. I will PM you. 

[NittanyJen]

On 9/15/2021 at 10:28 AM, Ad astra said:

This is the No.1 reason why I now consider sending my accelerated kids to public high school even though I know their academic needs won't be met there. In my state homeschools are unaccredited private schools and public schools don't want to do anything for us. And we don't have high quality DE options or selective in-state colleges. Hearing about this kind of barriers to homeschoolers is frightening and it seems utterly unjust and unfair esp. for high-achieving homeschooled kids.

In Delaware, we are in the same boat as far as homeschools being rather unloved— we are just “nonpublic schools.” Unaccredited doesn’t bother me, and has not posed any problems for the boys; my oldest had no difficulty with college admissions over it.

 

We do, however, have a rock solid state U, and for dual admission, there are community colleges that offer courses that have been vetted by the state U for content and rigor, that they can take for relatively little money. So we have that going for us— and homeschoolers are eligible here for the scholarship that many find to be important, which will pay for the first two year of college at the big CC, with virtually guaranteed transfer (if good grades are maintained) to the state U to finish the four-year degree, slashing college costs in half. So, for a small state without a *lot* of options, we still have *good* options, particularly for high-achieving homeschooled students who will shine on college applications, and stand a good chance of being offered some money to attend college.

 

Develop a relationship with a local private school where you can take your AP exams— it’s a less drastic option than consigning a kid to not being challenged for high school.

 

Remember that people vent, and rarely return to say, “Oh, it all t urned out all right in the end after all!” Look around and see what the situation realistically is around you, rather than reacting.

 

 

[fourisenough]

7 hours ago, NittanyJen said:

Remember that people vent, and rarely return to say, “Oh, it all t urned out all right in the end after all!” Look around and see what the situation realistically is around you, rather than reacting.

Wise words. We fall into this category. It’s a huge hassle and requires much fortitude on my part, but each year my DD has been able to register and test with the huge public near her ballet school. She’ll graduate with 7 AP exams under her belt that, paired with a high ACT score and a rigorous transcript will hopefully be enough to earn her admission to some selective schools. Despite the frustration, I definitely wouldn’t go back and change course on her education. Now, for my next DD, I doubt we’ll go the AP route just because it won’t play to her strengths. And I won’t be sad about not having to jump through hoops! 

[Sebastian (a lady)]

On 9/9/2021 at 10:29 AM, kokotg said:

I think a lot more homeschoolers need to be doing this kind of thing. As @SusanC says, it won't help our kids THIS year, but for the sake of future homeschoolers, the college board and local schools need to be made a lot more uncomfortable about this frustratingly stupid issue. There's such a small number of people who care about it (even among homeschoolers, most of them don't bother with AP classes) that I think it's not on most people's radar. One of the responses I got from someone at the county level is that "the College Board offers Saturday sessions throughout the year for this exact reason which provides an opportunity for homeschooled students to take the tests." ????? Umm, no. Wouldn't that be nice if they did! Either he doesn't know the difference between the SAT and and AP exams, or no one's ever even pointed out to him before that this is an issue and he thinks that of course the College Board wouldn't leave homeschoolers in this position. 
 

That reply definitely looks like it's mixing up AP and SAT.

[freesia]

On 9/1/2021 at 3:51 PM, Lucy the Valiant said:

Our public school has allowed our kids to sit for the exams in the past, but this year we need one that they don't offer / teach at their school. Is it ever possible that they would give it anyway, or should I also begin a phone marathon?

Our public school allowed ds to take an exam they didn't offer.  I was surprised and greatful.

[freesia]

On 9/16/2021 at 10:15 AM, Ad astra said:

Yes, that's precisely why we've been homeschooling for the past two years. We live in the rural Midwest where academic rigor is rarely prioritized. My eldest qualified for a gifted IEP at public elementary school but it was only enrichment with almost zero differentiation and meaningful academic support. Grade skip was not an option for both sides. It was basically a waste of time.
Both kids love homeschooling and have been thriving at home. We get nothing from local ps and are fine with it, at least for now.  
However, homeschooling high school would be different and more tricky because of this "closed door" policy of local public schools. Also, most social, academic and extracurricular opportunities for teenagers only exist within the ps setting in my area. I would like my ds to be able to take PSAT, AP exams, AMC 10, etc. for sure, just like other ps students, and build a strong college application. Enrolling him in public high school seems the only guaranteed way to be a part of these and I feel hesitant to gamble on it.
Unfortunately, this also means my 11yo ds would have to repeat a lot of core subjects in high school since, for example, he's already doing Geometry this year while our local high school only offers up to AP Calc AB.
Really, I would love to continue homeschooling through high school "if" there were equal access to tests and ECs for us since I could easily outsource much better quality online AP courses following our own timeline. 
Guess we can't have it all...

Well don't assume what will happen.  I have been pleasantly surprised that although I live in a state where we can't take a la carte classes or do sports, the local high school has been wonderful about AP exams and the PSAT.  You might want to contact your high school or talk to other homeschool parents in your district.

Also, we did not have access to the ECs at the high school and my older kids got into some really selective schools and got great scholarships.  They did things like community theater and scouts and music lessons and Martial Arts.

[MamaSprout]

Dd has two exams that it wouldn’t take much for her to prep for since she has solid back ground knowledge. I just looked, though, and they are the same day and time. (Macro and HUG). Is she just out of luck?

[Arcadia]

47 minutes ago, MamaSprout said:

Dd has two exams that it wouldn’t take much for her to prep for since she has solid back ground knowledge. I just looked, though, and they are the same day and time. (Macro and HUG). Is she just out of luck?

She can take one of them on the second session. You do need to find somewhere that is willing to host the second session.

[Melissa B]

On 9/8/2021 at 7:21 PM, NittanyJen said:

The College Board needs to step up and tell schools— if you are going to use our trademark, you cannot discriminate. You must offer a seat to any student who wishes to test who resides in your feeder pattern.

 

This is what should happen.

I registered my son for an AP exam today. At this particular high school the media specialist is the AP coordinator. She was very nice, but honestly, it takes two minutes. I am responsible for setting up a College Board account for my son. All of his information is in there. All she does is add him to the list of students testing under her code, take my email and money, give me the date/time/location of the test and let me know an updated email will arrive in the spring. 

The College Board should be capable of setting up an online registration system either for everyone taking AP exams, or at least for everyone that is studying for an AP exam at a public school/private school/homeschool that is not offering the exam on site. We sign up for the SAT online and take it at a local high school. AP exams are only once a year. It shouldn't be that hard to make the test accessible to any student wishing to sit the exam. I am grateful that registering is so easy here, but I truly don't understand why the College Board allows it to be so, so difficult for others. 😞

 

[Arcadia]

4 minutes ago, Melissa B said:

We sign up for the SAT online and take it at a local high school.

You are lucky. California already has 27 centers listed as closed/canceled for October SAT.

@Roadrunner https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/test-center-closings

[GoodGrief3]

Kind of a miraculous occurrence here...the neighborhood school is willing to host my daughter for all 6 AP exams. Really interesting because they don't even have a class for two of the subjects and it appears they are hosting those just for independent students. I can't emphasize enough how unusual this is, having spent several years arranging AP exams for two daughters.

[JennyD]

On 9/24/2021 at 3:12 PM, GoodGrief3 said:

Kind of a miraculous occurrence here...the neighborhood school is willing to host my daughter for all 6 AP exams. Really interesting because they don't even have a class for two of the subjects and it appears they are hosting those just for independent students. I can't emphasize enough how unusual this is, having spent several years arranging AP exams for two daughters.

That is amazing!

I found a slot for my son for one AP exam (APUSH) but am still hunting for the other (AP Chem).  

[fourisenough]

Today we went to huge public high school where DD takes her AP exams to pay for next year’s tests. I’m reminded how lucky we are to be able to homeschool. That’s all.