Help Needed: Struggling to Find AP Exam Registration for Homeschooled Student

[Anonymous]

Hello all,

I’m reaching out for advice or guidance from anyone who has experienced something similar. We live in Fairfax County, and my child is a homeschooled high school student. We are currently facing a lot of challenges in trying to register for AP exams. After contacting several local schools, we have been told they don’t allow homeschooled students to take AP exams. This process has become very frustrating, as we are trying to ensure our child can access the same opportunities as other students.

Has anyone here found a school in Virginia, Maryland, or DC that accepts homeschooled students for AP exams? If you’ve navigated this situation before, I’d really appreciate any tips or suggestions on what worked for you. We’re willing to travel and are open to any advice that might help us find a solution.

Thanks so much in advance for any help or insight!

[Anonymous]

It might help to say which exams you need. Some smaller private schools might be willing to allow someone to take an exam they are already offering.

In MCPS, public schools are supposed to offer testing to homeschooled kids. I think they only have an obligation to MoCo kids and they often don’t fill that obligation but it is worth asking.

[Anonymous]

You will have more luck on Facebook groups for homeschoolers in the DC area

[Anonymous]

I don’t have experience with this. But if I were you, I would be pressing FCPS Central Office (Superintendent or whatever) to find a school for me in the county where my kid could take the AP exams. You pay taxes there - this is unacceptable for them to just turn you down at every school like it’s not their problem. Especially if your kid is being homeschooled due to anxiety or a disability.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the insight. It's AP human Geography (she's in 9th grade) but I anticipate we will have this problem for all of high school trying to find a testing locations for the AP classes she intends to take. I have reached out to our FCPS superintendent and am pressing this issue heavily because I don't understand why as a tax payer and with proper paperwork this isn't even an option. I'll keep at it. I am trying to hit up every single public school district within 2 hours distance to see what their policy is. FCPS = No, Loudoun, make exceptions but need to live in Loudoun and present a NOI so = No. It's crazy that they put this burden on parents and students to find something. The college board offers no help. Such a shame. I have a bunch of emails out, but I have already spent about 20 hours on this with no luck. Just seems like there is absolutely no options out there and no one willing to help guide better. I'll check out Facebook Groups now! Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

You can't take AP exams without completing the course - this is the rule in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

She is currently taking the course. Trying to sign up for exam in the spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! I appreciate the insight. It's AP human Geography (she's in 9th grade) but I anticipate we will have this problem for all of high school trying to find a testing locations for the AP classes she intends to take. I have reached out to our FCPS superintendent and am pressing this issue heavily because I don't understand why as a tax payer and with proper paperwork this isn't even an option. I'll keep at it. I am trying to hit up every single public school district within 2 hours distance to see what their policy is. FCPS = No, Loudoun, make exceptions but need to live in Loudoun and present a NOI so = No. It's crazy that they put this burden on parents and students to find something. The college board offers no help. Such a shame. I have a bunch of emails out, but I have already spent about 20 hours on this with no luck. Just seems like there is absolutely no options out there and no one willing to help guide better. I'll check out Facebook Groups now! Thanks again!

Don’t use bullshit “because I am a taxpayer” arguments. The county gave you a school which you decided to not attend.

The local school also wouldn’t accommodate a private school kid that attended a school that doesn’t offer the test.

Maybe sign your kid up for school in the Fall.

[Anonymous]

Maybe call these people:

https://simplify4you.com/

Homeschooling and the college process is their specialty. Plenty of homeschooled kids apply to college with AP scores, and they can probably tell you how that happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello all,

I’m reaching out for advice or guidance from anyone who has experienced something similar. We live in Fairfax County, and my child is a homeschooled high school student. We are currently facing a lot of challenges in trying to register for AP exams. After contacting several local schools, we have been told they don’t allow homeschooled students to take AP exams. This process has become very frustrating, as we are trying to ensure our child can access the same opportunities as other students.

Has anyone here found a school in Virginia, Maryland, or DC that accepts homeschooled students for AP exams? If you’ve navigated this situation before, I’d really appreciate any tips or suggestions on what worked for you. We’re willing to travel and are open to any advice that might help us find a solution.

Thanks so much in advance for any help or insight!

The public high school, to which you are zoned, is required to register your child for AP exams if you are registered with the FCPS as official homeschoolers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! I appreciate the insight. It's AP human Geography (she's in 9th grade) but I anticipate we will have this problem for all of high school trying to find a testing locations for the AP classes she intends to take. I have reached out to our FCPS superintendent and am pressing this issue heavily because I don't understand why as a tax payer and with proper paperwork this isn't even an option. I'll keep at it. I am trying to hit up every single public school district within 2 hours distance to see what their policy is. FCPS = No, Loudoun, make exceptions but need to live in Loudoun and present a NOI so = No. It's crazy that they put this burden on parents and students to find something. The college board offers no help. Such a shame. I have a bunch of emails out, but I have already spent about 20 hours on this with no luck. Just seems like there is absolutely no options out there and no one willing to help guide better. I'll check out Facebook Groups now! Thanks again!

Don’t use bullshit “because I am a taxpayer” arguments. The county gave you a school which you decided to not attend.

The local school also wouldn’t accommodate a private school kid that attended a school that doesn’t offer the test.

Maybe sign your kid up for school in the Fall.

Thank you so much for your amazing insight! Hope you get a hug tonight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe call these people:

https://simplify4you.com/

Homeschooling and the college process is their specialty. Plenty of homeschooled kids apply to college with AP scores, and they can probably tell you how that happens.

Very helpful thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! I appreciate the insight. It's AP human Geography (she's in 9th grade) but I anticipate we will have this problem for all of high school trying to find a testing locations for the AP classes she intends to take. I have reached out to our FCPS superintendent and am pressing this issue heavily because I don't understand why as a tax payer and with proper paperwork this isn't even an option. I'll keep at it. I am trying to hit up every single public school district within 2 hours distance to see what their policy is. FCPS = No, Loudoun, make exceptions but need to live in Loudoun and present a NOI so = No. It's crazy that they put this burden on parents and students to find something. The college board offers no help. Such a shame. I have a bunch of emails out, but I have already spent about 20 hours on this with no luck. Just seems like there is absolutely no options out there and no one willing to help guide better. I'll check out Facebook Groups now! Thanks again!

Don’t use bullshit “because I am a taxpayer” arguments. The county gave you a school which you decided to not attend.

The local school also wouldn’t accommodate a private school kid that attended a school that doesn’t offer the test.

Maybe sign your kid up for school in the Fall.

Different poster. PP, you are weirdly over-invested and angry…and just wrong. Such an ugly look to be stupid and an @$$hole.

Here is what VA law says: You may request any AP test, even if the school does not offer the AP course. Due in part to HEAV's efforts, Virginia law (§22.1-254.1(F)) requires all school districts to make Advanced Placement (AP) and Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) examinations available to homeschooled students. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter14/section22.1-254.1/

[Anonymous]

Here is FCPS website re:homeschooling and AP tests https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/registration/home-instruction-registration

Available Examinations

The following examinations are available to enrolled FCPS students and to students receiving home instruction: Advanced Placement (AP), Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), and PreACT.

Advanced Placement (AP)/International Baccalaureate (IB) Test Fees

Home Instruction Exam Information provides families with registration information and deadlines. Fee waiver eligibility information is available on The College Board website or on the ACT website, depending on the assessment.

Please contact the Director of Student Services at your base school to confirm testing location, times, and availability. You may access the FCPS boundary locator to determine the assigned base school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! I appreciate the insight. It's AP human Geography (she's in 9th grade) but I anticipate we will have this problem for all of high school trying to find a testing locations for the AP classes she intends to take. I have reached out to our FCPS superintendent and am pressing this issue heavily because I don't understand why as a tax payer and with proper paperwork this isn't even an option. I'll keep at it. I am trying to hit up every single public school district within 2 hours distance to see what their policy is. FCPS = No, Loudoun, make exceptions but need to live in Loudoun and present a NOI so = No. It's crazy that they put this burden on parents and students to find something. The college board offers no help. Such a shame. I have a bunch of emails out, but I have already spent about 20 hours on this with no luck. Just seems like there is absolutely no options out there and no one willing to help guide better. I'll check out Facebook Groups now! Thanks again!

Don’t use bullshit “because I am a taxpayer” arguments. The county gave you a school which you decided to not attend.

The local school also wouldn’t accommodate a private school kid that attended a school that doesn’t offer the test.

Maybe sign your kid up for school in the Fall.

Different poster. PP, you are weirdly over-invested and angry…and just wrong. Such an ugly look to be stupid and an @$$hole.

Here is what VA law says: You may request any AP test, even if the school does not offer the AP course. Due in part to HEAV's efforts, Virginia law (§22.1-254.1(F)) requires all school districts to make Advanced Placement (AP) and Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) examinations available to homeschooled students. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter14/section22.1-254.1/

OP you should contact HEAV (referenced above — Homeschool Educators of Virginia) for assistance. They have a free help line, just look up their website and you can find their contact info.