Anonymous
Post 02/15/2026 17:00     Subject: AP Exams and GDS
Anonymous wrote:I also think there is an economic equality question here - AP tests allow students at many colleges to skip intro level classes. In an era where private college tuition is north of $75k in many instances, each credit saved is real $$. If GDS actually cared about parents/students and wanted to allow them this opportunity, it would not have added this barrier to taking AP tests (note: I am not talking about AP classes, just the 2 weeks in May where the tests are administered on campus instead of how it is now w/ parents and students having to coordinate with local public schools to go take these tests)


GDS doesn’t walk all its talk on this issue.
Anonymous
Post 02/15/2026 15:27     Subject: AP Exams and GDS
I also think there is an economic equality question here - AP tests allow students at many colleges to skip intro level classes. In an era where private college tuition is north of $75k in many instances, each credit saved is real $$. If GDS actually cared about parents/students and wanted to allow them this opportunity, it would not have added this barrier to taking AP tests (note: I am not talking about AP classes, just the 2 weeks in May where the tests are administered on campus instead of how it is now w/ parents and students having to coordinate with local public schools to go take these tests)
Anonymous
Post 02/15/2026 11:51     Subject: Re:AP Exams and GDS
This has been said before but it is not so much about admissions as testing out of entry level college classes and receiving college credits for hs course work.

Every college is different. Many require “proficiency” in a foreign language for example. One way to potentially avoid being required to take multiple language classes in college is with a high AP score. Colleges have their own placement tests too but some will allow the AP in lieu of their test.
Anonymous
Post 02/15/2026 08:35     Subject: AP Exams and GDS
Anonymous wrote:I can understand not offering 20+ APs but there is some value in placing out of some of the core classes the first year. Maxing out at 5-6 core classes seems like a sane balance. Have also heard of schools offering the 20+ APs, but limiting students to 6 as a way to not penalize students for not taking the most rigorous schedule.


This. Not having an AP score didn’t seem to matter in the college admissions process but without the scores DC was not able to place out of some classes and degree cost more and took longer.
Anonymous
Post 02/15/2026 08:21     Subject: AP Exams and GDS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I just responded on another post, but I’ll say it again here. Most private schools have stopped offering APs in many cases because they don’t want to report the scores. They will say it is because they want to be able to be flexible and nimble and innovative, and not teach a specific curriculum to a test. But it is also a well-known fact that private school teachers often have no certification or training and so having a clear rigorous curriculum with milestones and Tess is actually a good thing. College is due value APs as well. They are objective and the world is going to go back to prioritizing standardized, test, and scores on them. I think it would be good for private schools to offer a piece again, and it would certainly help lower income students who would like to transfer college credit and spend less in college.


If there were only someplace where a kid of high school age could go, perhaps for free, and take all the AP courses they wanted.


Ha, best answer I've seen in a while.
Seriously though, nothing has been worse for education in the US in general than teachers being forced to teach to tests, and being evaluated by how well their students do on standardized tests. It's the curse of our entire system, so I think it's great for a school to trust their teachers instead.


Except when those teachers have no training and no curriculum. This is why some schools have students reading 1 book and writing no essays in 8th grade. That is what I heard about Maret's 8th grade last year. The teacher "redid" the book list and assignments.


That's not accurate. They read more than 1 book and did more than 1 essay. That said, that particular teacher wasn't great. But for what it's worth, that teacher is no longer at Maret. The current 8th grade English teacher is very good.
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2026 12:34     Subject: AP Exams and GDS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I just responded on another post, but I’ll say it again here. Most private schools have stopped offering APs in many cases because they don’t want to report the scores. They will say it is because they want to be able to be flexible and nimble and innovative, and not teach a specific curriculum to a test. But it is also a well-known fact that private school teachers often have no certification or training and so having a clear rigorous curriculum with milestones and Tess is actually a good thing. College is due value APs as well. They are objective and the world is going to go back to prioritizing standardized, test, and scores on them. I think it would be good for private schools to offer a piece again, and it would certainly help lower income students who would like to transfer college credit and spend less in college.


If there were only someplace where a kid of high school age could go, perhaps for free, and take all the AP courses they wanted.


Ha, best answer I've seen in a while.
Seriously though, nothing has been worse for education in the US in general than teachers being forced to teach to tests, and being evaluated by how well their students do on standardized tests. It's the curse of our entire system, so I think it's great for a school to trust their teachers instead.


Except when those teachers have no training and no curriculum. This is why some schools have students reading 1 book and writing no essays in 8th grade. That is what I heard about Maret's 8th grade last year. The teacher "redid" the book list and assignments.


Then that's on the school to sort out. Or pick a school that's better at that. Switching back to AP's simply lets someone else set the curriculum, and if that's the goal, and you want the AP curriculum across the board, then you may as well send you kid to public.


This is not true. The CB has to approve your curriculum, but there isn't just one. Some schools have multiple versions of the same AP classes. My kid's AP curriculum is not the same as friends takign the same class at a different school.
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2026 10:27     Subject: AP Exams and GDS
My GDS high schooler has taken AP tests at MOCO publics. GDS sends out an email in early September explaining exactly who to contact at the schools to set this up and all teachers have been supportive. So far mine has taken English lang, English lit, calc BC, physics, US history and Spanish. Got 4s and 5s on all with very little study. Won’t necessarily help a college application, but especially if attending a public university, will be nice to enter college with some credits and place out of some classes (most likely writing 1, calc 1&2, and foreign language requirement).
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2026 08:37     Subject: AP Exams and GDS
Take the AP lang and AP lit - don’t need any special prep and it’s nice to go into college with some credits in case you need flexibility in terms of course load at some point.
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2026 08:25     Subject: AP Exams and GDS
Here’s a fun hack: if you think your child can get into top 20 schools have them apply to some schools ranked 20 to 50 and watch the scholarships pour in.
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2026 18:36     Subject: AP Exams and GDS
My GDS student did not take APs, and was admitted to a top 10 school. Also true of all their friends who had similar results. So it works out fine. However, I agree fully that the college office is unhelpful to students who are aiming for top schools. My child was advised in strong terms and pressured to put University of Vermont and Pitt on their list as safeties. The number of schools was restricted to 9 or 10. It was ridiculous to see how little they were encouraged to aspire. In fact the opposite. My child would leave the CCO in tears! “Maybe I am not ready to go to a better school than…”
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2026 16:19     Subject: AP Exams and GDS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:By not supporting its students who want to take AP exams, GDS reveals how little they care for the few students on their campus who would materially benefit from being able to get college credit/placement and save some money on tuition.


What does "not supporting" look like? We're at a school that does offer APs, plus makes it relatively simple to take the exam for accelerated-type classes even if they're not officially AP classes.


No APs and they do not administer any AP exams on site or assist those students in finding a test site or accommodate those students who do take the exams (e.g., ensure no tests or other assignments are due the day of the exam). They do not care about the students who may be taking these exams because they will be on a budget in college.
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2026 15:37     Subject: AP Exams and GDS
Anonymous wrote:How common is it for students at GDS high school to take AP exams? We are new there in 10th grade and the college counselor says it doesn't make a difference in college applications because GDS does not offer AP classes nor prep students for the AP exams. To take it, a student would have to prepare for it outside of school. They seem to discourage it. I was just wondering if most kids get prep and do it anyway if they are taking an UL or Honors course in an AP subject? Do they actually get the extra prep to cover the content? Seems like a lot of extra work and cost. And does it really not make a difference to not have taken any AP classes in college applications?

I know a GDS student who intended to major in economics … He self-studied for the AP Economics exams, took them, and scored competitively. Also, he completed a challenging college-level economics course online that he enjoyed a lot. He felt these experiences were worthwhile. Since he was admitted ED to his top-choice university, I don’t know how much they helped with admissions. They certainly solidified and expanded his interests.

At peer schools, I know a few “A” students who self-studied for and took AP exams in STEM fields. Given the rigor of their courses plus grades and references, I felt they didn’t need to. A few students may not feel they did their best in an at-school course, and, therefore, may benefit from submitting a score on a corresponding AP exam or and/other evidence of their mastery of material.

Independent counselor
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2026 15:25     Subject: Re:AP Exams and GDS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If you want to study abroad, you need AP classes (or IB). Not relevant for many people, but I know some that realized too late that they wanted their kids to study abroad, but couldn’t because of no AP classes.


The decision to study abroad should be the kid’s not the parents.

I studied abroad and had zero AP credits. I took 1 AP exam (Latin).


Study abroad 1 semester or 2 yes.

But if kid is applying to Oxbridge they must have 4 or 5 APs at 4 or 5 score. That has to start 10th grade May which means signing up 10th grade October for those. The parent has to have the foresight b/c at that stage, GDS main message is "relax, nothing to do or think about re: college yet"

O course that path dependence is a problem if kid in 12th grade decides to go to UK for university. It's happened at GDS not an edge case.