What You Should Know About Online AP® Classes

July 23, 2024 byJulie Hersum

5 min to read

Online High School Student working on her laptop

Advanced Placement® (AP®*) courses can be great for students, both academically and personally. By taking AP courses, students in high school (and even eligible students in middle school) can boost their college applications, nurture critical-thinking skills, and possibly earn college credits before graduating high school.

When considering whether to enroll in AP courses, it’s important to understand your options when it comes to the AP course curriculum, as well as the numerous value propositions AP courses can offer.

What Are AP Classes?

AP courses are rigorous, college-level courses developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization that helps students transition to higher education with still in grade school. AP classes can range from art history to calculus, depending on the individual school. These courses help students prepare for national AP exams, and students who pass these exams unlock even more opportunities for their future by earning come college credit.

Can You Take AP Classes Online?

Yes, many schools offer online AP classes. And it’s not just students enrolled in online school who take advantage of them. Students who can’t find the AP courses they want at their local school or who want or need the flexibility online courses provide can frequently enroll in AP courses through accredited online schools full or part-time, or during summer breaks.

While few, there are some differences between taking online AP courses versus in-person. These include:

AP course syllabi. While the College Board must approve every AP course syllabus regardless of where the course is taught, their guidelines do allow in-person teachers some discretion when designing their AP course syllabi. However, the rules are more rigid for online schools, where every teacher of the same subject must use the exact same College Board-approved syllabus. This ensures a consistent educational experience for all online students.

Administration of exams. At traditional schools, national AP exams are administered by the school. However, online schools cannot administer these exams over the internet. Instead, online schools generally partner with local brick-and-mortar schools and refer online students there to take national exams in person with other students.

Structure vs. flexibility. Taking AP courses in person gives students the structure and immediate accountability that many need to succeed. This includes students who thrive on routine, face-to-face interactions, and immediate feedback and assistance from teachers and classmates. Online AP courses, on the other hand, offer students the flexibility to accommodate different learning paces, styles, and life situations and choices they need or desire. Online students can generally live anywhere, schedule their learning around extracurricular activities, and easily revisit lectures and materials at times more convenient for them.

Who Should Take AP Courses?

Whether to take an AP course or not is an individual decision based on the student’s career and academic goals. Students can consider taking AP classes as early as middle school, but no matter their level of education, students should talk to trusted school counselors, teachers, or Learning Coaches in advance to learn more about their options.

Why Should Students Take AP Courses?

Of course, not all students would benefit from taking AP courses. That said, students who should take AP courses are, first and foremost, those with a desire to challenge themselves academically.

Beyond the academic challenge, taking AP courses offers students a variety of advantages that can open a long list of opportunities—especially for those who go on to take and pass the national AP exams.

Here are just some of the reasons why students who feel motivated to take AP courses should consider doing so:

To demonstrate their commitment to academic excellence. Taking challenging courses helps students demonstrate to college admissions officers** their commitment to academic excellence as well as their commitment to the subjects taken. AP courses are college-level classes, and performing well in them helps prove the student is capable of the rigorous academic demands of college.

To improve scores on college entrance exams. Studying for AP exams is great preparation for earning higher scores on SAT and ACT exams. Students develop critical-thinking, deep analytical, reading, and writing skills important to achieving higher standardized test scores.

To add weight to GPAs. In the typical grading method, an “A” earns four points. However, an “A” in an AP course often earns five points instead. As a result, students can achieve GPAs higher than a 4.0. Of course, grading scales are determined by individual schools so students should always check with school advisors in advance for confirmation.

To save money on college tuition. Students who take and pass AP exams can earn early college credit at many colleges and universities, often bypassing at least some of the requisite first-year college classes. This can save money and time for college-bound students, allowing them to lighten their college load, take extra courses, or even graduate early.

A student researching online AP courses.

Are AP Classes Offered at Connections Academy?

Connections Academy offers a wide array of accelerated learning opportunities, including AP courses, in most states. And students enrolled in a Connection Academy-supported school’s AP classes are supported every step of the way by dedicated school counselors, teachers, staff, and their Learning Coach.

Regardless of where you or your student chooses to learn—online or an in-person school—there are many benefits to taking AP classes.

*AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the College Board. Used with permission.

**It's important to note that AP courses and exams are recognized globally and therefore many of the benefits extend to students applying to colleges and universities both in the United States and abroad.