AP (Advanced Placement) Classes at Compass 2024-25

In 2018, Compass battled the bureaucracy and succeeded in becoming the first homeschool program in Virginia to be allowed to offer the AP (Advanced Placement) classes by the College Board! AP classes taught at Compass are officially recognized and listed in the College Board’s annual register of approved programs. Here is why motivated homeschooled high school students should take AP classes at Compass:

2024-25 AP Courses

  • AP 2D Art & Design (Mondays, 11:00 am – 12:55 pm)
  • AP Literature and Composition– World Literature (Mondays & Wednesdays, 2:00 pm- 2:55 pm)
  • AP Modern World History (Mondays & Fridays, 12:00 pm- 12:55 pm)
  • AP Calculus A/B (Tuesdays & Fridays, 1:00 pm- 1:55 pm)

Why AP?

  • AP classes allow students to dive more deeply into subjects and provide the academic challenge that some crave. 
  • AP classes introduce content and rigor equivalent to first year college classes and give teens a preview of university-level work. AP classes use college-level textbooks.

AP at Compass:

  • At Compass, homeschooled students have small group classes and in-person instruction in their AP class.
  • Compass AP classes are not restricted to 11th and 12th grade students. 9th and 10th grade students who are up for the challenge may take an AP class.

Stand Out in College Admissions:

  • College admissions advisors routinely say that they want to see that an applicant, including those who are homeschooled, took the most challenging and rigorous classes available to them. 
  • AP classes show colleges and universities that a student is ready to work at an undergraduate level and that he/she has “what it takes” to succeed in college.
  • Homeschool parents can show  a “weighted GPA” which awards an additional quality point to AP classes when calculating a student’s overall GPA. (A = 5 points instead of 4; B = 4 points instead of 3; etc.)

Earn an Objective Score:

  • When a homeschooled student takes an AP exam, he/she earns an objective, outside score than can be documented on a homeschool transcript.
  • Earning an AP score gives a college admissions advisor a nationally recognized metric to compare a homeschool applicant to others.

Double Dip:

  • An AP class is a full-year high school credit, and if a student passes the corresponding AP exam, he/she can be awarded college credit for the same work.

Save Time and Money:

  • College credits earned through AP exams save money in the long run. The cost of a Compass class in high school is less expensive than the cost of 3-6 hours of college tuition several years from now.
  • With AP credit, some students save time and funds by completing college in fewer semesters or by opting out of introductory classes and moving into major classes sooner in college.

But what if I don’t test well or don’t want to take the exam?

  • AP classes will prepare the student for the content of the exams, and instructors will give practice tests to ensure readiness.
  • Students can take an AP class but choose not to take the exam. They will have still earned a full credit and can take the “bump” in the GPA calculation for the advanced work.
  • Even without the exam, a student can list a Compass AP class as “AP” on his/her transcript since our classes are approved annually by the College Board AP program.

Read more about AP classes on the College Board website. Register for these AP classes or other high school classes online. Check the specific AP class descriptions for weekly workload estimates and expections. 

If you still have questions about homeschooling high school including AP classes, tests, credits, and transcripts, you are invited to set up a consultation with the Compass director.