On Sept. 16, District 219 announced a plan to cover the costs of all AP tests that students sign up for, for the 2024-25 school year. Getting this plan passed was no easy task. It took years of collecting and comparing data from both Niles North and Niles West to explain just why this suggestion needed to be implemented.

“Before my time in March 2020 there were some questions as to why students who were enrolled in AP classes weren’t taking the test at the end. And following some interviews of the students who didn’t take the test, one of the common themes was that the cost of the test was a barrier,” Assistant Superintendent Christine Gonzales said.

Although all students are different, and the future career paths they may take will vary, the students at Niles North seem to have a common goal after high school: based on student responses, Gonzales explained that 80% of students have recorded that they plan attend college to continue their education. A good way to help prepare for college is to take Advanced Placement (AP) classes, which most high schools offer to students. 

AP classes are college-level classes that allow students to gain the experience and understand the workload of a college course. At the same time, they offer credits for future college classes which one would otherwise be required to take and pay for.

One thing that makes AP classes different from standard ones is the test that is given at the end of the year. This test is optional to take and is graded on a scale of one to five. Students then have the other option to submit their score to their college of choice. Most colleges accept  scores of three and above; however, studies from College Board have shown that even scoring a one or two has benefits for college.

As noted by Gonzales, though, the cost of AP testing is a drawback. Since these tests are not mandated, students must pay $98 per test, out of pocket, to take them. In past years, D219 has covered one test per year for every student. Since this policy began, the number of students who have taken a test has increased from 72 to 88 percent. However helpful this may be, some students take up to four APs every year, which quickly adds up. 

D219’s decision to take this cost off of families opens up many opportunities for students. For families who face financial difficulties, it removes this burden completely. Even for families who can afford it, though, this opens up the ability to invest this money somewhere else in their child’s education.

“Cost isn’t the main factor but it is a huge factor. My main thing is I want students to be prepared, and so if 80 percent of our kids want to go to college, I want them to be prepared,” Gonzales said.

As of right now, this plan is only approved for the 2024-25 school year. That said, if an increase in student testing occurs as predicted, there is hope that this can be continued into future years.