Nine high schools offer Advanced Placement courses. AP courses follow the College Board's curriculum and present sophomores, juniors, and seniors the opportunity to master college-level curriculum while still in high school. Registration for AP courses is done at the schools when registering for high school classes. During May of each year, the Seattle Public Schools' Advanced Learning office coordinates the administration of AP examinations. High school students register and pay for AP exams in March at their school and should contact their high school counselor or AP teachers for more information.

Two high schools, Ingraham and Sealth, offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. The IB Diploma Program is a demanding college prep series of courses and exams developed for academically ambitious juniors and seniors. It follows a two-year comprehensive program that incorporates the best elements of college prep programs from a number of countries. Students study topics in 6 core academic areas, take a special Theory of Knowledge course, write 16+ page researched essay, and participate in community service. IB exams are administered by school staff and graded by a combination of internal and external evaluators. A dedicated IB coordinator at each school oversees the administration of the program.

More than 90% of college and universities in the United States and Canada, as well as colleges and universities in twenty other countries, have a policy granting incoming students credit, placement, or both, for qualifying AP and IB Exam grades. To learn more about the College Board's Advanced Placement program, see the College Board website. To learn more about the IB program, visit the International Baccalaureate Organization website.

For information about training for teaching AP courses, see the Pacific Northwest AP Institute.

For information about the International Baccalaureate Program see:
Chief Sealth High School;
Ingraham High School.

Updated January 21, 2009