Expanding AP Through Automatic Enrollment

Federal Way School District, part of the Seattle metropolitan area, used AP Potential™ to identify students who were ready for AP classes. AP Potential, a free College Board tool, uses data from SAT and PSAT-related assessments to generate rosters of students who are likely to earn a score of 3 or higher on specific AP Exams—a score that can potentially lead to college credit or advanced placement.

The district undertook a comprehensive end-to-end approach in implementing its model:

Leverage Data

Automatically enroll students in AP classes using results from AP Potential.

Open Minds to Inspire Change

Believe that all students will live up to expectations. Make academic acceleration a part of regular conversation at school board meetings, in other administrative gatherings, and at family/community events to help create a new culture of high expectations.

Make the Investment

Back up your commitment to academic acceleration by funding AP Exams, SAT, and PSAT-related assessments.

Engage Parents

Ensure parents or caregivers are consulted if a student prefers to opt out. Help them understand that traditional barriers are being lifted and that the student has an opportunity to change their academic trajectory.

According to former superintendent Rob Neu, “We believe all students can achieve at very high academic levels. The traditional system is designed to select and sort. And the students who are sorted out are the students of color, the underrepresented, and the underserved kids. We don’t just encourage them to apply to college; we’ve removed the institutional and social barriers to change their academic trajectory. By removing these barriers, we’ve given our students access to opportunity, and they have responded beyond our wildest expectations.”