For the past few years, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has covered the cost of Advanced Placement (AP) exams for all high school students. While some have argued that this money would be better spent on hiring teachers or addressing overcrowding, eliminating this funding would hurt students far more than it would help schools.
Education is supposed to create opportunity, not limit it. AP exams can give students the chance to earn college credit, strengthen their college applications and challenge themselves academically. But those benefits are minimal if students cannot afford to take the exams in the first place. Around the country, it tends to cost about $100 per AP exam. The cost can quickly become overwhelming, especially for families with multiple AP students or individual students taking numerous exams.
In addition to providing academic benefits, paying for all AP exams sends a powerful message that MCPS values equity and believes every student deserves the opportunity to pursue rigorous coursework, regardless of their financial circumstances. This shift would help create an environment where academic ambition is accessible and encouraged.
Offering fee waivers for low-income students may seem like a solution, but it is not good enough. That system leaves many families in a difficult spot, those who do not qualify for financial aid but still cannot easily afford hundreds of dollars in exam fees. According to the College Board’s 2023 AP Program Participation Report, about 28 percent of AP students nationally come from families that are neither low-income nor fully able to pay for multiple exams without financial strain. By paying for all exams, MCPS removes this financial barrier entirely.
Since MCPS began covering exam fees, the number of AP exams taken by students of color has increased significantly, closing achievement gaps that have persisted for decades. For example, MCPS data shows that AP participation among Hispanic and Black students rose by more than 30 percent between 2017 and 2023.
Moreover, MCPS paying for students’ exams is a smart financial investment for the community. Scoring a three or higher on an AP exam can translate into college credit, which means that at some colleges, students can skip introductory classes and graduate earlier. At most universities, a single course costs between $1,000 and $3,000. Even if a small portion of MCPS students earn just one course credit through AP exams, it translates to significant money that will be saved in future college costs.
Critics argue that the district’s $3.2 million spent on AP exams each year could be redirected toward hiring teachers, reducing class sizes or improving facilities. Those are worthy causes, but ultimately miss the point. The funding does not just pay for the tests; it pays for the opportunity. It ensures that every student, regardless of background, has an equal chance to challenge themselves and succeed.
Why should taxpayers cover the costs for students from wealthy families who could easily afford to pay on their own? Public education is about equal access. If MCPS only paid for certain students, it would draw arbitrary lines between who “deserves” opportunities and who does not. Wealth should never determine access to academic rigor.
When exam fees are removed, students do not waste tests. Both participation and passing rates increase. According to MCPS, the percentage of exams scoring a three or higher rose alongside participation. Cutting this funding would close doors for thousands of students. The $3.2 million is not just about money; it is about priorities. If MCPS believes in preparing every student for college and life after high school, then this is exactly where the money should go.
