Bright students are often ready for subject material beyond what is typical for their grade, but it is not always feasible for small or rural schools to offer advanced classes. The Iowa Online AP® Academy (IOAPA) provides free access to nearly 30 online advanced courses for Iowa students who do not have access to these courses in their schools.

About the Program

Do you have a middle school student ready for Algebra II or a high school student capable of tackling college-level English? IOAPA classes include Advanced Placement® courses for high school students and high school-level courses for eligible middle school students. Any eligible Iowa student may register.

The most important dates are listed below, but a helpful operational timeline is also available.

Fall 2024 Semester

  • Course Dates: August 26 – December 20, 2024
  • Enrollment Period: April 8 – August 14, 2024 EXTENDED to August 20, 2024
  • Last day to drop without a fee: September 9, 2024

Spring 2025 Semester

  • Course Dates: January 6 – April 24, 2025
  • Enrollment Period: November 4 – December 13, 2024
  • Last day to drop without a fee: January 21, 2025

Schools are eligible to utilize a particular IOAPA course if they are unable to offer that course on-site. Courses are limited to six students per class at each school. For a full list of policies and requirements see our policy guide.

High school students should be able to handle the academic rigor of a college-level course, as well as the self-discipline and motivation necessary for an online course. Additionally, students should not be over-committed in their curricular and/or extracurricular activities. Review suggested prerequisites listed in the course catalog and use pre-tests for AP Calculus AB, AP Chemistry, AP Physics B, and AP Statistics.

Middle school students should be capable of handling coursework at the level of an average student two or three years older. They should also have or be capable of developing the self-discipline and motivation necessary for an online course. For more detailed information about determining the best fit, see our middle school recommendations guide.

Policies & Guidelines

These resources can help students, mentors, and schools have a more effective experience.

Course Catalog

Algebra I (Honors) (Grades 6-8 Only)

2-Semester Course
Middle School
Course Content Provided by Apex

Algebra I is a comprehensive course that provides an in-depth exploration of key algebraic concepts.

Required Materials

Algebra II (Honors) (Middle School Only)

2-Semester Course
Middle School
Course Content Provided by Apex

Algebra II builds on the concepts covered in Algebra I and prepares students for advanced-level courses.

Required Materials

Biology (Honors) (Grades 6-8 Only)

2-Semester Course
Middle School
Course Content Provided by Apex

Biology is an in-depth course that furthers mastery of scientific skills, fosters a deep understanding of key concepts, and promotes the application of the scientific method to biological topics.

Required Materials

Computer Science Python Fundamentals (Grades 6-9 Only) (Full-Year)

2-Semester Course
Middle School
Course Content Provided by Project STEM

An introductory course for students brand new to programming that teaches the foundations of computer science. This course prepares students for AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles.

Required Materials

Computer Science Python Fundamentals (Grades 6-9 Only) (One-Semester)

1-Semester Course
Middle School
Course Content Provided by Project STEM

An introductory course for students brand new to programming that teaches the foundations of computer science. This course prepares students for AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles.

Required Materials

Creative Writing (Grades 6-8 Only)

1-Semester Course
Middle School
Course Content Provided by Apex

Creative Writing is an English elective course that focuses on the exploration of short fiction and poetry, culminating in a written portfolio that includes one revised short story and three to five polished poems.

Required Materials

Environmental Science (Grades 6-8 Only)

2-Semester Course
Middle School
Course Content Provided by Apex

Environmental Science explores the biological, physical, and sociological principles related to the environment in which organisms live on Earth, the biosphere.

Required Materials

Geometry (Honors) (Grades 6-8 Only)

2-Semester Course
Middle School
Course Content Provided by Apex

Geometry is a comprehensive course that provides an in-depth exploration of geometric concepts.

Required Materials

Physical Science (Grades 6-8 Only)

2-Semester Course
Middle School
Course Content Provided by Apex

Physical Science offers a focused curriculum to understand critical concepts, including the nature and structure of matter, the characteristics of energy, and the mastery of critical scientific skills.

Required Materials

Precalculus (Honors) (Grades 6-8 Only)

2-Semester Course
Middle School
Course Content Provided by Apex

Precalculus is a comprehensive course that weaves together previous study of algebra, geometry, and functions into a preparatory course for calculus. The course focuses on the mastery of critical skills and exposure to new skills necessary for success in subsequent math courses.

Required Materials

Probability and Statistics (Grades 6-8 Only)

2-Semester Course
Middle School
Course Content Provided by Apex

Probability and Statistics provides a curriculum focused on understanding key data analysis and probabilistic concepts, calculations, and relevance to real-world applications. We recommend (but don't require) that students have access to a graphing calculator and have taken Algebra I before this class.

Required Materials

Psychology (Grades 6-8 Only)

1-Semester Course
Middle School
Course Content Provided by Apex

Psychology provides a solid overview of the field's major domains: methods, biopsychology, cognitive and developmental psychology, and variations in individual and group behavior.

Required Materials

Spanish I (Grades 6-8 Only)

2-Semester Course
Middle School
Course Content Provided by Apex

Students will become familiar with common vocabulary terms and phrases, comprehend a range of grammar patterns, and analyze and compare cultural practices of various Spanish-speaking countries.

Required Materials

U.S. History since the Civil War (Grades 6-8 Only)

2-Semester Course
Middle School
Course Content Provided by Apex

This course traces the nation's history from the end of the Civil War to the present and emphasizes the development of historical analysis skills.

Required Materials

U.S. History to the Civil War (Grades 6-8 Only)

1-Semester Course
Middle School
Course Content Provided by Apex

This course traces the nation's history from the pre-colonial period to the end of the American Civil War, and emphasizes the development of historical analysis skills such as comparing and contrasting, considering multiple perspectives, and analyzing cause-and-effect relationships.

Required Materials

AP Biology

2-Semester Course
High School
Course Content Provided by Apex

AP Biology builds students' understanding of biology on both the micro and macro scales.

Required Materials

AP Calculus AB

2-Semester Course
High School
Course Content Provided by Apex

In AP Calculus AB, students learn to understand change geometrically and visually, analytically, numerically, and verbally.

Required Materials

AP Chemistry

2-Semester Course
High School
Course Content Provided by Apex

AP Chemistry builds students' understanding of the nature and reactivity of matter.

Required Materials

AP Computer Science A (Java)

2-Semester Course
High School
Course Content Provided by Project STEM

Students will learn to design and implement computer programs that solve problems relevant to today’s society, including art, media, and engineering. Due to College Board requirements, schools will not be able to list the same person as mentor (teacher of record) and AP coordinator for this course in the AP Course Audit. More information about this can be found in the mentor handbook.

Required Materials

AP Computer Science Principles

2-Semester Course
High School
Course Content Provided by Project STEM

AP Computer Science Principles asks students to explore the central ideas of computer science. More information about mentor involvement for this course can found here. Due to College Board requirements, schools will not be able to list the same person as mentor (teacher of record) and AP coordinator for this course in the AP Course Audit. More information about this can be found in the mentor handbook.

Required Materials

AP English Language and Composition

2-Semester Course
High School
Course Content Provided by Apex

In AP English Language and Composition, students investigate rhetoric and its impact on culture through analysis of notable fiction and nonfiction texts, from pamphlets to speeches to personal essays.

Required Materials

AP English Literature and Composition

2-Semester Course
High School
Course Content Provided by Apex

AP English Literature and Composition immerses students in novels, plays, poems, and short stories from various periods.

Required Materials

AP Environmental Science

2-Semester Course
High School
Course Content Provided by Apex

AP Environmental Science provides students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world. Students perform hands-on and virtual labs and projects.

Required Materials

AP French Language and Culture

2-Semester Course
High School
Course Content Provided by Apex

AP French Language and Culture students acquire proficiencies that expand their cognitive, analytical and communicative skills through this immersion based course.

Required Materials

AP Macroeconomics

1-Semester Course
High School
Course Content Provided by Apex

AP Macroeconomics students learn why and how the world economy can change from month to month, how to identify trends in our economy, and how to use those trends to develop performance measures and predictors of economic growth or decline.

Required Materials

AP Microeconomics

1-Semester Course
High School
Course Content Provided by Apex

AP Microeconomics studies the behavior of individuals and businesses as they exchange goods and services in the marketplace.

Required Materials

AP Psychology

1-Semester Course
High School
Course Content Provided by Apex

AP Psychology provides an overview of current psychological research methods and theories.

Required Materials

AP Spanish

2-Semester Course
High School
Course Content Provided by Apex

AP Spanish Language students practice perfecting their Spanish speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills.

Required Materials

AP Statistics

2-Semester Course
High School
Course Content Provided by Apex

AP Statistics gives students hands-on experience collecting, analyzing, graphing, and interpreting real-world data.

Required Materials

AP U.S. Government

1-Semester Course
High School
Course Content Provided by Apex

AP U.S. Government and Politics studies the operations and structure of the U.S. government and the behavior of the electorate and politicians.

Required Materials

AP U.S. History

2-Semester Course
High School
Course Content Provided by Apex

In AP U.S. History, students investigate the development of American economics, politics, and culture through historical analysis grounded in primary sources, research, and writing.

Required Materials

How to Register

Registration is a 4-step process:

1. Find eligible students.

If your students are 6th-8th graders, the first step is to find the students who are ready for additional challenge, and consider registering for I-Excel or ACT above-level testing. If your students are 9th-12th graders, continue to step 2. Additional recommendations for determining eligibility can be found in the mentor handbook.

2. Register your school with IOAPA and assign a site coordinator and mentor

The first step is for principals to register their schools on our website (below). As part of this step, schools agree to program requirements and assign a site coordinator and a mentor. Be sure to fill out and send in the Mentor Designation Form for this school year. This form is what enables mentors to receive a stipend.

For spring semester courses, if a school has already registered during the current academic year: Schools that have already registered for the current academic year will be redirected to step 2 (student nomination).

3. Nominate the student taking IOAPA course(s)

Completing the school registration page sends the principal an automated email with a link in it to nominate the student. The principal either needs to complete the nomination or forward the link to the site coordinator or mentor to complete.

4. Confirm that the student has self-enrolled in the course

Once the student has been nominated, an email will be automatically sent to the student to enroll themselves in the actual course. Be sure to have students check their junk mail folders, as the automated emails sometimes get filtered there. Students should complete this step and be sure to click submit when they’re done.

Register Your School

Register NowImage link to IOAPA school enrollment

After You've Registered

Once you have registered with the Iowa Online AP Academy, be sure to complete all of the College Board requirements, as well. Then, make sure you have all the materials you'll need and familiarize yourself with using the courses.

College Board Requirements for Schools

  1. Register your school with the College Board.
  2. Encourage high school students to take the AP exam, and order all AP Exams. For courses that begin before November 15, the deadline to order is November 15. For courses that begin after November 15, the deadline to order is March 15. Please note that these deadlines are different from previous years.
  3. Complete the AP Course Audit process for Online/Distance Learning courses by January 31 in order to be able to label courses as "AP" on students' transcripts.

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