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.

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 20, 2025

Fall 2025 Semester

  • Course Dates: August 25 – December 19, 2025
  • Enrollment Period: April 7 – August 13, 2025
  • Last day to drop without a fee: September 8, 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
Course Content Provided by Edmentum
Honors Algebra I builds a deep understanding of linear, quadratic, and exponential relationships. Students learn through discovery and application, developing the skills they need to break down complex challenges and demonstrate their knowledge in new situations. Course topics include an introduction to functions and problem solving, measurement; problem solving with basic equations and formulas, linear equations and systems of linear equations, exponents and exponential functions, sequences and functions, descriptive statistics, polynomials and factoring, quadratic equations and functions, and function transformations and inverses.

Algebra II (Honors) (Grades 6-9 Only)

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum
Algebra II – Honors introduces students to advanced functions, with a focus on developing a strong conceptual grasp of the expressions that define them. Students develop skills needed to break down complex challenges and demonstrate their knowledge in new situations. Course topics include quadratic equations, polynomial functions, rational expressions and equations, radical expressions and equations, exponential and logarithmic functions, trigonometric identities and functions, modeling with functions, probability and inferential statistics, probability distributions, and sample distributions and confidence intervals.

Biology (Honors) (Grades 6-8 Only)

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum
Honors Biology furthers mastery of scientific skills, fosters a deep understanding of key concepts, and promotes the application of the scientific method to biological topics. Study the nature of science and biology, including the major themes of structure and function, matter and energy flow, systems, and the interconnectedness of life. Apply those themes to the structure and function of the cell, cellular metabolism, and biogeochemical cycles. Explore the connections and interactions between living things by studying genetics, ecosystems and natural selection, and evolution. Take an applied look at human biology. This course includes the option of either hands-on or dry lab activities. Hands-on labs require specified materials. For a list of hands-on lab materials, go to http://support.apexlearning.com/materials.

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

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Project STEM
An introductory course for students brand new to programming and computer science. Learn problem-solving strategies, software design, and the foundations of computer science using two key tools: the Project STEM programming environment and EarSketch, a software package that turns your code into music. Not only will this course prepare students for continuing their studies in computer science, but it will also teach them how to think like a scientist and solve real-world problems, skills that are important to every 21st-century citizen. No prerequisites, although students should have basic familiarity with how to operate a computer and use applications. It's also recommended that students be familiar with basic algebra principles before starting this course.

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

1-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Project STEM
An introductory course for students brand new to programming and computer science. Learn problem-solving strategies, software design, and the foundations of computer science using two key tools: the Project STEM programming environment and EarSketch, a software package that turns your code into music. Not only will this course prepare students for continuing their studies in computer science, but it will also teach them how to think like a scientist and solve real-world problems, skills that are important to every 21st-century citizen. No prerequisites, although students should have basic familiarity with how to operate a computer and use applications. It's also recommended that students be familiar with basic algebra principles before starting this course.

Creative Writing (Grades 6-8 Only)

1-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum
Creative Writing is an English elective course focusing 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. Draft, revise, and polish fiction and poetry through writing exercises, developing familiarity with literary terms and facility with the writing process. Explore elements of fiction writing including attention to specific detail, observation, character development, setting, plot, and point of view. In the poetry units, learn about sensory details and imagery, figurative language, and sound devices including rhyme, rhythm and alliteration. Explore poetic forms ranging from found poems and slam poetry to traditional sonnets and villanelles. Engage in critical reading activities designed to emphasize the writing craft of a diverse group of authors. Study short stories by authors such as Bharati Mukherjee and Edgar Allan Poe, learning how to create believable characters and develop setting and plot. Read poetry by W. B. Yeats and Emily Dickinson as well as contemporary writers such as Pablo Neruda, Sherman Alexie, and Alice Notley.

English 10 - Honors (Grades 6-10 Only)

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum

English 10 Honors focuses on the writing process. Three forms of writing guide the curriculum: persuasive, expository, and narrative writing. A typical lesson culminates in a written assignment that lets students demonstrate their developing skill in one of these forms.

At least one anchor text is included per lesson focused on a thematic core of the capacity of language to influence others. Readings include poems, stories, speeches, plays, and a graphic novel, as well as a variety of informational texts, and these texts are often presented as models for students to emulate as they practice their own writing. The readings represent a wide variety of purposes and cultural perspectives, ranging from the Indian epic The Ramayana to accounts of Hurricane Katrina told through different media. Audio and video presentations enhance students' awareness and command of rhetorical techniques and increase their understanding of writing for different audiences.

English 10 Honors provides opportunities for self-directed study, including outside readings, open-ended journal entries, and free-form projects, all of which challenge Honors students to use their creativity and critical thinking skills to gain independent mastery of reading and writing.

Pre-requisite: English 9

Required materials:

  • American Born Chinese. Gene Luen Yang. (Suare Fish, 2008). ISBN-10: 1250811899 / ISBN-13: 9781250811899. Other editions acceptable.
  • Fast Food Nation. Eric Schlosser. (Mariner Books, 2012). ISBN-10: 0547750331 / ISBN-13: 9780547750330. Other editions acceptable.

English 10 Core (Middle School Only)

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum
TBD

English 9 Honors (Grades 6-9 Only)

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum
English 9 Honors provides an overview of exemplar selections of literature in fiction and nonfiction genres. Read short stories, poems, a full-length novel, a full-length Shakespeare play, and two book-length outside readings of your choice. Analyze the use of elements of literature in developing character, plot, and theme. In the poetry unit, analyze how artists and writers draw from and interpret source material. Consider the historical, social, and literary context of the main texts. For example, a Nikolai Gogol story that is offered as an exemplar of magical realism is accompanied by instruction on that genre. You will demonstrate an understanding of magical realism by analyzing its qualities in a literary text. Respond to others' claims and support your own claims in essays, discussions, and presentations, using textual evidence. Opportunities for self-directed study, including outside readings, open-ended journal entries, and free-form projects, challenge Honors students to use their creativity and critical thinking skills to gain independent mastery of reading and writing. Texts includes authors such as William Shakespeare, Franz Kafka, and Elie Wiesel, as well as Alice Walker, Li-Young Lee, and Robert Lake-Thom (Medicine Grizzly Bear).

Environmental Science (Grades 6-8 Only)

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum
Environmental Science explores the biological, physical, and sociological principles related to the environment in which organisms live on Earth, the biosphere. Topics include natural systems on Earth, biogeochemical cycles, the nature of matter and energy, the flow of matter and energy through living systems, populations, communities, ecosystems, ecological pyramids, renewable and non-renewable natural resources, land use, biodiversity, pollution, conservation, sustainability, and human impacts on the environment. Learn and practice scientific skills within the context of relevant scientific questions. Learn to ask scientific questions, deconstruct claims, form and test hypotheses, and use logic and evidence to draw conclusions about the concepts. Case studies of current environmental challenges introduce each content lesson and provide real-life environmental issues, debates, and solutions. Lab activities reinforce critical thinking, writing, and communication skills and help students develop a deeper understanding of the nature of science. Virtual Lab activities enable engagement in investigations requiring long periods of observation at remote locations and exploration of simulations enabling environmental scientists to test predictions. Develop an understanding of how biology, earth science, and physical science are applied to the study of the environment and how technology and engineering are contributing solutions for studying and creating a sustainable biosphere. This course includes the option of either hands-on or dry lab activities. Dry labs require no additional lab materials. Hands-on labs require specified materials. For a list of hands-on lab materials, visit http://support.apexlearning.com/materials

Geography and World Cultures Honors (Grades 6-8 Only)

1-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum
Geography and World Cultures Honors explores how geographic features, human relationships, political and social structures, economics, science and technology, and the arts have developed and influenced life in countries around the world. Along the way, students are given rigorous instruction on how to read maps, charts, and graphs, and how to create them. Geography and World Cultures Honors is designed as the first course in the social studies sequence. It develops note-taking skills, teaches analytic writing, and introduces students to the close examination of primary documents.

Geometry (Honors) (Grades 6-9 Only)

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum
Honors Geometry builds upon students' command of geometric relationships and formulating mathematical arguments. Learn through discovery and application, developing the skills needed to break down complex challenges and demonstrate knowledge in new situations. Topics include reasoning, proof, and the creation of sound mathematical arguments; points, lines, and angles; triangles and trigonometry; quadrilaterals and other polygons; circles; congruence, similarity, transformations, and constructions; coordinate geometry; three-dimensional solids; and applications of probability. Develop computational fluency, deepen conceptual understanding, and apply mathematical practice skills. Discover new concepts through guided instruction, then confirm understanding in an interactive, feedback-rich environment. Extend your understanding by answering "what if" questions, thinking abstractly about the mathematics involved, and analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the model as a reflection of the real-world situation. Synthesize knowledge in novel, real-world scenarios and make sense of multifaceted problems and persevere in solving them. Go deeper into these investigations; for example, change or validate assumptions, add constraints, or extend the project. Through journal activities, reason abstractly and quantitatively, construct arguments, critique reasoning, and communicate precisely.

Media Literacy (Grades 6-8 Only)

1-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum
Build the critical thinking, writing, and reading skills required in a media-rich and increasingly techno-centric world. A major topic is non-traditional media reading skills, including how to approach, analyze, and respond to advertisements, blogs, websites, social media, news media, and wikis. Engage in writing activities in non-traditional media genres, such as blogging and podcast scripting. Consider your own positions as consumers of media and explore ways to use non-traditional media to become more active and thoughtful citizens. Learn how to ask critical questions about the intended audience and underlying purpose of media messages. Study factors which can contribute to bias and affect credibility. Course content is based on The National Association for Media Literacy Education's Core Principles of Media Literacy Education, as well as aggregate state standards and research into best pedagogical practices.

Modern World History from 1450 (Grades 6-8 Only)

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum
Study the major turning points that shaped the modern world including the Enlightenment, industrialization, imperialism, nationalism, political revolutions, the world wars, the Cold War, decolonization, and globalization. By presenting content from multiple perspectives and through diverse primary and secondary source materials, this course provides students with a solid foundation in the history of the modern era and prepares students to be active and informed citizens of the world. Through critical reading activities, feedback-rich instruction, and application-oriented assignments, develop their capacity to conduct research, analyze sources, make arguments, and take informed action. In written assignments, address critical questions about the history of the modern era. In discussion activities, respond to diverse opinions, take positions, and defend your own claims.

Physical Science (Grades 6-8 Only)

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum
Physical Science offers a focused curriculum designed around the understanding of critical physical science concepts, including the nature and structure of matter, the characteristics of energy, and the mastery of critical scientific skills. Topics include an introduction to kinematics, including gravity and two-dimensional motion; force; momentum; waves; electricity; atoms; the periodic table of elements; molecular bonding; chemical reactivity; gases; and an introduction to nuclear energy. Teacher-scored labs encourage students to apply the scientific method. This course includes the option of either hands-on or dry lab activities. Dry labs require no additional lab materials. Hands-on labs require specified materials. For a list of hands-on lab materials, go to http://support.apexlearning.com/materials.

Precalculus (Honors) (Grades 6-9 Only)

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum
Precalculus Honors is a comprehensive course that weaves together previous study of algebra, geometry, and functions into a preparatory course for calculus. Focus on the mastery of critical skills and exposure to new skills necessary for success in subsequent math courses. The first semester includes linear, quadratic, exponential, logarithmic, radical, polynomial, and rational functions; systems of equations; and conic sections. The second semester covers trigonometric ratios and functions; inverse trigonometric functions; applications of trigonometry, including vectors and laws of cosine and sine; polar functions and notation; and arithmetic of complex numbers.

Probability and Statistics (Grades 6-8 Only)

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum
Probability and Statistics provides a curriculum focused on understanding key data analysis and probabilistic concepts, calculations, and relevance to real-world applications. Students are challenged to work toward mastery of computational skills, apply calculators and other technology in data analysis, deepen their understanding of key ideas and solution strategies, and extend their knowledge through a variety of problem-solving applications. Topics include types of data, common methods used to collect data, and representations of data, including histograms, bar graphs, box plots, and scatterplots. Analyze and employ methods of extending results, involving samples and populations, distributions, summary statistics, experimental design, regression analysis, simulations, and confidence intervals. Ideas involving probability — including sample space, empirical and theoretical probability, expected value, and independent and compound events — are covered as students explore the relationship between probability and data analysis. Extended projects allow for more open-ended, extended applications of concepts and skills. Students collect and analyze statistical data about a topic that interests them, and they apply probability concepts in a real-world context. Pre-requisites: Algebra II or equivalent. Required materials: TI-84 Plus, TI-83, or TI-83 Plus Calculator or equivalent.

Psychology (Grades 6-8 Only)

1-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum
Psychology provides a solid overview of the field's major domains: methods, biopsychology, cognitive and developmental psychology, and variations in individual and group behavior. Focus on significant scientific research and on the questions that are most important to psychologists. Topics cluster around challenge questions, such as “What is happiness?” Students answer these questions before, during, and after they interact with direct instruction.

Spanish I (Grades 6-9 Only)

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum
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.

U.S. Government and Politics Honors (Grades 6-8 Only)

1-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum
Examine the history, principles, and function of the political system established by the U.S. Constitution. Starting with a basic introduction to the role of government in society and the philosophies at the heart of American democracy, this course provides students with the knowledge needed to be informed and empowered participants in the U.S. political system. Through critical reading activities, feedback-rich instruction, and application-oriented assignments, students develop their capacity to conduct research, analyze sources, make arguments, and take informed action. In written assignments, students address critical questions about U.S. politics and the role of individual Americans in politics and political organizations. In discussion activities, students respond to political opinions, take a position, and defend their own claims. The course culminates with a multipart independent research project focused on a topic of their choice.

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

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum
This course traces the nation's history from the end of the Civil War to the present. It describes the emergence of the United States as an industrial nation, highlighting social policy as well as its role in modern world affairs. Students evaluate the attempts to bind the nation together during Reconstruction while also exploring the growth of an industrial economy. Moving into the 20th and 21st centuries, students probe the economic and diplomatic interactions between the United States and other world players while investigating how the world wars, the Cold War, and the "information revolution" affected the lives of ordinary Americans. The course emphasizes the development of historical analysis skills such as comparing and contrasting, differentiating between facts and interpretations, considering multiple perspectives, and analyzing cause-and-effect relationships.

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

1-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum
This course traces the nation's history from the pre-colonial period to the end of the American Civil War. It emphasizes the colonial period and the creation of a new nation and examines the beliefs and philosophies that informed the American Revolution and the subsequent formation of the government and political system. Students first explore the earliest points of contact between individuals from Europe, Africa, and North America. They then probe the economic, cultural, and social motives for the nation's expansion, as well as the conflicting notions of liberty that eventually resulted in the Civil War. The course emphasizes the development of historical analysis skills such as comparing and contrasting, differentiating between facts and interpretations, considering multiple perspectives, and analyzing cause-and-effect relationships.

AP Biology

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum

AP Biology builds students' understanding of biology on both the micro and macro scales. Study cell biology, learn how evolution drives the diversity and unity of life, and examine how living systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information and how organisms utilize free energy. This course is the equivalent of an introductory college-level biology course and prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in science, health sciences, or engineering. Perform hands-on labs giving insight into the nature of science and helping you to understand biological concepts, as well as how evidence can be obtained to support those concepts. Also complete several virtual lab studies in which you form hypotheses; collect, analyze, and manipulate data; and report findings and conclusions. During both virtual and traditional lab investigations and research opportunities, summarize your findings and analyze others' findings in summaries, using statistical and mathematical calculations when appropriate. Required materials: A college-level biology textbook.

Though students may use any college-level textbook, resources such as page references and scaffolded reading guides are provided in the course to support students who use either of the following texts:

Campbell Biology, 11th ed. Lisa Urry et al. (Pearson, 2016)
ISBN-10: 0134093410 / ISBN-13: 9780134093413
Acceptable alternate: 12th ed. (2020). ISBN-10: 0135188741
Acceptable alternate: 10th ed. (2013). ISBN-10: 0321775651

– OR –

Principles of Life, 3rd ed. David M. Hillis et al. (W. H. Freeman, 2019)
ISBN-10: 1319017711 / ISBN-13: 9781319017712
Acceptable alternate: 2nd ed. (2014). ISBN-10: 1464109478
Acceptable alternate: 1st ed. (2011). ISBN-10: 1429257210

AP Biology requires the completion of hands-on lab activities and has been approved by the College Board as meeting all requirements for a laboratory science course. For a list of hands-on lab materials, go to http://support.apexlearning.com/materials.

Apex Learning has partnered with a third-party vendor to create a custom laboratory kit that contains all the materials needed for this course. The kit may be purchased here: http://www.qualitysciencelabs.com/apex-learning-science-kits/. Once there, select “Advanced Biology Kit for Apex Learning.” Note that a microscope is not included and must be obtained separately. Kits may take up to 3 weeks to ship. For Quality Science Labs customer service, call 1-866-700-1884. Schools are responsible for purchasing lab materials and textbooks. Contact IOAPA if you have questions or a financial need.

AP Calculus AB

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum

Learn to understand change geometrically and visually (by studying graphs of curves), analytically (by studying and working with mathematical formulas), numerically (by seeing patterns in sets of numbers), and verbally. Instead of simply getting the right answer, learn to evaluate the soundness of proposed solutions and to apply mathematical reasoning to real-world models. Calculus helps scientists, engineers, and financial analysts understand the complex relationships behind real-world phenomena. The equivalent of an introductory college-level calculus course, AP Calculus AB prepares students for the AP exam and further studies in science, engineering, and mathematics. Required materials: TI-89, TI-84 Plus, TI-83, or TI-83 Plus calculator or equivalent.

Optional textbooks:

Calculus: Single Variable, 9th ed. James Stewart (Cengage, 2020).
ISBN-10: 0357042913 / ISBN-13: 9780357042915
Acceptable alternate: 8th ed. (2016). ISBN-10: 1305266633
Acceptable alternate: 7th ed. (2012). ISBN-10: 0538497831

AP Calculus AB Prep, 2021 Edition. Princeton Review (2020).
ISBN-10: 0525569456 / ISBN-13: 9780525569459
Acceptable alternate: 2020 ed. ISBN-13:9780525568155
Acceptable alternate: 2019 ed. ISBN-13:9781524757984

AP Chemistry

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum

AP Chemistry builds understanding of the nature and reactivity of matter. Study chemical reactions and electrochemistry, learn how the chemical and physical properties of materials can be explained by the structure and arrangements of the molecules and the forces between those molecules. Examine the laws of thermodynamics, molecular collisions, and the reorganization of matter in order to understand how changes in matter take place. Finally, explore chemical equilibria, including acid-base equilibria. The equivalent of an introductory college-level chemistry course, AP prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in science, health sciences, or engineering. Students perform hands-on labs that give them insight into the nature of science and help them understand chemical concepts, as well as how evidence can be obtained to support those concepts. Students also complete several virtual lab studies in which they form hypotheses; collect, analyze, and manipulate data; and report their findings and conclusions. During both virtual and traditional lab investigations and research opportunities, students summarize their findings and analyze others' findings in summaries, using statistical and mathematical calculations when appropriate. Required materials: a college-level chemistry textbook. AP Chemistry also requires the completion of hands-on lab activities.

Though students may use any college-level textbook, resources such as page references and scaffolded reading guides are provided in the course to support students who use either of the following texts:

Chemistry, 10th ed. Steven S. Zumdahl and Donald J. DeCoste. (Brooks Cole, 2017).
ISBN-10: 1305957407 / ISBN-13: 9781305957404
Acceptable alternate: 9th ed. (2013). ISBN-10: 1133611095 / ISBN-13: 9781133611097

-OR-

Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of Matter, 7th ed. Neil D. Jespersen, James E. Brady and Alison Hyslop. (Wiley, 2011).
ISBN-10: 111851646X / ISBN-13: 9781118516461
Acceptable alternate: 6th ed. (2011). ISBN-10: 047057771

AP Chemistry also requires the completion of hands-on lab activities and has been approved by the College Board as meeting all requirements for a laboratory science course. For a list of required hands-on lab materials, go to http://support.apexlearning.com/materials.

Apex Learning has partnered with a third-party vendor to create a custom laboratory kit that contains all the materials needed for this course. The kit may be purchased ($275.00 + shipping) here: http://www.qualitysciencelabs.com/apex-learning-science-kits/. Once there, select the “Advanced MicroChem Kit for Apex Learning.” Kits may take up to 3 weeks to ship. For Quality Science Labs customer service, call 1-866-700-1884.

AP Computer Science A (Java)

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Project STEM
This curriculum was designed to awaken and support students’ problem-solving skills. It will introduce the Java programming language while emphasizing universal language techniques like syntax, semantics and readability. Gain mastery in programming concepts by using a subset of Java features that are required for the AP Computer Science A exam, including abstraction, algorithms, data structures, and object-oriented programming. This allows students to understand and master important concepts that will apply to programming problems in many additional languages. Computer science courses offered by Project STEM are a guided curriculum only and do not have a separate course instructor. For these courses, the mentor does not have to be a subject area expert but is still the teacher of record. Students can get content help seven days a week from Project STEM’s academic forum. This course is fully auto-graded online. 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 IOAPA mentor handbook.

AP Computer Science Principles

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Project STEM
AP Computer Science Principles is an introductory college-level computing curriculum that introduces students to the breadth of the field of computer science. Learn to design and evaluate solutions and to apply computer science to solve problems through the development of algorithms and programs. Incorporate abstraction into programs and use data to discover new knowledge. Learn how computing innovations and computing systems—including the internet—work, explore their potential impacts, and contribute to a computing culture that is collaborative and ethical. Computer science courses offered by Project STEM are a guided curriculum only and do not have a separate course instructor. For these courses, the mentor does not have to be a subject area expert but is still the teacher of record. Students can get content help seven days a week from Project STEM’s academic forum. AP Computer Science Principles mentors are responsible for guiding students and grading students’ exploratory unit projects. Rubrics are provided. 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 IOAPA Mentor Handbook.

AP English Language and Composition

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum

Investigate rhetoric and its impact on culture through analysis of notable fiction and nonfiction texts, from pamphlets to speeches to personal essays. The equivalent of an introductory college-level survey class, this course prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in communications, creative writing, journalism, literature, and composition. Explore a variety of textual forms, styles, and genres. By examining texts through a rhetorical lens, become a skilled reader and analytical thinker. Focusing specifically on language, purpose, and audience gives a broad view of the effect of text and its cultural role. Write expository and narrative texts to hone the effectiveness of their own use of language, and develop varied, informed arguments through research.

Semester 1: Required materials

The Great Gatsby. F. Scott Fitzgerald. (Scribner, 1994).
ISBN-10: 0743273567 / ISBN-13: 9780743273565
Other editions acceptable.
Ebook available online: https://www.openrightslibrary.com/the-great-gatsby-ebook/

Into the Wild. Jon Krakauer. (Scribner, 1995).
ISBN-10: 0385486804 / ISBN-13: 9780385486804
Other editions acceptable.

Semester 2: Required materials

A Raisin in the Sun. Lorraine Hansberry. (Vintage, 2004).
ISBN-10: 0679755330 / ISBN-13: 9780679755333
Other editions acceptable.

The Way to Rainy Mountain. N. Scott Momaday.
(University of New Mexico Press, 1969).
ISBN-10: 0826304362 / ISBN-13: 9780826304360

AP English Literature and Composition

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum

This course immerses students in novels, plays, poems, and short stories from various periods. Read and write daily, using a variety of multimedia and interactive activities, interpretive writing assignments, and class discussions to assess and improve skills and knowledge. The course places special emphasis on reading comprehension, structural and critical analysis of written works, literary vocabulary, and recognizing and understanding literary devices. The equivalent of an introductory college-level survey class, this course prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in creative writing, communications, journalism, literature, and composition.

Semesters 1 and 2: Required materials

The Norton Anthology of Poetry, 6th ed. Margaret Ferguson et al, eds. (W.W. Norton, 2018).
ISBN-10: 0393679020 / ISBN-13: 97803936790210
Acceptable alternate: 5th ed. (2005). ISBN 10: 0393979202
Acceptable alternate: 4th ed. (1996). ISBN-10: 0393968200

The Story and Its Writer, 10th ed. Ann Charters (Bedford/St. Martins, 2018).
ISBN-10: 1319105602 / ISBN-13: 9781319105600
Acceptable alternate: 9th ed. (2014). ISBN-10: 1457665557
Acceptable alternate: 8th ed. (2010). ISBN-10: 0312596231

Semester 1: Required materials

Hedda Gabler. Henrik Ibsen (Dover, 1990).
ISBN-10: 0486264696 / ISBN-13: 9780486264691
Other editions acceptable.

A Streetcar Named Desire. Tennessee Williams (New Directions Publishing Corporation, 2004).
ISBN-10: 0811216020 / ISBN-13: 9780811216029
Other editions acceptable.

Their Eyes Were Watching God. Zora Neale Hurston (Harper, 2006).
ISBN-10: 0060838671 / ISBN-13: 9780060838676
Other editions acceptable.

Twelfth Night. William Shakespeare. Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine, eds.
(Washington Square Press, 1993).
ISBN-10: 0743482778 / ISBN-13: 9780743482776
Other editions acceptable

Semester 2: Required materials

The Great Gatsby. F. Scott Fitzgerald (Scribner, 1994).
ISBN-10: 0743273567 / ISBN-13: 9780743273565
Other editions acceptable.
Ebook available online: https://www.openrightslibrary.com/the-great-gatsby-ebook/

Annie John. Jamaica Kincaid (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1985).
ISBN-10: 0374525102 / ISBN-13: 9780374525101
Other editions acceptable.

Jane Eyre. Charlotte Bronte. Michael Mason, ed. (Penguin, 2006).
ISBN-10: 0141441143 / ISBN-13: 9780141441146
Other editions acceptable.

AP Environmental Science

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum

Learn the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world. The course draws upon various disciplines, including geology, biology, environmental studies, environmental science, chemistry, and geography in order to explore a variety of environmental topics. Topics explored include natural systems on Earth; biogeochemical cycles; the nature of matter and energy; the flow of matter and energy through living systems; populations; communities; ecosystems; ecological pyramids; renewable and nonrenewable resources; land use; biodiversity; pollution; conservation; sustainability; and human impacts on the environment. The equivalent of an introductory college-level science course, AP® Environmental Science prepares students for the AP® exam and for further study in science, health sciences, or engineering. Students perform hands-on labs and projects that give them insight into the nature of science and help them understand environmental concepts, as well as how evidence can be obtained to support those concepts. Virtual lab activities enable students to engage in investigations that would otherwise require long periods of observation at remote locations and to explore simulations that enable environmental scientists to test predictions.

Required materials:

AP Environmental Science requires a college-level textbook. Though students may use any college-level textbook, resources such as page references and scaffolded reading guides are provided in the course to support students who use either of the following texts:

Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7th Edition. Jay Withgott. (Pearson, 2019)
ISBN-13: 9780136451471
Acceptable alternate: 6th ed. (2018). ISBN-13: 9780134580562
Acceptable alternate: 5th ed. (2014). ISBN-13: 9780133540147

– OR –

Environment, 9th Edition. Peter H. Raven, David M. Hassenzahl, Mary Catherine Hager, Nancy Y. Gift, and Linda R. Berg. (John Wiley & Sons, 2015)
ISBN-13: 9781118875827
Note: Out of print and no longer available

AP Environmental Science requires the completion of hands-on lab activities and has been approved by the College Board as meeting all requirements for a laboratory science course. For a list of hands-on lab materials, go to: http://support.apexlearning.com/materials

AP Macroeconomics

1-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum

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. Examine how individuals, institutions, and influences affect people, and how those factors can impact everyone's life through employment rates, government spending, inflation, taxes, and production. The equivalent of a 100-level college-level class, this course prepares students for the AP® exam and for further study in business, political science and history. Prerequisite course: Algebra II.

Optional materials

Macroeconomics for Today, 10th ed. Irvin B. Tucker (Cengage Learning, 2018).
ISBN-10: 1337613053 / ISBN-13: 9781337613057
Acceptable alternate: 9th ed. (2014). ISBN-10: 1-305-50714-2 / ISBN-13: 9781305507142
Acceptable alternate: 8th ed. (2014). ISBN-10: 113343505X / ISBN-13: 9781133435051
Acceptable alternate: 7th ed. (2010). ISBN-10: 0538469447 / ISBN-13: 9780538469449
Acceptable alternate: 6th ed. (2008). ISBN-10: 0324591373

AP Microeconomics

1-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum

Study the behavior of individuals and businesses as they exchange goods and services in the marketplace. Learn why the same product costs different amounts at different stores, in different cities, at different times. Learn to spot patterns in economic behavior and how to use those patterns to explain buyer and seller behavior under various conditions. Microeconomics studies the economic way of thinking, understanding the nature and function of markets, the role of scarcity and competition, the influence of factors such as interest rates on business decisions, and the role of government in promoting a healthy economy. Prerequisite course: Algebra I.

Optional Materials

Microeconomics for Today, 10th ed. Irvin B. Tucker (Cengage Learning, 2018).
ISBN-10: 1337613061 / ISBN-13: 9781337613064
Acceptable alternate: 9th ed. (2016). ISBN-10: 1-305-50711-8 / ISBN-13: 9781305507111
Acceptable alternate: 8th ed. (2014). ISBN-10: 1133435068 / ISBN-13: 9781133435068
Acceptable alternate: 7th ed. (2010). ISBN-10: 0538469412 / ISBN-13: 9780538469418
Acceptable alternate: 6th ed. (2008). ISBN-10: 0324591381

AP Physics (may be offered in fall 2025)

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum
If any of your students are interested in taking AP Physics through IOAPA, please add them to the waitlist for the course. We will notify you if we are able to offer that course.

AP Psychology

1-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum

AP Psychology provides an overview of current psychological research methods and theories. Students will explore the therapies used by professional counselors and clinical psychologists and examine the reasons for normal human reactions: how people learn and think, the process of human development and human aggression, altruism, intimacy, and self-reflection. They will study core psychological concepts, such as the brain and sense functions, and learn to gauge human reactions, gather information, and form meaningful syntheses. Along the way, students will also investigate relevant concepts like study skills and information retention. Prerequisite course: Biology.

Required Materials

Psychology, 13th ed. David G. Myers (Worth Publishing, 2020).
ISBN-10: 1319132103 / ISBN-13: 9781319132101
Acceptable alternate: Psychology, 12 ed (2017). ISBN-10: 10131905062X / ISBN-13: 139781319050627
Acceptable alternate: Psychology, 11th ed (2015). ISBN-10: 1464140812 / ISBN-13: 9781464140815

AP Spanish Language

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum

Practice perfecting your Spanish speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. Study vocabulary, grammar, and cultural aspects of the language, and then apply what you learn in extensive written and spoken exercises. The course addresses the broad themes of Global Challenges, Science and Technology, Contemporary Life, Personal and Public Identities, Families and Communities, and Beauty and Aesthetics. By the end of the course, you will have an expansive vocabulary, a solid, working knowledge of all verb forms and tenses, strong command of other language structures, and an ability to use language in many different contexts and for varied purposes. Pre-requisites: 3–4 years of Spanish or equivalent native fluency.

Required materials

  • Any Spanish-English, English-Spanish Dictionary
  • Microphone

Optional materials

AP Spanish: Preparing for the Language Examination, 3rd ed. José M. Diaz, Margarita Leicher-Prieto, and Gilda Nissenberg (Prentice Hall, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0131660942 / ISBN-13: 9780131660946

AP Statistics

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum

Gain hands-on experience collecting, analyzing, graphing, and interpreting real-world data. Effectively design and analyze research studies by reviewing and evaluating real research examples taken from daily life. The next time you hear the results of a poll or study, you will know whether the results are valid. As the art of drawing conclusions from imperfect data and the science of real-world uncertainties, statistics plays an important role in many fields. This course prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in science, sociology, medicine, engineering, political science, geography, and business. Pre-requisites: Algebra II or Math Analysis. Required materials: TI-89, TI-84 Plus, TI-83, or TI-83 Plus calculator or equivalent

Optional Materials

Barron’s AP Statistics, 10th ed. Martin Sternstein (Barron’s, 2019).
ISBN-10: 1438011695 / ISBN-13: 9781438011691
Acceptable alternate: 9th ed. (2017). 1438009046 / ISBN-13: 9781438009049
Acceptable alternate: 8th ed. (2015). 1438004982 / ISBN-13: 9781438004983
Acceptable alternate: 7th ed. (2013). 1438002025 / ISBN-13: 9781438002026

Introduction to Probability & Statistics, 15th ed. William Mendenhall, Robert J. Beaver, and Barbara M. Beaver (Cengage, 2019).
ISBN-10: 1337554421 / ISBN-13: 9781337554428
Acceptable alternate: 14th ed. (2015). ISBN-10: 1133103758
Acceptable alternate: 13th ed. (2009). ISBN-10: 0495389536

AP U.S. Government and Politics

1-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum

Study the operations and structure of the U.S. government and the behavior of the electorate and politicians. Gain the analytic perspective necessary to critically evaluate political data, hypotheses, concepts, opinions, and processes. Learn how to gather data about political behavior and develop your own theoretical analysis of American politics. Build the skills needed to examine general propositions about government and politics, and to analyze the specific relationships between political, social, and economic institutions. This course prepares students for the AP® exam and for further study in political science, law, education, business, and history. Pre-requisite: U.S. History.

Required materials

The Lanahan Readings in the American Polity, 6th ed. Ann G. Serow and Everett C. Ladd, eds. (Lanahan Publishing, 2016).
ISBN-10: 1930398190 / ISBN-13: 9781930398191
Acceptable alternate: 5th ed. (2010). ISBN-10: 1930398166 / ISBN-13: 9781930398160
Acceptable alternate: 4th ed. (2007). ISBN-10: 1930398093

American Government: Power and Purpose, 16th ed. Theodore J. Lowi, et. al. (W. W. Norton, 2021).
ISBN-10: 0393538915 / ISBN-13: 9780393538915
Acceptable alternate: 15th ed. (2018). ISBN-10: 0393674991 / ISBN-13: 9780393674996
Acceptable alternate: 14th ed. (2017). ISBN-10: 0393624218 / ISBN-13: 9780393624212

AP U.S. History

2-Semester Course
Course Content Provided by Edmentum

Investigate the development of American economics, politics, and culture through historical analysis grounded in primary sources, research, and writing. Through the examination of historical themes and the application of historical thinking skills, learn to connect specific people, places, events, and ideas to the larger trends of U.S. history. Hone your ability to reason chronologically, to interpret historical sources, and to construct well-supported historical arguments. You will write throughout the course, responding to primary and secondary sources through journal entries, essays, and visual presentations of historical content. In discussion activities, respond to the positions of others while staking and defending claims of your own. Required materials: A college-level U.S. History textbook.

Required materials

AP U.S. History requires a college-level U.S. history textbook. Although students may use any college-level textbook, resources such as page references and scaffolded reading guides are provided in the course to support students who use any of the following texts:

America’s History, 9th ed. James A. Henretta et al. (Bedford, Freeman, & Worth, 2018).
ISBN-10: 1319065074 / ISBN-13: 9781319065072
Acceptable alternate: 8th ed. (2014). ISBN-13: 9781457628931

-OR-

American History: Connecting with the Past, 14th AP ed. Alan Brinkley. (McGraw-Hill, 2011).
ISBN-10: 0076621421 / ISBN-13: 9780076621422

-OR-

America: A Narrative History, 11th ed. David E. Shi. (W.W. Norton, 2019).
ISBN-10: 0393689697 / ISBN-13: 9780393689693
Acceptable alternate: 10th ed. (2016). ISBN-13: 9780393265934
Acceptable alternate: 9th ed. (2013). ISBN-13: 9780393912623

How to Register

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. Enroll the student taking IOAPA course(s)

Completing the school registration page sends school staff an automated email with a link in it to enroll students.

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.

Using the Courses

AP Program Questions

Contact Us

Questions? For the fastest response, please email ioapa@belinblank.org.