In Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland’s largest school district, students won’t have to pay for their Advanced Placement exams this spring, reports Ivan Duchkov in the student newspaper at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda. The county’s Board of Education voted to continue a policy that makes the tests free for all students, a move that district officials say lifts a financial burden and expands access to challenging courses.
“People are thrilled and also relieved,” Ivan quoted Marjorie Cohen, an AP coordinator and assistant principal, as saying. “The exams are a huge financial burden and this means students can put their energy toward the academics and content of the course, not about how to pay for the exam.”
The impact is already visible. The number of AP exams administered jumped by 1,500 between 2023 and 2024. Principal Nicole Morgan credited the county’s policy with fueling new demand. “This demonstrates the potential to offer a wider variety of AP courses and more sections to meet growing student demand,” she said.
The decision puts Montgomery County in a small group of school systems that cover the full cost of every AP exam. Nationwide, most funding policies are more limited.
Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia offer some form of AP exam subsidy; however, the majority of these programs are either means-tested, which means they focus on students from low-income families, or provide only partial subsidies that still leave families responsible for part of the nearly $100 exam fee. Some states go further for certain subjects, prioritizing STEM exams or excluding higher-cost courses, such as AP Seminar and Research.
District policies vary widely. In some places, schools only cover test costs for students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals. In others, families shoulder the full cost unless state subsidies apply. The result is that AP exam costs can vary significantly depending on a student’s location.
In contrast, Montgomery County has adopted a universal approach. Every student who takes an AP course is eligible to sit for the exam at no charge. Students who enroll but choose not to take the exam must pay a $40 fee, which is designed to cover administrative costs for unused tests, a charge found in many other subsidy programs from states and districts everywhere.
For many students, the county’s decision opens doors. “The county paying for AP exams is very good for me, considering the fact that it gives me more opportunities that I wouldn’t have been able to have otherwise,” one junior told the student paper.
County leaders say the policy also reinforces the district’s commitment to equity. Walter Johnson High School is an Equal Opportunity School, a designation meant to encourage more students of color and students from underrepresented backgrounds to take advanced classes. By eliminating exam fees, Morgan said, the district ensures cost isn’t a barrier to meeting those goals.
Across the country, the number of AP exams taken each year has grown to more than four million. For Montgomery County, choosing to absorb the entire cost signals that access to advanced coursework is not just for those who can afford it.
