Homeschool benefits and savings in Central Islip
Central Islip Union Free School District says all high-school-level students can take Advanced Placement (AP) exams and that accommodations can be made for home-schooled students. Each exam costs $99 in 2027, and you should reach the district's Testing and Assessment office before schools order exams in mid-November 2026.
Who qualifies
Works at high school level
The district's AP page says all high-school-level students are eligible to take AP exams.
Arranges a seat with the district
The College Board says each school's AP coordinator decides whether to test outside students that year, then orders the exam, collects the fee, and tells you when and where to report.
Is ordered by the deadline
Schools order exams by mid-November. A later order is up to the school and adds a $40 late fee to each exam.
Requests any accommodations
The district says accommodations can be made for students with disabilities and for home-schooled students.
What the exams cost
The College Board's 2026-27 fees are $99 per exam in the U.S., plus a $40 late or unused exam fee where it applies.
- Ordered by November 13, 2026
- $99
- With a College Board fee reduction
- $62
- Ordered November 14 to March 12
- $139
- Ordered but not taken
- $40
- Three exams ordered on time
- $297
Schools may charge more than the College Board fee to cover proctoring, so ask Central Islip what it charges a homeschooled student.
How to arrange an exam
- Early in the school year
Call the testing office
Ask Testing and Assessment whether Central Islip will test your homeschooled child in 2027, and which exams and accommodations you need.
- By Nov. 13, 2026
Get the exam ordered
Orders after this date carry a $40 late fee, which a school may waive.
- May 3-14, 2027
Take the exams
Most AP exams take two to three hours, with a multiple-choice section followed by free-response questions.
- July 2027
See the scores
Scores, on a 1 to 5 scale, appear on the College Board website starting in July.
What it includes
Included
- A seat at a district AP exam administration
- Testing accommodations for home-schooled students
- Exam ordering through the district coordinator
Not included
- Late order and unused exam fees
- Any extra district charge for proctoring
Good to know
Homeschooled students can take AP exams
The district's AP page says all high-school-level students are eligible and that accommodations can be made for home-schooled students. Call the Testing and Assessment office early in the year to confirm a seat, because the coordinator orders each exam.
Who to contact about AP exams
The Testing and Assessment office runs district exams and is open 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; ask for extension 1055.
arodriguez@centralislip.k12.ny.us 631-348-5000 AP exams page
Homeschool rules and statewide help in New York
Send a letter of intent by July 1 each year, or within 14 days of a midyear start. You must submit the IHIP within four weeks after receiving district forms or by August 15, whichever is later.
New York sets these rules:
- Subjects: Teach the subjects required for each grade band by Part 100.10, including patriotism and citizenship. Provide the equivalent of 180 days: 900 hours annually in grades 1–6 and 990 hours in grades 7–12.
- Testing: Annual assessment: grades 1–3, test or written narrative; grades 4–8, standardized test at least every other year, with a written narrative permitted in alternate years; grades 9–12, standardized test annually. A score above the 33rd percentile or one year of growth meets the progress standard.
- Records: Keep attendance records and make them available to the district on request. Submit an annual IHIP, quarterly reports, and the annual assessment.
- Teachers: New York requires the instructor to be competent; it does not require a teaching certificate.
Read the New York homeschooling guide See statewide programs in New York
Questions parents ask
- Who pays for a Central Islip AP exam?
- You do. The College Board fee is $99 per exam in 2027, and a school may add a charge for proctoring. Students with significant financial need can get a $37 College Board fee reduction per exam.
- We missed the November deadline. Is it too late?
- Not always. After mid-November, a school can still add a student at its discretion, and the $40 late fee applies unless the school waives it.
- What if we order an exam and then skip it?
- $40. The College Board charges that fee for an exam that is ordered and not taken, even for students with a fee reduction.
- How are the exams scored?
- On a 5-point scale, where 5 means extremely well qualified and 1 means no recommendation. Free-response answers are scored in June, and scores are posted in July.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Local classes cover the subjects they offer. We teach the remaining subjects, so a local class can stay part of the year without becoming the whole curriculum.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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