Application

Welcome! 

Welcome to the AAPLE Academy Application page.  Thank you for your interest in the Accelerated Academic Program for Leadership and Enrichment (AAPLE). Our motto, Lead, Serve, Excel, succinctly reflects the Academy’s focus. It is important that applicants have a strong interest in organizational leadership, civic leadership, and leadership within the classroom. Our goal is to admit a diverse group of highly motivated and driven student leaders who are interested in leadership theory and practice and who are committed to making a deep impact on their community.

The AAPLE Academy’s academic pathway is rigorous, and it is essential that you carefully consider the time commitment involved before applying. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of students and parents reviewing the program requirements on our Academy website and engaging in thoughtful discussions about the time commitment, focus on leadership and service, and academic balance required of Academy participants.

Learn More about AAPLE:

AAPLE Academy Website

Attend Information Sessions (for dates click here)

Application Checklist:

• Complete all required sections of the online application.
• Sign up for, attend, and complete the in-person essay requirement provided at SMHS.  Sign up HERE. 
• Fulfill the Math and English readiness requirements. 
• Fulfill the SBUSD Intradistrict Transfer requirement by the SBUSD deadline.
• 33 of approximately 80-130 students will be admitted to the AAPLE Academy class of 2030. 75% of the 33 students will be admitted based on the online application and in-person writing.  All applicants who are not admitted after this process has been completed will be placed into a lottery pool. The AAPLE Academy will admit the remaining 25% of the 33 students using a lottery.

In-person Essay Requirement Process:

All applicants must sign up for and attend an in-person essay on one of the dates and times provided by the Academy.  The essay date sign up form is available HERE.  The in-person essay will be administered in the AAPLE Academy building, room i5, at San Marcos High School.  Students should be prepared to write 1 essay, approximately 550 words in length, on a computer provided by the Academy.  This should not take longer than one hour to complete.

Math and English Readiness Requirements:

English and Math Courses:  Students must be enrolled in Math 8 and English 8 (or higher Math and English course) in eighth grade.  If the applicant is not currently enrolled in a SBUSD junior high school, the student must be enrolled in equivalent Math and English course levels.  Due to the rigor of AAPLE Academy courses and recommended course sequence, it is strongly recommended that students possess the drive and motivation to balance Honors and Advanced Placement courses grades 9-12.

Readiness Scores: AAPLE Academy courses and the recommended academic pathway are challenging. Students applying to AAPLE must demonstrate appropriate Math and English readiness for the AAPLE Academy course sequence. Eligibility shall be demonstrated by scoring in the “standard met” or “standard exceeded” score range on the CAASPP Math and English assessment taken in Spring 2025.

* If you ARE currently enrolled in a Santa Barbara Unified School District school, you WILL NOT need to submit your STAR or CAASPP scores or provide your Math and English readiness courses.

* If you are NOT currently enrolled in a Santa Barbara School District school and you are currently in 8th grade, you WILL need to provide a copy of the most recent Math and English readiness test scores administered by your school in the Spring or Fall of 2025 and complete the Math and English course questionnaire using the links below (*test scores can be uploaded here once the application is made available).

Note:  AAPLE Academy applicants are not ranked by their Mathematics or English scores. Scores are used to determine eligibility to apply only.

Please upload your test scores using the google form here:

CLICK HERE TO UPLOAD TEST SCORES

If you are unable to upload your test scores due to technical difficulties, please email a copy of your most recent math readiness score to aaple@smhsaaple.com

Please complete the Math and English course questionnaire using the google form here:

CLICK HERE FOR THE MATH AND ENGLISH QUESTIONNAIRE

If you are unable to complete the form due to technical difficulties, please email aaple@smhsaaple.com for assistance.

Test Scores and Questionnaires submitted after January 11th, 2026 will not be accepted.

Intradistrict Transfers:

Very important! Students applying who do not reside within the San Marcos High School attendance area are required to submit a transfer request to the Santa Barbara Unified School District by the January 2026 transfer deadline.  Please visit the SBUSD website for the required transfer information. Failure to meet transfer deadlines will mean that your application to AAPLE Academy will be invalid.

AAPLE Academy Application:

AAPLE Academy Application (English) 

AAPLE Academy Application (Spanish)

GOOD LUCK and GO ROYALS!