Application - AAPLE Academy

Welcome!

Welcome to the AAPLE Academy Application. Thank you for your interest in the Accelerated Academic Program for Leadership and Enrichment (AAPLE). Our motto Lead, Serve, Excel succinctly describes the Academy focus. It is important that applicants have a strong interest in organizational leadership, civic leadership, and leadership in the classroom. The AAPLE Academy seeks students from varying social, economic, and cultural backgrounds. Our aim is to admit a diverse group of highly motivated and driven student leaders interested in leadership theory and practice and making a deep impact on their community.

The AAPLE Academy’s academic pathway is very challenging. It is very important that you consider this and the time commitment involved before applying. We cannot stress enough the importance of students and parents reviewing the program requirements on our Academy website and having meaningful discussions regarding the time commitment, focus on leadership and service, and academic balance required by Academy participants.

Due to the popularity of the Academy, there will be more applicants than spaces available. Please know in advance that we are expecting a high number of applicants representing all District junior high schools and many of the surrounding private schools. Please understand prior to applying that in most cases, those who do not get admitted to the academy will submit good comprehensive applications, however, when compared against all applications, some applicants will not be admitted. The admissions panel will evaluate each student’s application in a holistic manner with the intent of finding the best match for the AAPLE Academy. We strongly recommend that all applicants become familiar with the many other amazing academies, activities, and opportunities available at SMHS.

* Application Update * (NEW- Application Re-Opened):

In response to the continued extraordinary challenges students and their families face in the midst of COVID-19, and in an effort to facilitate the opportunity for students to apply to AAPLE, the Academy has reopened the application a second time, extended the application deadline, and will offer an additional opportunity to attend the required In-Person Application Essay. Please note the following interim measures to help mitigate the tremendous disruption caused by the pandemic and to facilitate this additional opportunity for our community’s young people:

The AAPLE Academy application deadline has been extended to February 5, 2021.
An additional date has been added for students to attend the required Virtual In-Person Essay on 2/1/2021.
Because current academic assessment data is not available for most applicants, the benchmark testing requirement is suspended and is replaced by the parent and student acknowledgement of rigor declaration embedded in the online application.
33 of approximately 80-130 students will be admitted to the AAPLE Academy class of 2025. This year, 75% of the 33 students will be admitted based on the online application and Virtual In-Person writing. All applicants who are not admitted after this process has been completed will be put into a lottery pool. The AAPLE Academy will admit the remaining 25% of the 33 students using a lottery.

By instituting these measures, we hope that more students will have an opportunity to apply and that there will be less worry for our future students during this unprecedented moment in time. Please remember that AAPLE students and staff are available to assist applicants with any application questions you may have. You can reach us at aaple@smhsaaple.com.

Process:

Complete all required sections of the application
Fulfill the Math and English readiness requirements
Complete the mandatory in-person essay requirement. An additional date has been added on 2/1/2021. (click here to schedule your in-person writing)
33 of approximately 80-130 students will be admitted to the AAPLE Academy class of 2025. This year, 75% of the 33 students will be admitted based on the online application and Virtual In-Person writing. All applicants who are not admitted after this process has been completed will be put into a lottery pool. The AAPLE Academy will admit the remaining 25% of the 33 students using a lottery.

Math and English Readiness:

English and Math Courses: Students must be enrolled in CCCS Math 8, Math 8 Enrichment or Math 8 Compaction in 8th grade. In addition, students must be enrolled in CCCS English 8 or English 8 Honors in 8th 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 multiple Honors and Advanced Placement courses grades 9-12.

Test Scores: AAPLE Academy courses and the recommended academic pathway are very challenging. Note that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students were not able to take the CAASPP math, ELA exams or standardized norm referenced exams in the 7th grade. Because current academic assessment data is not available for most applicants, the benchmark testing requirement is suspended and is replaced by the parent and student acknowledgement of rigor declaration embedded in the online application.

Please note that we continue to strongly recommend the readiness scores below:

Score 2552 or above in the “Standard Met” score range on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) math exam taken in 6th grade.
Score 2531 or above in the “Standard Met” score range on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) English exam (ELA) taken in 6th grade.
Students who did not take the CAASPP exam in 6th grade or 7th grade show math and English readiness by scoring in the 75th percentile or above on a standardized, norm-referenced test.

Note: To determine your students CAASPP scores SBUSD parents can log on to their Aeries Parent Portal > see Test Scores tab.

In-person Essay Requirement:

All applicants must attend a virtual in-person essay on one of the dates and times provided by the Academy. The virtual in-person essay will be administered by AAPLE Academy staff using Zoom. A Zoom link will be provided prior to the administration of the essay. Students should be prepared to write 1 essay, approximately 550 words in length. This should not take longer than 1 hour to complete. An additional date has been added for students to attend the required Virtual In-Person Essay on 2/5/2021. To schedule an in-person essay date and time:

CLICK HERE

Application Information:

The application window will close on February 5, 2021 @ 11:59PM. Late applications will not be accepted.
You cannot save your answers and come back to them. We suggest that you write your essay using word processing software on your desktop and then cut and paste your final draft into the appropriate text-box. Please strictly follow the formatting requirements provided below.
Once you have pressed “Submit”, your application is final. There will be no exceptions. You may only submit one application. You cannot edit, add, or resubmit a new application. Please, double check and proofread your application before you submit it.
It is important to strictly follow application instructions and complete all required sections of the application.

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 Friday, January 29, 2021. For more information about the transfer process, CLICK HERE.

AAPLE Academy Application:

AAPLE Academy Application (English)

AAPLE Academy Application (Spanish)

GOOD LUCK and GO ROYALS!