Advanced Placement (AP) courses are based on curriculum established by the College Board, a private, nonprofit organization. AP courses are intended to be equal in rigor to lower-division college courses. High schools that offer AP courses must have their course outlines audited by the College Board each year to ensure that that standard is maintained.

Each AP course offers a corresponding final examination. Students who score a three or above (on a scale of five) on the AP exam may be eligible for college credit.

The district awards grade points for AP courses on a weighted, or five-point, scale: (A=5, B=4, C=3, D=1, and F=0).

For the current school year, San Diego Unified offers the following AP courses. Please note that not every course can be offered at every high school.