ABINGTON HIGH SCHOOL 

END OF YEAR REMINDERS 

VIRTUAL HIGH SCHOOL (VHS) COURSES – Fee due by August 10

Virtual High School courses expand opportunities for students by providing access to a wide variety of subjects not otherwise available through our traditional course offerings. Students who enroll in a VHS course are expected to demonstrate strong time-management skills, self-motivation, and the ability to meet deadlines in an online learning environment. It has been our experience that students sign up for these courses excited about the opportunity, and quickly become overwhelmed by managing their own time and coursework of these courses, and then seek to drop them.  

Each VHS course represents a fee paid by the district, and after a course has started, we are unable to recover that fee. To support student commitment and successful course completion, students enrolled in VHS courses will be charged a refundable $200 fee for each VHS course. This check must be received no later than August 10, 2026. 

Upon successful completion of the VHS course, the $200 fee will be refunded to the student's family or caregivers. 

For students and families seeking a fee waiver or reduction, please review the information regarding the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) in the Program of Studies. Families who qualify may be eligible for assistance with this fee. 

2026-2027 - BUS INFORMATION – Applications due by July 1

For the 2026-2027 school year, our transportation vendor will be creating our bus routes. The routes will then be reviewed by the APS Transportation Department. All bus applications are due by July 1, 2026. Applications and payments received after July 1 will be considered late and will be honored only if space is available and if there is an existing stop on the route. 

To download the applicable form(s) or register and pay on-line, visit: https://www.abingtonps.org/page/transportation 

If you live less than two (2) miles from your child's school OR your child is in grades 7-12, and you intend for them to ride the bus, you must submit an application. There is also no waiver for an alternate stop. Questions? Contact transportation@abingtonps.org or call 781-982-2150. 

COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION (CEP) 

Abington Public Schools is once again participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the National School Lunch Program. This special provision means that families are no longer required to complete a meal benefit application, and all our students have access to breakfast and lunch at no cost. 

Fee waivers for transportation, athletics, and other applicable areas will again primarily be based on Direct Certification for the new school year. 

Direct Certification is the process by which school districts certify students who are members of households receiving assistance from SNAP, TANF/TAFDC, or FDPIR, as eligible for free meals without further application. Direct Certification is based on information provided by the state agencies administering these benefit programs. 

To apply for Direct Certification, please visit: https://dtaconnect.eohhs.mass.gov/ and apply for benefits. All families who are Direct Certified will be sent a Community Eligibility (CEP) information sharing form in the coming weeks. 

Bus applications, MUST be completed and submitted by July 1 for every student who will require transportation in 2026-2027, even if transportation is mandated based on grade level and distance or if the fee is waived based on Direct Certification. 

ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) COURSES 

AP courses provide students with the opportunity to engage in rigorous, college-level coursework while in high school. Students enrolling in AP classes should carefully consider the academic expectations and time commitment associated with these courses. Each AP course typically requires at least one additional hour of coursework each day in addition to scheduled class time. Enrollment in an AP course reflects a commitment to maintaining consistent attendance, completing assigned coursework, and participating fully in class activities throughout the school year. 

Due to scheduling constraints, course sequencing requirements, and staffing limitations, it may not be possible for students to drop an AP course or move to a different course level once the school year has begun. Students and families should make course selections thoughtfully and understand that requests for schedule changes after the start of the school year are not guaranteed and may not be feasible. By selecting an AP course during the course registration process, students and parents acknowledge that placement in the course is intended to be a year-long commitment and that alternative scheduling options may not be available after classes begin.