<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-11-08</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001201792</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>APEI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001365552</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Camden Partners Strategic Manager, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>500 EAST PRATT STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BALTIMORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001317017</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Camden Partners Strategic III, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>500 EAST PRATT STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BALTIMORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001283497</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CAMDEN PARTNERS STRATEGIC FUND III LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>500 EAST PRATT STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BALTIMORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001283498</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CAMDEN PARTNERS STRATEGIC FUND III-A LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>500 PRATT STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BALTIMORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001211905</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BERKELEY RICHARD M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CAMDEN PARTNERS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>500 EAST PRATT STREET, SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BALTIMORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001211899</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HUGHES DONALD W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CAMDEN PARTNERS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>500 EAST PRATT STREET, SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BALTIMORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001211913</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JOHNSTON RICHARD M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CAMDEN PARTNERS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>500 EAST PRATT STREET, SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BALTIMORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001025664</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WARNOCK DAVID L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CAMDEN PARTNERS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>500 EAST PRATT STREET, SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BALTIMORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, par value $.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-08-02</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1760000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote 2 and Remarks</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Class A Common Stock (the &quot;Class A Common&quot;) has no expiration date and will convert into Common Stock in connection with the closing of the initial public offering of the issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Fund III is the direct beneficial owner of 1,689,776 Class A Common and Fund III-A is the direct beneficial owner of 70,224 Class A Common. CPSM, CPS III and the Managing Members may be deemed indirect beneficial owners of the Class A Common owned by the Funds as a result of the relationships described in the Remarks section. CPSM, CPS III and each of the Managing Members disclaims benefical ownership of the Class A Common held directly by the Funds, except to the extent of its or his pecuniary interest therein. Each of the Funds disclaims beneficial ownership of the Class A Common held by the other, except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Class A Common is convertible into Common Stock on a one-for-one basis but is subject to anti-dilution adjustments as set forth in the Issuer's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on October 31, 2005.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>This report is being filed by Camden Partners Strategic Manager, LLC, as the managing member of Camden Partners Strategic III, LLC. This report includes reports by members of Camden Partners Strategic Fund III, L.P. and Camden Partners Strategic Fund III-A, L.P. Thisreport is being filed jointly by Camden Partners Strategic Manager, LLC (&quot;CPSM&quot;), Camden Partners Strategic III, LLC (&quot;CPS III&quot;), Camden Partners Strategic Fund III, L.P. (&quot;Fund III&quot;), Camden Partners Strategic Fund III-A, L.P. (&quot;Fund III-A&quot;), Donald W. Hughes, David L. Warnock, Richard Johnston and Richard Berkeley (the &quot;Managing Members&quot;) (collectively, the &quot;Reporting Persons&quot;). The Managing Members are the managing members of CPSM, which is the managing member of CPS III. CPS III is the General Partner of Fund III and Fund III-A (such funds together, the &quot;Funds&quot;).</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Camden Partners Strategic Manager, LLC
By Donald W. Hughes, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-11-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Camden Partners Strategic III, LLC, By  Donald W. Hughes, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-11-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Camden Partners Strategic Fund III, LP, By Camden Partners Strategic III, LLC, its General Partner, By  Camden Partners Strategic Manager, LLC, its Managing Member, By  Donald W. Hughes, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-11-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Camden Partners Strategic Fund III-A, LP, By Camden Partners Strategic III, LLC, its General Partner, By  Camden Partners Strategic Manager, LLC, its Managing Member, By  Donald W. Hughes, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-11-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Richard M. Berkley, /s/  Donald W. Hughes, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-11-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/  Donald W. Hughes</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-11-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Richard M. Johnston, /s/  Donald W. Hughes, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-11-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David L. Warnock,  /s/  Donald W. Hughes, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-11-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
