How many AP classes is considered rigorous?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Public schools kids often have way more APs on their record than private school kids. It's doesn't equate to a better education or a more rigorous course load.

True. It just means they can't afford private school tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Public schools kids often have way more APs on their record than private school kids. It's doesn't equate to a better education or a more rigorous course load.

Though it might. Sure, maybe not if we’re talking Big 3 (though I raise you TJ and Blair). But things drop off fairly quickly after that compared to a large number of top kids at the public schools around here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really depends on the high school. Different schools have different class offerings. Also, your kid wants to take a sufficient number to be, for example, in the top 10% of the class.

As an aside, I think is daunting to look at admissions numbers and see that the average admitted student to UVa or UMCP from Fairfax or Montgomery county has something like a 4.5 weighted GPA, and then work backwards to see how many APs that requires.

OP here. My kid is at Langley. It feels like everyone takes at least 10 AP so that would not be considered rigorous. I hate that my kid is at this pressure cooker school.

The seniors parents I know or the ones who had kids graduate seemed stressed about even getting into UVA with perfect grades. These kids all have 4.5+ GPAs.

Remember that the GPAs for the 2022 accepteds to UVA (and others) are the average. For our HS, it was 4.37. That is the average, and there were many below and above that. Many below that.

There are great schools in VA other than UVA and W&M, too.

[Anonymous]

Do most students do well on the AP exam at your child’s high school? I was shocked to learn that the majority of students at our local HS didn’t do well on the exam and could not use the class for college credit. Most simply took the class for the rigor check and the GPA bump and were quite open about that plan.

[Anonymous]

My DC took 7 APs. I think what is important is showing steady progression/increasing levels of rigor from 9-12 grade in the solid 5: english, foreign language, history, science, math -- not just taking APs for the sake of taking APs. My DC graduated in 2022 and is now at a top liberal arts school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do most students do well on the AP exam at your child’s high school? I was shocked to learn that the majority of students at our local HS didn’t do well on the exam and could not use the class for college credit. Most simply took the class for the rigor check and the GPA bump and were quite open about that plan.

At our very large, very diverse public school, 84% of the AP tests are passing. More than 60% are 4s and 5s. Many 9th and 10th graders take the exams and there are no restrictions on numbers. Enrollment is open. This compares with NCS:

“In spring 2021, 104 students took a total of 228 AP exams. The distribution of scores is: 5 or 4 - 60%; 3 - 30%; 2 or 1 - 10%”

Not too far off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do most students do well on the AP exam at your child’s high school? I was shocked to learn that the majority of students at our local HS didn’t do well on the exam and could not use the class for college credit. Most simply took the class for the rigor check and the GPA bump and were quite open about that plan.

At our private HS, yes.

My son has received 5s.

He wouldn’t even be able to take 12-15 APs. His school has prerequisites, e.g., need to take the regular/honors version first, for English you need to sub out a writing sample and all require teacher recommendations.

Some of the honors courses have been much more challenging than the AP courses.

6-8 APs, but then lots of honor courses is rigorous at our high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do most students do well on the AP exam at your child’s high school? I was shocked to learn that the majority of students at our local HS didn’t do well on the exam and could not use the class for college credit. Most simply took the class for the rigor check and the GPA bump and were quite open about that plan.

At our very large, very diverse public school, 84% of the AP tests are passing. More than 60% are 4s and 5s. Many 9th and 10th graders take the exams and there are no restrictions on numbers. Enrollment is open. This compares with NCS:

“In spring 2021, 104 students took a total of 228 AP exams. The distribution of scores is: 5 or 4 - 60%; 3 - 30%; 2 or 1 - 10%”

Not too far off.

A little bit apples and oranges. Much of the success on these exams is attributable to how closely the teacher follows the College Board's curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rigor depends on the offerings at your school.

+1. This. Ask your counselor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really depends on the high school. Different schools have different class offerings. Also, your kid wants to take a sufficient number to be, for example, in the top 10% of the class.

As an aside, I think is daunting to look at admissions numbers and see that the average admitted student to UVa or UMCP from Fairfax or Montgomery county has something like a 4.5 weighted GPA, and then work backwards to see how many APs that requires.

OP here. My kid is at Langley. It feels like everyone takes at least 10 AP so that would not be considered rigorous. I hate that my kid is at this pressure cooker school.

The seniors parents I know or the ones who had kids graduate seemed stressed about even getting into UVA with perfect grades. [b]These kids all have 4.5+ GPAs.

I woujd hope so. The 75th percentile for attending enrolled students (not the accepted number which is higher -this is for students who actually showed up) last year is a 4.53. If you are unhooked nova you had better be aiming for at least the 75th percentile

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at the average gpas of the admitted students from your school, for the colleges you want. That will give you an idea of the number of APs.

Generally, what schools want to see is an increase in rigor. Kid got an A in bio GE in 9th? They should take honors science in 10th, and some kind of AP (or two) science in 11th.

Progression in core classes.

Does your school have a ton of AP offerings? Then they want to see kid taking advantage of them. The colleges not only get your kids transcripts, but also a doc from the school showing all available classes. Some school don’t have many APs, and so it’s not a disadvantage if they don’t have many. But if your school offers them, and the kid is getting As in GE and Honors in 9th (and 10th)…

This. The right number depends on what supports and challenges your child. As stated, colleges do view in the context of the school your child attends (e.g., if average # of courses at your school is X, is your child taking X+/- that - it gives them a sense of how the child challenges him/herself.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

My kid’s school offers only 3 APs, all in foreign language, none in her FL Everything else is honors and you need to test into honors. So “rigorous” from her school for her would be a few honors classes. You just can’t compare that with a school that offers 15-20 APs with no prerequisite or test in required.

That’s why it depends on your school.

[Anonymous]

Isn't this subjective though?

My kid has 11 APs... which may look like a lot, but their school has 26 available. So what is most rigorous.. half, most?

[Anonymous]

No. Because some schools only offer six AP classes. At that school, taking 3 would be a big deal.

My kid’s school has something like 11 possible so taking 5-6 of them is great. Many of the kids take STEM classes (and some are college level so they earn the AA degree) as electives and that doesn’t leave a heap of extra room for more AP anyway.

Bottom line—depends on the high school profile

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't this subjective though?

My kid has 11 APs... which may look like a lot, but their school has 26 available. So what is most rigorous.. half, most?

Langley offers 30 AP classes so the benchmark for "most rigorous" must be somewhat arbitrary.

With our DC we focused on progression in each subject and managing their overall course load. Ended up with 7 APs. Haven't asked but am assuming it won't be considered most rigorous.