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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The school system pushes APs these days. Went to Whitman back in the day and only the kids in AP classes/honors took the AP.  Now, thanks in part to Jay Matthews and his high school rankings --which are partly based on the number of kids who simply take APs---more kids than ever take them because it is in the school's and county's interest.  The rankings don't consider whether the child achieved a score high enough to qualify for college credit--simply taking the test is something that counts in favor of the school.

I know very "average" kids with B grades who aren't even sure they will go to Montgomery College who have taken the tests.  I think more kids at Whitman, Churchill and the like take the tests because their parents will fork over the dough.  [/quote]

This doesn't reflect our experience. The kids taking the AP tests are the ones taking the AP classes.  Kids in honors would not take the AP test.  The "pass" rates at Whitman and Churchill are very high. Something like 90% of kids get a 3 or higher, most are 4s and 5s.  Money may be a factor since MCPS does not pay for the tests the way FCPS does.  But I know some of the schools do fundraising for AP tests and our school gives money to a sister school to fund tests.

The school expects kids taking the AP classes to take the AP test although i dont think it is actually required and obviously does not factor in to the grades for the class.  The counselors have actually been encouraging kids to take fewer, not more, AP classes recently. [/quote]

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