Anonymous wrote:Our private in NYC did away with APs a few years ago. There was no andverse effect whatsoever and in fact, both teachers and students were happier.

Same.
No APs at our private.
Kids including mine got into T20.

My kid is in 9th grade at one of the DC privates that doesn't have AP classes. In looking at the colleges that this year's seniors will be attending, it doesn't seem to be hurting them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think it affects their college acceptances?

I don't think there's a single HS in the DMV that doesn't offer AP classes. The IB schools have less AP classes but that's because they offer IB which is just as rigorous. So no, it doesn't matter as long as you're taking AP or IB classes or a combination of both. Colleges want to see students taking the most rigorous classes available to them in their own HS.

What? Maybe public schools. None of the DC privates have AP classes.

Our private in NYC did away with APs a few years ago. There was no andverse effect whatsoever and in fact, both teachers and students were happier.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think it affects their college acceptances?

I don't think there's a single HS in the DMV that doesn't offer AP classes. The IB schools have less AP classes but that's because they offer IB which is just as rigorous. So no, it doesn't matter as long as you're taking AP or IB classes or a combination of both. Colleges want to see students taking the most rigorous classes available to them in their own HS.

You are not informed. Many private schools in the DMV have gotten rid of AP classes or gotten rid of all but a few (language or math). Off the top of my head: GDS, Sidwell, NCS, STA, Holton, Potomac, Field, Maret, Landon.

True. Comparisons with kids going to public school getting 5s can be uncomfortable for the schools, parents and kids alike. If you make SATs optional and take APs out of the question, you make it a lot more about the reputation of the school, which favors you know who.

APs of course have their problems, including broad bands of grades (why not just score it 1-100 and provide percentiles?) But I'd take objective measurements any day of the weak over the rampant grade inflation we see at all schools these days, which makes high school transcripts meaningless without the corroboration that national tests provide. That's why I also laugh at people who talk about why AP scores don't mean as much as taking APs - nonsense, the scores tell you about the caliber of the course and student at the particular school.

Ultimately, I'd strongly prefer something like A-level-caliber national exams and strong limitations on the number of schools to which individuals can apply, just as in the UK.

If your school has no APs because it’s an IB school, you’re fine. If tuition at your school is over $50,000 per year, you’ll be fine at expensive private colleges, but struggle at l large publics where admissions is more automated. This may be a special concern at lower-ranked publics with high acceptance rates where kids from your school do not typically go but which you might have thought would be a good safety for your kid. If your school is some random low-cost private or new charter school that has no APs or IBs for philosophical reasons, even if they’re the same philosophical reasons claimed by the expensive private schools, that will be a drag on college admissions across the board.

we're at a nyc private with no AP classes/tests and we regularly send 25% of the class to T10 colleges.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think it affects their college acceptances?

I don't think there's a single HS in the DMV that doesn't offer AP classes. The IB schools have less AP classes but that's because they offer IB which is just as rigorous. So no, it doesn't matter as long as you're taking AP or IB classes or a combination of both. Colleges want to see students taking the most rigorous classes available to them in their own HS.

You are not informed. Many private schools in the DMV have gotten rid of AP classes or gotten rid of all but a few (language or math). Off the top of my head: GDS, Sidwell, NCS, STA, Holton, Potomac, Field, Maret, Landon.

You don't have to be at an AP school to take AP exams.

I've taught my subject at several international schools. My school was always the "exam center", and there were always a few kids who didn't attend our school but were registered for one or several AP subjects and came to the school on exam day just for the tests. It's really common. I suggest you contact the nearest school to you that offers AP courses and ask to speak to their AP coordinator about this. You'll pay to register and for the fee for the exam, and your kid can self-study, then you take him to the school for the exam. Easy.

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell Friends phased out AP courses in 2023. They are moving to the Andover model of making their own version of college-level courses.

No one will penalize the Sidwell kids I'm sure for not having APs. As long as they take the hardest classes available to them.

The trick is to make sure the college your kid wants to attend knows what those are.

Sidwell Friends phased out AP courses in 2023. They are moving to the Andover model of making their own version of college-level courses.

No one will penalize the Sidwell kids I'm sure for not having APs. As long as they take the hardest classes available to them.

Many top private schools like Philips Andover, Riverdale Country, Choate Hall, etc. don't offer formal APs and have their own version of college-level advanced courses where they can create the syllabus/curriculum and not have to be limited to the College Board outlines.

I don't think students from Andover etc. are impacted negatively in college matriculation. They actually do really well! These are known schools and it's all well laid out in the school profile.

But if you're in a public or private school that doesn't offer any APs, you'll never be penalized for it. I just went to an event with a bunch of AOs from multiple colleges and they all reinforced that they just want to see you take highest rigor the student can handle and do well in IF it's offered at your school.

Anonymous wrote:Do you think it affects their college acceptances?

I don't think there's a single HS in the DMV that doesn't offer AP classes. The IB schools have less AP classes but that's because they offer IB which is just as rigorous. So no, it doesn't matter as long as you're taking AP or IB classes or a combination of both. Colleges want to see students taking the most rigorous classes available to them in their own HS.

What now?

Do you think it affects their college acceptances?