“What AP classes are you taking next year?” This frequently asked question induces feelings of panic but also a sense of competition in any student. As District 155 sets the bar higher for AP enrollment, many students have started to question the value of AP, and whether the stress of the coursework is worth it.

Two Prairie Ridge students submitted specific questions to Wolf Print’s Ask the Principal series regarding the increased emphasis on the Advanced Placement program:  

Why are you pressuring AP classes so much?
To me it seems like you don’t care about students’ well being but only about the school’s rankings.

Why are we pushing AP classes so much?
What value does the title “AP” have besides getting our school a higher rank?

Wolf Prints interviewed Dr. Koch and several AP students to uncover the benefits and drawbacks of AP classes.

First, it’s important to note that the push for AP is a nationwide phenomenon. According to the College Board, 2,483,452 students enrolled in an AP class in 2015.  A total of 4,478,936 AP exams were taken across the United States.These numbers display that AP is not just a District 155 focus.

Whether it be across the country, or in our local school district, the immense pressure on students to participate in the AP program is everywhere. Claire Gehrman, a senior at Prairie Ridge stated, “I do feel pressured to take AP classes because our school does nothing but promote them and colleges want you to have taken AP classes in order to be accepted to their school. Most of my friends are taking them, and it seems like I am being pushed toward them.”

As AP classes are on the rise, many students face challenges when course selection rolls  around for the following year. With the increasing popularity of AP, many students feel as if they have to load their schedules with these rigorous, intense classes. Josie Sidi, a sophomore at PR reports this conflict stating, “I know people who are taking 5 AP classes next year.” Josie explained that she doesn’t want to take that many AP classes, but feels like it is necessary to be successful.  “I know my stress level would not be able to handle it,” she said.

Stress levels are a main drawback of AP. Taking multiple AP classes, along with the everyday challenges of life can make a teen feel overworked and exhausted. Megan Anderson, another AP student at Prairie Ridge stressed this. “If students take more than one or two AP classes and are involved in after school activities, I don’t think they realize how difficult it is to find time to do homework, participate in activities, and fully retain information,” she explained. “Time management is definitely a factor that is underestimated because finding time to actually comprehend information is a challenge.”

Despite the stressors of AP, these classes also offer a large range of benefits. Sophomore Shannon Batliner believes that although AP has its drawbacks, taking Advanced Placement classes can have benefits in the long run. “AP classes allow students to challenge themselves in an environment where they can thrive with students as motivated as them,” she stated. Anna Pontius, currently enrolled in AP Seminar agreed. “They help save money for college and are a good system for students needing a challenge,” she said.

A main controversy centered around AP is the school’s rankings. Many students question if the push for AP enrollment is solely for Prairie Ridge’s reputation, or for the students themselves.  After asking Dr. Koch: “How are AP test scores reflected on the school?” it’s clear to see the faculty at PR is in it for the students, not the title of AP. “The school will get recognized that it is an ‘AP school’ but we do it for the students and recognition comes as a byproduct,” stated Dr. Koch. “We are happy for the recognition, but that doesn’t drive what we do. We keep offering more AP classes because they keep filling up.”

Dr. Koch continued, “We care nothing more than our students’ well being; however we want students to challenge themselves and be successful for what comes next in their life to balance. Do I want kids to take AP classes? I do, but I want them to find the right balance for themselves.”

When it comes to AP enrollment,  the courseload truly relies on the individual student, and their personal interests and stress levels. Senior Anna Gehrman offered her advice about the number of AP classes a student should take. The right number for her? “Two AP classes” because “I am able to get sleep at night and I don’t spend all of my free time doing homework.”

So how do students pick the right ones? Sophomore Audrey Peterson described her thought process about which AP courses, and how many, she’s considering. “If I took AP history, I don’t think it’d be useful for me, but I do find AP Music Theory useful, and I think AP Calc will be useful since I’ll probably have to take calculus in college.… I think [the amount of AP classes] depends on the person. I know some people who can handle a lot but some who can only handle 1 or none. It depends on how that person deals with stress and whether they’re willing to give up free time for homework or studying.”

Weighing the pros and cons, the decision to take AP truly relies on individual students and what they can handle inside and outside of school. “I do believe every student can take and be successful in an AP class,” stated Dr. Koch. “We have great kids and great teachers [here at Prairie Ridge].”

This article is part of the Ask the Principal series featuring real questions from PR students.