By Ethan Wang
Staff Writer
At our school, AP STEM classes are scarcely available to underclassmen. Out of nine such courses, freshmen are barred from taking any and sophomores are allowed only three: AP Precalculus, Environmental Science and Biology.
As I look ahead to junior year, I feel pressured to stack multiple AP STEM courses to fully unlock our school’s resources.
Advancement tests present a promising solution to open new opportunities for students while preventing future stress. These tests would assess students on foundational concepts necessary for an AP STEM course, like basic chemistry and math.
Freshmen and sophomores that show proficiency can advance to the course, while those that do not can still take the class after meeting the normal grade level and prerequisite standards.
We can look to the middle school for a current implementation of this model, where incoming seventh graders can advance into Algebra 1 by passing a test on pre-algebra material. These students are able to take Algebra 2 freshman year without sacrificing their summer to study Geometry.
At TCHS, STEM courses aimed at underclassmen build strong foundational knowledge. However, students who already grasp these concepts often find themselves disengaged with no way to branch out. An advancement test allowing students to take challenging courses earlier ensures all students can learn engaging material.
On a broader level, the limited selection of AP courses for ninth and tenth graders leads to a pileup of advanced classes down the line. After taking Biology, Chemistry and Algebra 2, students may pursue a variety of STEM paths instead of following a set progression.
Due to this branching structure, upperclassmen are incentivized to take multiple AP STEM courses simultaneously to take advantage of our school’s opportunities—a plan that can jeopardize their mental and physical health.
A study published in the International Journal of High School Research found that taking too many AP classes at once can lead to increased stress and less sleep. However, this stress was minimized when students took only one to three AP courses per year, a sentiment shared by our school counselors.
The current system incentivizes upperclassmen to overload on AP STEM courses. Spreading these classes throughout high school can alleviate stress without sacrificing academic opportunities.
Of course, success isn’t solely defined by the amount of AP classes you take. Still, they are an amazing tool for students who are ready for the challenge.
Given the benefits of AP classes, we shouldn’t have to sacrifice our well-being for academic rigour. If school is designed to help students, a one size fits all model won’t promote achievement. AP Placement tests will help create a tailored experience that caters to individual student needs.