<p>newsmassdad, the district has a restrictive AP policy for several reasons. Primarily, they insist that they be taught at a very high collegiate level and feel it is not possible for students to take more than 3 AP’s in addition to the 3 other courses taken, which in most cases will be honors level. Secondly, given the high AP course syllabi expectations, taking more than three/yr(in addition to the other curriculum reqts) would place too much stress on its students and create an overly competetive atmosphere.</p>
<p>HS is quite different than college and our district recognizes that. Most of the high achieving students do not have an opportunity to begin homework assignments until 5 or 6 pm. To expect them to complete hw assignments for more than 3 rigorous AP classes + 3 other academic classes is not a reasonable expectation.</p>
<p>The reason I noted that the OP data validated our district policy is that even at the most selective universities, taking a total of 6 AP classes seem to make our students competetive with other applicants.</p>
<p>Finally, I have always questioned the rigor of AP courses in districts that permit students to take 5 or 6 at a time. This would be a physical impossibility in our district because the students would be asked to put in about 17 hr days every day during the school week, ie getting to school at 8am and doing hw after dinner from 6pm to 1am. That is not sustainable over the course of an entire school year IMHO.</p>