<p>I asked this question before and got answers that moved me a little forward, but still left me with confusion and, maybe, fear. I think that our school's example might put the question in an easier to grasp perspective.
Until last year our town didn't have its own high school. Our kids went to a high school in the next town over, a generally typical midsize urban town. The highest level courses offered there were "level 4." Our town, a much wealthier suburb, decided that our high school would aim for college prep at the highest levels. We offer honors, AP and IB. It is commonly accepted that the urban school's "level 4" classes are the equivalent of our honors courses.<br>
While we're still gradually ramping up the school, we do not currently have a senior class. Those kids continue to go to the old school. So we do have families with one sibling at the urban school taking level 4 courses and the other siblings at our school taking honors courses - effectively the same level classes.<br>
When touring Georgetown recently the admissions officer seemed to define "challenging or rigorous" as the highest level offered by your school. So it seems that in our instance the sibling at the old school is taking a "challenging or rigorous" courseload but the sibling at our school, again - taking the same level courses - is not being challenged. Is that the way an admissions office will look at it? Have we, at least on this issue, done our kids an injustice by offering AP and IB courses? Am I missing something (likely)?
I note on the common application 2 things: the counselor is supposed to define the student's courseload in relation to the levels of courseload offered by the school. So, our counselors will have to say that our honors students aren't in the "most challenging" category. Also both the counselor and the teacher have to address the student's traits, regardless of the class level (leadership, response to negatives, etc.).
Thanks in advance for any theories, insights, or constructive criticisms.</p>
<p>To answer your question about the way the admissions officer is going to look at the competing schedules, yes: the students would be viewed differently for taking the same classes. These students in the newer school have the opportunity to challenge themselves even more than the other ones.
However, building the school and offering AP/IB courses was not a disadvantage to either school. Having the opportunity to challenge yourself with college level classes is valuable even if it had no affect on the resume, and eventually, once newer school has been around for a while, it'll give kids who want the extra challenge a great chance.</p>
<p>I would say make sure to have the counselor explain the high school situation in their reccomendation. Technically, if there are AP courses available and the kids are only taking honors its not the most rigorous but if its mentioned that the high school is essentailly still being ramped up then that would probably be taken into consideration.</p>