<p>The quality of AP classes varies greatly among schools and even within schools. Some are very successful at providing students with great learning opportunities.</p>
<p>Our DS likes them because the students who are serious about studying cluster in them. He likes being in class with them. That is a sucess.</p>
<p>DS also studies a lot on his own (with a commercial AP study guide). He has a fistfull of 5s for which he may or may not get college credit. If he goes to his safety school, he will get credits and skip courses outside his major (that is a success). He may graduate early - could save his family a lot of money (that would be a success.)</p>
<p>If he gets into his reach school, he won’t save any time or money, but at least he will have gotten in (that is a success.)</p>
<p>APs are not a panacea for the many shortcommings in America’s school, but they do provide potential benefits for some students.</p>