<p>Way back when I was in high school, about a third of the students or slightly more took high school physics. This was also about the same fraction of students who went to four year universities after graduation.</p>
<p>There was no AP or advanced physics, but there were two options:
- [Project</a> Physics](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_Project_Physics]Project”>Harvard Project Physics - Wikipedia) for those not intending to study science or engineering in college.
- [PSSC</a> Physics](<a href=“PSSC: 50 Years Later”>PSSC: 50 Years Later) for those who expect to take physics in college. This course, although not especially difficult, was sufficient preparation to do well (>700) on the achievement (now SAT subject) test in physics.</p>
<p>Perhaps the lack of Project Physics or similar course today may be a deterrent for prospective humanities and social studies majors who do not want to be thrown into a course meant for prospective physics and engineering majors. But that does not really explain the apparent hesitation to take physics among those who load up on other sciences to the AP level.</p>