A few years before my oldest started high school they started a special arts program. You could do it either in Visual Arts, Band, Orchestra, Theater or Dance. You had to take arts courses every year and you got a special designation on your diploma. My younger kid did the program. The kids who did it generally did very well in college admissions. It generally required two arts periods every year, one of which met before regular classes.
Aargh- advising to not take more than one science course at a time. For some that is easier than needing to fill a schedule with another social studies or humanities course or a study hall. STEM people thrive on the subjects- they are not as hard as writing papers for us!!! Top students NEED more than the next tier to not be bored crazy. In college the only case for taking a lot of math/science is it leaves no room for getting breadth courses out of the way so one can have more flexibility later. In HS it means taking other courses to meet requirements and learn things one won’t later.
Back in my day we couldn’t take as many elective academic courses- a second lit/English department course seemed to be the only option. Seven periods meant science (integrated), social studies, English, math, band/orchestra/choir (all at same period), phy ed, foreign language or a second lit course/business/shop/art/home etc unless one had a study hall. No chances to indulge in more.
In son’s day kids moved more at their pace- skipping regular versions of physics and/or history and taking the AP versions without first taking them like some did. And doubling up on courses of ability/interest along with required ones. Much nicer. Different school districts and honors versions in both.
The education should fit the child, not what a stranger thinks is appropriate.
It’s very common at my school among the top 20% or so to take two or more science classes. A lot of people take AP Bio and Honors Chem, AP Chem and APES, AP Physics 1 and AP Chem… only one or two people take AP Bio and AP Chem at the same time each year.
I’ve taken two science classes every year except for freshman year, and this year I’m technically doing two math classes.
But the teachers don’t load seniors on with homework, so YMMV.
Absolutely. D was this way - two AP English courses at once would have been a killer for her. AP Chem and Physics at once? Perfect.
DS took 5 APs as a senior. APChem and AP physics C were his favorites. AP gov, Lit and Stats rounded out the schedule. His favorite year, by far, even with the required to graduate art class. He was also well prepared for 1st year engineering in college. The student should do what they love.
This sums it up perfectly.
Says the mom of two lads who graduated with 6/7 science credits from high school, one of which went on and did that “dreaded” Bio/Chem/Calc freshman fall semester at a tough U and still made it to med school after graduating Summa Cum Laude.
I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone, but as @wis75 put it, some kids thrive on these things and get bored otherwise. They shouldn’t have to be held back.
FWIW, after that first semester of college, the med school lad overloaded credits pretty much every other semester because there was so much he wanted to take. Even with all the extra work he still had time to be in a Dance Club, Sign Language Club, Christian Club (presidents of each some years), and Juggling Club (now juggles with fire and knives - started juggling in college). He also had a Work Study job and tutored for pay. I’ll admit as parents we wonder if he sleeps…
My other lad just loves science and wanted to take so many courses. No reason why he couldn’t. Well, both lads love science, but only one needed the super high grades for med school. Neither had an issue getting into or graduating from college.
Then there’s my finance loving son. Just 4 science credits for him in his high school years and only the minimum required course (maybe two) in college. 
The education should fit the student.
My D took AP Chem and AP Physics last year as a junior. She had to get a PE exemption to do it. To get that exemption she had to play two sports. It was a rough year for sure. It hurt her GPA, but getting a 35 on the Science part of the ACT was worth it. She is doing AP Bio and Anatomy this year.
The other thing to think about is there are three types of kids:
- The type that think they can handle two lab sciences, sign up for them, and complete them successfully
- The type that come here and ask us about their schedule. Often they are taking 2 AP Lab sciences haven not taken any before. Or they are unsure about how much they can handle. In that case it is probably better for them not to take 2 at once
- The type that takes AP Bio as a freshman and gets a C because they are not prepared.
The education should fit the child, not what a stranger thinks is appropriate
AP BIO, AP Physics I and DE Chem as a high school freshman and did fine, much better than in Honors English, so some STEM kids are selective consumers of Math and Science, and they take the courses not for bragging rights, but they are rather happy to study those topics, much happier than to read a novel and write a 2000 word essay.