My kids had years of experience in non-honors, non-AP classes. This was more than sufficient for us to know that they would not learn much if they continued to enroll in the same classes. (Eg, “When should I schedule that appointment, which class can you miss?” “It doesn’t matter which class I miss because we don’t do anything anyhow”) Moreover, in high school, those classes have suffered a severe brain-drain because the top third or so of the students is no longer in them.
I went to a different school with a much higher average-achieving student body and better students in the regular level classes–think Lake Woebegone. And I bought into the idea being promoted on this thread that I shouldn’t work hard at subjects that didn’t interest me. I took one regular level class instead of honors and I skipped one AP class in favor of the regular one. These were the worst mistakes I made in high school. The regular classes were painfully boring and I learned nothing. Maybe some people think that’s a good thing. I think it’s good for people to get a well-rounded education. You never know how your interests may evolve over the years, or what new ones you may discover in a well-taught class with students who want to learn and an engaging curriculum.