We’ve seen it time and time again. Whether it be the late work policies or the grade inflation or even the confusingly labeled “Advanced” on-level classes, Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) continues to create policies that limit students’ workloads, yet cause more harm than good. Now it’s different. Extended deadlines and exempted homework grades were revered by students because it made school easier. But with the 9 Advanced Placement (AP) cap, it no longer feels like county policies are actually there to support academic growth. They’re just there to dumb down the system.
We all know what the 9 AP cap is at this point, but here is a little recap anyways: Back in 2022, ACPS announced that all students, starting with the class of 2026, would be restricted to take only 9 APs over the course of their high school career. This policy was implemented following student complaints that they were overloaded with work from AP classes and it had a negative impact on their mental health. However, there has been more controversy surrounding the AP policy post-cap than there was before the cap. Instead of actually addressing the mental health issue that the district was concerned with, they put more stress on students to scramble to plan their schedules so attentively in fear that they may run out of AP courses.
WAHS offers 23 AP courses. I can only take 9 of them. If I had it my way, I would take more. Not because I feel the pressure to enhance my workload to pad my resumé or impress colleges, but because I want the challenge. My favorite classes this year have been the ones with the “AP” label in front of the course name. AP classes are a draw for motivated students who want to learn and surround themselves with people who have a desire to learn as well. It doesn’t feel like the teacher is constantly holding your hand through the whole class; you are treated like an adult. It felt like I was finally able to find classes that I could actually enjoy, and now the county wants to restrict my enjoyment for the sake of other people’s mental health. Selfish it sounds, I know, but I think it is fairly reasonable to put myself first when the school board is putting my future in jeopardy just so I can be another lab rat.
I would also like to think that the county would have enough faith in students to recognize that students have, or should have, the liberty to make decisions for themselves. It’s pretty simple, honestly: If you find yourself in a state of distress because of an AP course, you don’t have to take that class. It should be your responsibility, not the school board’s, to determine whether you can handle the workload of a class. Once the school board involves itself in making those decisions, it generalizes the entire student population of each student’s capabilities. Instead of promoting the idea to students that there is no obligation to take an AP course and refraining from taking an AP is no reflection of one’s academic abilities, the district decided to set low standards for students and provide no exceptions for those interested in challenging themselves further than what the school provides.
It’s ironic, really, that with an administration that promotes student exploration through Career Learning Communities and weighted electives, when it comes to APs, the school system limits the exploration of rigorous courses. There are such things as AP electives, and in many cases, AP electives such as AP Psychology or AP Art History have been both appealing to students and applicable to their lives. While the intention of the AP policy may have been to reduce the overall stress of the student body, with students forced to choose between AP electives and AP core classes, there is more pressure and less opportunity to explore interests through AP classes.
So here we are. Current high school sophomores and freshmen are anxious to determine their schedules for the entirety of their four years in high school and live in fear of the idea that they are being set behind. It is obvious that this policy does not prepare students to be successful in their life endeavors, but that’s besides the point. In a school system that promotes choice, choice is limited for those who aim to be high achievers and ample for those who do not necessarily desire to challenge themselves in the most rigorous courses. While there is no issue providing support to students registered in less demanding classes, there is an issue with county negligence to support motivated students. No person is lifted up when attempts are made to push people down.
