Are ap and honors classes truly worth it?

By Ayden Myers

Students have always been pressured to take challenging classes, and most of the time, AP and Honors classes are the students' way of challenging themselves. With this, I’m going to share my opinion, about what I think about AP and Honors Courses, and whether or not I think it’s worth it.

Firstly, I’d like to mention that I have yet to take an AP or Honors class, regardless, that won’t contradict my opinion. 

Generally, I’ve always known I’m capable of taking an AP class, but I've simply chosen not to. The reason for this choice is that I believe AP classes create an unhealthy competitive environment that undermines students' confidence and abilities.

According to an article from The Educators’ Room, it states, “those programs create a rift in the school culture where students feel that “I may be smart but not nearly smart enough for honors.”

This article goes along with my previous statement, about how these courses can create an unhealthy mindset and cause students to underestimate their academic abilities. This is usually due to the intensity of these courses, with their need for high approval, and the fact that a student may think they are not capable of taking such a hard class compared to other students.

Not to mention, I’ve observed that AP and Honor students generally tend to be a lot more under pressure than students taking standard courses. I've found this to be because of the heavy workload and the frequency of the assessments.

Further, AP and Honors courses also lack flexibility, with the price of exams, and the constant need for student perfection. These courses tend to have tedious final exams, not only because of the difficulty, but the price, which usually ranges from 95-105$, per class. I find the pure difficulty and prices of these courses to be completely unreasonable.

Along those words, AP and Honors classes can also lead to Mental burnout, making it even more difficult to achieve the high expectations of these classes. It not only increases stress levels but increases the risk of depression and anxiety, which can cause a student to disregard their self-worth and value.

Although there are clear downsides to AP classes, it’s worth noting the upsides to validate my argument. The main reason most students take these classes is because they provide college credit, and are a way for students to stand out and gain skills pertaining to the real world.

Not only that, AP classes are generally a better route for your education, as Teachers are required to have a Masters Degree or Higher, which benefits students with more in-depth knowledge. The classes also dive into more details than a standard course, making you more well-informed on the suggested material. For this reason, I still wouldn’t be opposed to taking an AP course.

Considering both the benefits and downsides, the real question is, are AP and Honors classes worth it? Well, I believe it depends on what you're looking to achieve. 

If you’re hoping for just a more challenging opportunity, or to have better alignments for college, these courses are perfect for you. Now, like me, If you're not all about the stress and demands of these classes, it may be better to avoid them. So yes, I believe AP classes are worth it, as long as they align with your interests and goals.