Ep. 9: The AP Course Divide
A student at Central Park East High School holds his head in his hands, apparently stressed.
“Their mental health sometimes suffers from (AP courses). Just the the anxiety of performing at top level, the coursework, fitting that all in.”
By Christina Adja
In many schools across the country, high schoolers have the opportunity to take AP, or Advanced Placement, classes. These high-level courses are designed to introduce students to the rigor and expectations of higher education, and to help them get a leg up in the college application process. Some students look forward to the challenge, while others dread the stress and anxiety they bring.
AP classes have been proven to make students stand out when applying to and attending college, and also to boost their confidence. In New York City, however, some schools are not able to offer as many AP classes as others, with funding being one of the biggest barriers to access.
Christina Adja reported this story as a sophomore at Central Park East High School in Manhattan.
“I say the best thing for me (about APs) is probably everyone wants to be there and they want to learn. And it’s very nice being in a space like that. And the teacher is very passionate, so that’s nice.”
That where’s AP for All comes in. The Department of Education initiated this program to combat the issue of access to AP courses for small, under-resourced schools. AP for All has provided funding and resources for many schools, but the issue won’t be solved completely with one program. There are still obstacles in the way of broadening AP access for the students who would benefit most from them.
In this episode, I dive into the reasons for inequitable AP access across New York City, how this reality affects students and what further actions are being taken to make change.
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