Advanced Placement (AP) class enrollment at Santa Fe has increased from 542 students to 632 since 2022. These classes not only provide opportunity for college credit, but also challenge students to balance their extracurricular activities with school work.
Majority of students enrolled in AP courses are juniors and seniors due to more class options being available. The classes include: AP English, history, science, math, art and music options. Popularity in AP Literature, AP US History and AP Government has grown exponentially, with US History being the largest class at Santa Fe.
“They [AP US History and AP Literature] cover for a core class, so students are required to take those subjects,” Santa Fe Counselor Lisa Arsenault said.
Students are encouraged to join AP classes for many reasons; students hear about the teacher’s good reputation, peer recommendation or the opportunity to earn college credits. These classes have more work than average on-level classes, making them more challenging.
“Remember, it’s okay to struggle at times, that’s part of the learning process,” Santa Fe Counselor Torie York said. “You’re not in this alone, and the effort you put in now will pay off in the long run.”
Students thinking about enrolling in AP classes should take extracurricular activities and home life into consideration. The workload in these courses isn’t something to be taken lightly. Students who procrastinate tend to struggle more.
“I kinda wing it most days, if I have time to do the AP work I usually put that above all else,” junior Cailey Hinton said. “If it’s due the next day it’s usually a midnight thing.”
The rise in AP class enrollment reflects both the growth in student academics and the importance of preparing for college.
