I'm college, rather than H.S., Mel, and have my own ideas about the pros and cons of AP, but will only address your question, as AP is taught at Lexington HS, the town in which I live, as a 1st course in chem. The high school is large enough to have choices for students. There is a lot of pressure on students in this town, from a variety of sources, to take the more advanced course(s) (in all subjects), to assist them with getting into prestigious colleges and universities. If the high school isn't big enough to permit AP and Honors, perhaps there needs to be some alternatives, e.g., different expectations for amount of work done and for exam/lab performance in an "AP/Honors" course, for those taking it to take the AP exam vs those taking it as Honors students. ...Judith Kelley Retired/UML chemistry -----Original Message----- From: neact-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:neact-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Meledath Govindan Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 12:18 PM To: neact@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [neact] AP Chemistry Dear Colleagues, Perhaps you can enlighten me regarding my question about AP Chemistry. I was of the impression that AP chemistry is generally taught after the students have taken a year of chemistry. Is this true? I know at least one school system where AP Chemistry is taught in lieu of an Honors Chemistry and students have been struggling. As a result, not many are signing up for that course and dropping down to the next level, where they (otherwise honors students) are not being challenged. I would appreciate receiving some feedback from my HS chemistry colleagues. Thanks. Mel Meledath Govindan, Ph.D. Professor of Chemistry Fitchburg State College 160 Pearl St. Fitchburg, MA 01420 (978)-665-3628 (Office) (978)-665-3578 (FAX)