re: What do high school AP classes do?

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AP classes

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It’s more work in HS but if you take the national exam you could get college credit.

But many schools have placement tests so some are not necessary. And you can be placed out of courses based on your ACT/SAT scores.

I personally don’t think they help one way or the other but parents like to brag.

(And yes I took AP courses in HS)

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Why not challenge all the same if we preach equality?

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We’re not equal and we don’t preach equality of outcome. Everyone has access to AP classes at your school. Not everyone can take them.

If you’re naturally gifted in scholastic endeavors or you work your arse off you can advance to AP classes.

If you don’t apply yourself or you’re not capable of handling an AP class, which is not a bad thing sometimes it’s just because that’s not a path for you, simply throwing you in there wouldn’t help you, it would actually impede your learning due to stress and the inability to handle the load.

It’s like saying we can all lift weights so why don’t we all bench 500lbs. Some get there through base gifts and some get there through hard work but not everyone can just handle that amount of weight nor should they. But you can be healthy and in shape without advance weightlifting.

At a minimum, they filter out kids who aren’t interested in those classes. So, you end up with a more focused group of kids and a better environment for teaching. However, the class will begin to focus on test prep versus pure teaching as you get closer to the test date. They’re a good thing but I don’t think they should be forced into the entire student body.

It gives you the opportunity to earn college credit
For example if you take AP English or AP Histroy you could test out of some fr college courses you would ordinarily have to take. The exams you take at the end of school would determine whether or not you could earn college credit.
It allows you to skip the first english.

Plus your ACT and SAT scores, you can take exams summer before you enter college to test out of courses.

An A in AP weighs more with your GPA
—that isn’t always the case. Every district and private school makes their own rules.

if you score high enough on the AP tests, they count as college credits and you don't have to take freshman level classes. You can skip ahead to 2nd semester or sophomore levels your freshman year. Some people need to take 11th & 12th grade math, english, and science. Some people can leap ahead into college classes while still in HS. Some don't get to be astronauts either; some people get to change my oil. Life.

Some AP classes offer college credits. Some do not.
—-not true. The point of AP is to get college credit for passing the exam.

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curricula around the country are geared towards the middle-low tiers and smart kids are largely screwed

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Especially now that many places are doing away with AP classes altogether.

Equity. We all have to suck or it won't be "equal."

Most high school aged kids are not able to comprehend college level material yet, let alone handle the increased workload and culminate that experience with a single exam designed to test your knowledge of that subject.

AP classes are, simply put, college courses.

The best, though, were those high school classes that could be accredited through a local college or university and count toward your college credits. I had college credits from UMSL and SLU that, when combined with my AP courses and my testing out at LSU, had me pegged as a sophomore before I even set foot in a real college classroom. I took two semesters of 17 hours worth of classes and the rest of my time there I did 12 or less hours and graduated in 3.5 years. With a minor.

So what do AP courses do? Aside from give the student a glimpse into what college level material and responsibilities will be, it gives the student the ability to leap frog in front of his or her peers as well as save thousands of dollars in tuition.