America's Top Public High Schools

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by JesseK

AP classes, IMO, are great if one wants a harder class or wants to see what college classes are like. They're TERRIBLE for replacing a college course. Don't do an AP Calc, Chem, or Physics class in high school and expect that you'll know even half of everything you'd get out of a good college's Calc I, Physics I, or Chem I class. As an engineer or scientist, this really only sets you up for failure in the follow-up courses.

In the world of No Child Left Behind, test results are all we have to rate education these days . If only someone were able to get past the red tape and implement a Taxonomy on Education Objectives -style program in an entire school system. Then we'd have measurable results for a non-subjective article that aren't based upon funding or 'status'.

I have to agree that tests are a pretty crappy way to measure education but to say that AP classes don't teach you what you need to know is outright wrong. (based solely on my experience so take it with a grain of salt) I took Calculus AB in high school, passed the test and took Calc 2 my first term at Kettering. Throughout the class I was bored because I had already learned 95% of the material. I did eventually struggle with Calc 3 but I believe that was more due to my being sick through roughly 20% of the class. About AP classes, they MAY teach you the material (this is up for debate) but they will NOT prepare you for college. Too many times I heard teachers tell me that AP classes are like college classes, now after 2 years in college I can safely tell you that none of my classes have been like any of the AP classes I took. Don't go into college thinking you are going to be fine because you got A's in your AP classes.

Originally Posted by dtengineering

I just want to make sure that everyone is taking this list about as seriously as when the National Enquirer runs a story on "Hollywoods Hottest 100 Stars".

They are both judged by equally scientific comparisons and are both equally as meaningful.
Jason

WAIT! Those lists aren't serious I thought they were, isn't that what we vote on every couple Novembers?