By: Ila Crowe

With class recommendations for the next school year underway at Ponte Vedra High School (PVHS) students are deciding their schedules for the upcoming year. Picking high school classes help students figure out their future path. But many teens say their schedules are packed with requirements rather than what they are interested in. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), many students feel like they do not get to explore their strengths or career goals due to the amount of “required” classes. The big question is whether school schedules help students grow or hold them back.

While core classes are important, school can be seen as feel like a checklist of credits. At PVHS, many students get caught up in credits for college and test scores. Allison Mahoney, a sophomore at PVHS states, “I am currently in four AP (Advanced Placement) level classes and if it wasn’t for the college credit I would not have taken four, maybe one if it intrigues me. I am working for my college resume to get into a good college, like Florida.” On top of that students must compete with a rigorous schedule and AP classes too. The University of Florida is highly selective, with an admission rate of around 24-29 percent. The general GPA is typically in the 4.4 to 4.7 range and requiring students to have ten or more AP classes for consideration.

When students get to choose classes that match their interests and goals, they are more motivated, more engaged, and more likely to discover what they want to do in the future. Graduation rules and college expectations mean students must take certain subjects to stay on track; however, the issue isn’t whether core classes should exist, it is how much room is left after those requirements are met.

PVHS school counselor Derisse stated, “Eleventh graders typically take an average of five to six AP courses and tenth graders typically take two to three AP courses. We warn students about this how it will be a heavy workload. Us counselors want to make sure students have balance with their schedule, but at Ponte Vedra High School it is competitive, and students typically take majority AP courses.”

The required classes in the state of Florida are four English credits, four math credits including Algebra 1 and Geometry, three science credits (Biology included), three social studies (World/US History, Gov, Econ), one fine arts credit, one physical education class, and one online course.

Some students find they overscheduled and want to drop classes. Counselor Derisse revealed, “Mostly seniors drop classes because they get seniorities and want an easier schedule. Juniors, we find it as well, not as much but it has happened.”

At PVHS, academics are competitive causing students to take more high-level AP classes, leaving less room for electives. Students may lose chances to explore other career focused classes like technology, art or business. Although, PVHS offers many electives and academy’s, the pressure to take AP classes can still limit how many students are able to fit them into their rigorous, challenging schedules.

Overall, education is more than meeting requirements and building a college resume. Students have other interests, strengths, and goals. Giving students more freedom in choosing classes would not lower standards but make learning impactful and meaningful to student’s potential futures.

Pictured: PVHS guidance office