CCHS limiting AP classes, spurring divergent opinions from students

As administrators move to cap the number of Advanced Placement classes Acton-Carlisle High School students can take, opinions inside and outside the building are split.

Some say the limit, set to start in the 2026-27 school year, will ease stress and improve mental health. Others argue it will restrict academic freedom and could push ambitious students to find workarounds. 

Asked about the new limit, freshman Samuel McHale, one of hundreds of students at Acton-Carlisle High School planning for next year, straddled the line. 

“I personally would like the option to take more AP classes,” he said, “but I understand as well the concern with mental health that others may have.”

Though students say they understand the desire to protect their health, opinions on the cap are also split due to AP courses’ role in college admissions. 

AP classes are college-level courses offered in high school through the College Board. They follow a standardized curriculum and conclude with a national exam scored on a scale of 1 to 5. 

Many colleges grant credit or access to higher-level courses for scores of 3, 4, or 5.

In announcing CCHS’ 2024-25 “silver” ranking from the College Board for its AP programming, the district said 54% of seniors had taken at least one AP exam, 53% scored a 3 or higher on at least one test, and 5% of seniors took five or more APs in high school.

Asked whether the cap was related to maintaining CCHS’ performance levels, schools Superintendent Laurie Hunter responded, “All decisions are made with the best interest of students in mind.”

CCHS junior Jude Hedlund said the cap “will encourage people to self-study AP exams instead of taking a class, and they will end up being more overworked.” 

“If students are forced to choose between two AP classes because it would put them over the limit, they may feel as if they don’t truly have the freedom to pursue what they want,” junior Adrien Guinebertiere said. “If one AP is more important but the other one is more ‘fun’, they may not be able to take the ‘fun’ one.”

Other students were more amenable to district-imposed limits. 

“I feel like a lot of students try to take as many AP classes as they can, even if it ends up hurting their grades and causing more stress,” said sophomore Violet Kokoszka. “Having a strict limit is a good way to stop students from overextending themselves.” 

Hunter and Regional School Committee Chair Tracey Marano did not answer Acton Bridge questions about student concerns, instead focusing on the introduction of new AP English courses at CCHS. 

A cap on AP courseloads?

Acton-Carlisle High School  | Yes

Acton-Boxborough Regional High School | No

Lexington High School  | No

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School | No

Parents weigh in 

Alexa Anderson, a former School Committee chair and current president of the Acton-Carlisle High School Parents Association, said she likes the idea of a cap because it builds on the “Challenge Success” model, an initiative adopted by the district that aims to help students explore different definitions of success. 

“I do want our kids to have the experience of people challenging them on what it means to be successful and ensuring that they recognize that their mental and physical health is really important,” she said in an interview with The Bridge. “There is more to life than a GPA.” 

Under the new policy, CCHS students’ latitude to take more AP courses increases year by year. Freshmen may not take any AP classes. Sophomores may take one, juniors may take up to three, and seniors may take up to four.

School years at CCHS are divided into semesters, and the maximum number of classes a student can fit into the schedule is seven. AP classes are the same length as other classes offered at CCHS, but AP science classes have an additional hourlong lab period. 

At a recent PA meeting, CCHS Assistant Principal Meg Maines asked parents to give feedback on the AP cap. A Bridge request to attend the meeting was denied, but Anderson said opinions were split fairly evenly among attendees. 

“There’s a subset of parents who want to ensure that their high-achieving children have the greatest amount of opportunity available to them,” she said, speaking from the perspective of parents who oppose the limit. “They believe their children can manage the stress, and they don’t want to limit their child’s ability to demonstrate that they can handle a full amount of academic rigor.”

The policy will be reviewed after its first year, Hunter told The Bridge in an email.

CCHS pilot program AP limits

Grade | Number of APs a student can take

Freshman | 0

Sophomore | 1

Junior | 3

Senior | 4

Seeking ‘a healthy balance’ 

In their newsletter, CCHS co-Principals Katie Stahl and Brian Miller introduced the limit as a part of the administration’s ongoing pursuit of “ways to help students find a healthy balance in their lives.” 

The policy document cites survey data finding that “students who take a full courseload of APs report higher stress levels, less sleep, and a stronger emphasis on getting the ‘right’ answer rather than deep understanding.” 

The document also says students and parents may request an exception.

Some parents have raised concerns that the cap could make students appear less competitive in the college admissions process. Anderson said Maines, the assistant principal, addressed that issue at the PA meeting by explaining that the school profile sent to colleges will note the AP cap. This should allow admissions officers to see that a student pursued the most rigorous schedule permitted.

In neighboring districts, Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, Lexington High School, and Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School do not have AP class limits.

“We are very trustful of having our counselors work with students and families on an individual level to make sure that kids are prioritizing how to balance themselves as they get through high school,” ABRHS Superintendent Peter Light told The Bridge. 

Still, for many students, the debate reflects a broader tension between ambition and well-being.

“I think it’s nice how it can help students’ mental health by relieving pressure and workload,” freshman Katie Hong said. “On the other hand, there are many limitations for people who want to strive to take more challenging classes.”

CCHS Correspondent Sarafina Zhang contributed reporting.