The 2024-2025 school year has officially kicked off with a bang, but for many Malden High students, it has been more of a bang than they bargained for. A month into the school year, Malden High has witnessed guidance counselors become overwhelmed with student appointments seeking to make drastic schedule changes. One of the reasons? A new rule was introduced near the end of last year: AP classes are non-droppable.
The new policy, which was initiated after teacher leaders worked closely with school administration, aims to maintain consistency in AP class enrollment throughout the year. According to the history department’s teacher leader, Kurtis Scheer, the change aimed to address the issue of students signing up for AP classes only to drop them soon after the year began. “There were a large number of students last year dropping AP courses, and it created an imbalance in class sizes,” Scheer expressed. Similarly, the English department’s teacher leader, Yahaira Márquez, explained how the new policy sought to ensure that students give the rigorous classes a fair shot rather than backing out due to nerves or a heavy workload.
However, students have had mixed directions to the change. Matthew Garcia, a senior, recalls first hearing about the policy last May and feeling both shocked and disappointed. “There wasn’t any time to test the waters, once you’re in, you’re in,” Garcia remarked. Now a month into the school year, he continues to feel that the policy creates too much pressure and removes a safety net. “I think I signed up for too much, and now I have no choice but to deal with it,” he added.
Furthermore, Garcia pointed out that, “It’s very unfair and unreasonable to put these expectations upon these students because they should be able to experience firsthand whether the workload is a good fit for them, especially throughout the year as things change.”
On the other hand, some students see the potential benefits of the policy. Linh Do, the junior Class President, noted that while the rule made her nervous initially, she believes it might be necessary. “Last year, a lot of students dropped APUSH and were moved into second period U.S. History Honors, which made the classes really overcrowded, and I feel like it made it hard for guidance counselors to adjust,” Do illustrated. Though she acknowledges the added pressure, Do believed that the policy may push students to commit more fully to their academic choices.
Scheer expanded on Do’s point, further explaining that “it was creating a ripple effect on teachers who didn’t even teach AP classes. We wanted to prevent that disruption.” Márquez added on to this sentiment, noting that she has witnessed more focus and commitment among her students who now understand they need to stick with the course for the long haul. “Having the mandatory meetings before the start of the school year helped prepare students for what to expect,” she elaborated.
Márquez further emphasized that students were often dropping AP courses prematurely due to nerves, rather than legitimate concerns. “What we’re finding is that students weren’t giving it a chance. At the beginning of the year, for instance, they didn’t do the summer reading, so they’d say ‘I don’t want to take the course anymore,’ but that’s not the end of it,” Márquez voiced. Resembling Garcia’s previous statement regarding responsibility, Márquez stressed that AP courses are about commitment and preparing students for future challenges. “It’s an AP course and we’re trying to prepare you for what you may face in college or even work. There are expectations; there are commitments,” Márquez noted.
There are still some concerns, however, particularly surrounding how the policy will evolve in the coming years. While the current policy is strictly enforced, it is unclear whether it will remain in place for the 2025-2026 school year. “I would hope that we maintain consistency in our messaging as it relates to class selection in the spring and then follow through on the students’ part with the course load in the fall,” expressed the Director of Guidance, Erin Craven.
Adding to the AP conversation, there will be a new AP exam fee of $97 this school year, a cost that may add to the stress for some students. While financial aid options will be available, the specifics of how much the fee can be reduced are still being worked out. More details are expected in the coming months, and the guidance department will play a crucial role in helping students navigate these financial concerns.
Overall, while the new rule and exam fee have sparked conversation, teacher leaders maintain that the changes were made with students’ best interests in mind. The aim is to challenge students while offering the necessary support to help them succeed. As Craven remarked, “For help, reach out to your counselor, reach out to your teacher, and let’s find ways so that the seemingly too challenging work becomes manageably challenging … We want it to feel manageable, not overwhelming.” For now, it seems the policy is here to stay, though the coming years will tell if it truly proves to be as beneficial as intended.
