AP courses are among the most rigorous a high school has to offer. They can lift a GPA above a 4.0, thanks to transcript weighting. And if you take the exam (usually right after taking the class) the course may be exchangeable for college credit. The exam fee is $94, significantly cheaper than taking the equivalent class in college. Another potential advantage is that many students thrive on the courses' high expectations. Nearly three million students at 22,000 high schools will take Advanced Placement exams in May 2018, twice the rate of 10 years ago.
