Honors, AP, or On-Level Classes?

On-Level, Honors, and AP courses. Each class comes with its own expectations, benefits, and challenges. Here's a breakdown of each type.

 

On-Level Classes
On-Level classes are designed to cover the standard curriculum at a steady and manageable pace. These courses focus on building strong foundational skills while ensuring students fully understand the material.

Pros:

• balanced workload that allows time for extracurriculars, sports, or part-time jobs
• less academic pressure compared to Honors or AP
• a great option for students who learn best at a consistent pace

Cons:

• less academically challenging for students who enjoy fast-paced or in-depth learning
• they may not stand out as much on competitive college applications

On-Level classes are ideal for students who want a solid education without overwhelming stress.

Honors Classes
Honors classes are more challenging than On-Level courses and move at a faster pace. They often include more in-depth discussions, critical thinking, and advanced assignments.

Pros:

• more academically stimulating
• courses help prepare students for AP and college level courses
• they show colleges that students can take hard classes and flourish 

Cons:

• an increased workload
• higher expectations and they require strong time management skills 

Honors classes are a great middle ground for students who want to push themselves but aren’t ready for the intensity of AP courses. 

AP Classes
Advanced Placement (AP) classes are college-level courses offered in high school. These classes are rigorous and typically end with an AP exam, which may earn students college credit depending on their score on a 1-5 scale.

Pros:

• opportunity to earn college credit
• they are highly respected by colleges
• good preparation for students for the demands of college classes 

Cons:

• heavy workloads and fast-paced curriculum
• the high stress, especially around the AP exams
• not be ideal for a student that is already overcommitted 

 AP classes are best suited for students who are highly motivated, academically strong in the subject area, and ready for a serious challenge.

As you can see, each class level has its own pros and cons. There is no correct answer when it comes to choosing the best classes. The right choice depends on a student’s learning style, goals, schedule, and stress tolerance. Taking time to reflect and possibly confer with family members or counselors can help students choose the class level that best supports both their academic success and overall well-being.

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Contributor,  Matthew Garcia, '26

Matthew Garcia is a senior at Saint Thomas Aquinas High School who actively participates in his school. He loves to serve the community, especially during the summer by going on the service trip, "Prayer and Action". He is the president of both the Cookie and Prayer clubs. In his free time he enjoys walking his dogs, working out, and hanging out with friends.

*This piece was written in Mrs. DeNegri's Marketing course as an assignment in content marketing.