Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry, a course previously offered at Midtown, is being reconsidered as a class for the 2026-2027 school year after a 12 year hiatus. A form was sent to students to determine if enough students would be interested in taking the course for it to be recovered.
The course would be offered to juniors and seniors who meet the prerequisites, which include completing Chemistry and Algebra II. Despite being offered multiple times, most recently during the 2014-2015 school year, Assistant Principal Willie Vincent said AP Chemistry was ultimately removed due to a decline in student interest. However, the course is being reevaluated due to recent interest shown by students and teachers, Vincent said.
“We have had it at least two [times] in the past,” Vincent said. “Student interest dwindled both times.”
AP Chemistry involves the application of math and science. Students are expected to develop skills in areas such as model analysis, argumentation, and mathematical routines. That said, AP Chemistry has a more detailed curriculum in comparison to on-level chemistry. Junior Eloise Young, a former chemistry student, is excited about the possibility of taking AP Chemistry due to its challenging curriculum.
“I really enjoyed chemistry last year,” Young said. “It was the perfect balance of science and math for me, and I’d be interested in learning more.”
In comparison to on-level courses, AP Chemistry covers more detailed content. According to chemistry teacher Dr. Permeil Dass, the course moves away from trends and focuses on relationships that are supported by atomic bonding and structure. Additionally, it features more in-depth calculations in areas such as thermodynamics, kinetics, acids and bases, and electrochemistry.
“The two [chemistry courses] are quite different,” Dr. Dass said. “On-level [chemistry] may rely more on memorization without understanding the process or knowing the why behind what they are saying. AP [Chemistry] draws out your knowledge of chemistry and the interactions of atoms and molecules. You are expected to understand what is happening in a reaction and why it’s occurring, and a calculation is oftentimes used to support your claim.”
Like Dr. Dass, Young believes AP Chemistry is an opportunity for students to achieve a greater understanding of chemistry in comparison to that of on-level courses.
“AP Chemistry would provide another opportunity to expand on a class students have already taken, which allows them to explore in more depth another field that might interest them in college or as a potential career,” Young said.
Dr. Dass believes taking AP Chemistry demonstrates the academic capabilities of students to colleges while giving them an opportunity to experience a difficult course load.
“Students from college have told me the best reason to take AP Chem was that it is a great transitional class to prepare you for college,” Dr. Dass said. “It’s better to be challenged in high school than in college. Many advanced students that breeze through classes do not know how to handle studying and struggling when they get to college. Skills in lab and time management are very practical for college as well. It makes our students more competitive at top colleges. Having this class on your transcript shows colleges you are a top student who can handle rigor.”
AP Chemistry requires 25% of instructional time to be used in labs. Young believes this course would allow students to develop fundamental skills for their future education.
“In addition to academic rigor of AP courses, I think [AP] Chemistry specifically would give students more laboratory and experimental skills that would be very applicable in college,” Young said.
AP Chemistry teaches students principles that are applicable to everyday life.
“Students who take AP classes are more likely to specialize in majors with tougher grading standards and complete course work and do better in their courses,” Dr Dass said. “Also, [they are] twice as likely to go into advanced studies like PhDs, medicine and law.”
As of 2025, 77.9% of students received a 3, the lowest passing score, or higher on the AP Chemistry exam. As a college level course, students will encounter more challenging assignments. Dr. Dass believes the difficulty of AP courses, including AP Chemistry, allow for students to excel in their post-secondary education.
“The majority of students earn a 3 or higher, [so] many will be able to earn college credit for Chemistry, saving time and money,” Dr. Dass said. “The class uses higher level thinking and will prepare students for challenging courses in college. Students going into the sciences, particularly healthcare, will have one to two years of chemistry in college. This is a great course to prepare them for what they will encounter in college and hopefully earn one year of credit. The labs also expose students to skills that will be expected of them in college and apply what they learn in a practical situation.”
