How to Choose High School Classes Wisely

The most important thing to remember is that there is no one-size-fits-all formula for the perfect high school schedule. A strong course plan depends on the student: their strengths, challenges, capacity for work, and potential college goals. However, not every student is ready to think that far ahead in ninth or tenth grade.

And realistically, how are they supposed to know what they want to study in college—let alone which college they want to attend? Did you know where you wanted to go to college before your senior year? I certainly didn’t.

Families navigating rigorous coursework often benefit from support that connects planning, organization, and time management. Many parents explore executive function coaching or academic tutoring to help students manage challenging schedules effectively.

But first, use the jump links below to help you navigate this blog page. You should find most of the answers you are seeking about what courses to choose for high school next year.

Quick Navigation

• Course Planning for Connecticut Students
• Course Planning for New York Students
• Do Students Need Four Years of a Foreign Language?
• Choosing Classes Based on Career Direction
• How Much Academic Rigor Is Too Much?
• How Many AP Classes Should Students Take?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Course Planning for Connecticut Students

Students in Connecticut high schools, such as those in Greenwich, Darien, and New Canaan, typically follow academic sequences that build on one another over time. In Fairfield County, the way families approach choosing high school classes requires far more thought. After all, we have some of the best high schools in Connecticut and the country. That’s because our towns and districts put the required resources into our public school education.

That said, there are certain rules to follow when it comes to course selection:

Science often progresses from biology to chemistry to physics, while math moves from Algebra II to precalculus and, for more competitive students, calculus is important.

Colleges evaluate transcripts in the context of what each school offers. Selective colleges often expect to see strong preparation across core subjects, including English, math, science, social studies, and foreign language.

This does not mean every student needs to take every available advanced class. A demanding but realistic schedule usually leads to stronger grades, a healthier balance, and a better long-term academic trajectory.

Course Planning for New York Students

Families in Bedford, NY, and other parts of Westchester County often navigate the Regents system. In New York schools, progress in foreign languages is frequently measured by proficiency checkpoints rather than simply by the number of years completed.

Students who complete Level III or reach Checkpoint B may show proficiency even if they don’t continue for a fourth year. When evaluating course decisions, families should consider the overall academic picture rather than focusing on a single requirement.

If a student replaces language with advanced science, math, or computer science courses, that decision may still support strong college preparation.

Do Students Need Four Years of a Foreign Language?

This question comes up constantly for parents. Many colleges recommend three to four years of the same foreign language, but the ideal choice often depends on the student’s interests and goals.

Students applying to selective liberal arts colleges or pursuing humanities may benefit from continuing language study for four years. Continuing a foreign language throughout all four years demonstrates academic breadth and intellectual curiosity.

However, students pursuing a STEM-focused path sometimes replace a fourth year of language with AP courses in math, chemistry, physics, and/or computer science. The key is that the decision should be thoughtful and intentional.

Taking AP classes just to have them on a transcript can backfire if not planned correctly. The idea of what constitutes an “easy” or “hard” AP class depends on the student. It also helps to look at pass rates. Students can often be surprised to see which AP classes have higher or lower pass rates (a 3 or above).

Also, some universities require more than “passing” the course and require a score of 4 or 5. And some elite colleges—like Ivy League schools—don’t accept APs at all.

Choosing Classes Based on Career Direction

Students do not need to know their future career in ninth grade. Still, having a general sense of interests can help guide smarter course choices.

I once worked with a student interested in engineering who had never taken an engineering class in high school. Instead, he focused on a wide variety of courses until he decided upon his main interest. And now, he’s thriving at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)—with a little summer crash course in calculus before heading off to his first semester.

Colleges often care more about foundational skills than about specific course titles.

How Much Academic Rigor Is Too Much?

Many families assume that more AP classes automatically strengthen a college application. In reality, admissions offices evaluate both rigor, performance, and a diverse course load.

A student who takes four well-chosenAP classes and earns strong grades often presents a stronger academic profile than a student who takes seven AP classes but struggles academically.

Students also need time for athletics, leadership roles, extracurricular activities, and sleep. A schedule that eliminates everything except homework rarely produces the best long-term results.

How Many AP Classes Should Students Take in High School?

This is one of the most common questions parents ask. The truth is that there is no universal number.

For many students, a typical progression might look like:

• 0-1 AP class in sophomore year
• 2-3 AP classes in junior year
• additional AP classes in senior year if appropriate

This might result in four to seven AP classes across high school, but it is not a strict rule. Admissions officers focus more on strong performance in challenging courses than on the total number of AP titles.

Students balancing demanding coursework sometimes benefit from support like executive function coaching or academic tutoring to help manage heavy workloads.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many AP classes should a high school student take?

There is no universal number. Colleges care more about strong performance in appropriately challenging classes than about the total number of AP courses.

Do colleges require four years of foreign language?

Most colleges recommend three to four years of the same language, but requirements vary by school and the student’s academic direction. For instance, if your child wants to attend a liberal arts college or is stronger in ELA, history, and humanities, it makes sense to take four years of a foreign language. But if that French, Italian, or Spanish class is usually the drag on their report card, you can rest assured that choosing a course that emphasizes their strengths is a better choice.

What classes look best for college applications?

Colleges generally expect strong preparation across core subjects such as English, math, science, social studies, and a foreign language.

That said, if your child dreams of going to medical school, taking AP Chemistry is essential to show future college admissions officers that they’ll be able to handle a “weed-out” class like Organic Chemistry.

If they want to be engineering students, AP Physics will certainly send the right message. Plus, if the content is too challenging, a student might have second thoughts about putting all of their eggs into the engineering basket.

And if they want to be a business major, it’s not always about the course selection as much as being able to show an entrepreneurial spirit of some kind—even if that means enrolling in a business-related club at school, or even a summer program focusing on business.

Is it better to take honors classes or earn higher grades in regular classes?

Students should take the most challenging courses they can manage while maintaining strong grades and a balanced overall load. Again, taking more challenging courses can boost their GPA, but getting a lower grade can wipe out the best intentions.

When should students start planning next year’s high school classes?

Ideally, the start of the third quarter is when guidance counselors start the conversation with students, but there is no hard-and-fast rule. Decisions for the following year usually aren’t required until March or April, right before the fourth quarter begins.

Final Thoughts for Parents

For families in Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan, Bedford, and surrounding Fairfield County and Westchester communities, course selection season is a chance to step back and think strategically.

The goal is not to create the most intimidating schedule possible. The goal is to build a transcript that is challenging, coherent, and manageable.

At Diversified Education Services, we work with students across Connecticut and New York to help them manage demanding academic schedules through executive function coaching and academic tutoring. Families who want additional guidance can also contact us here.