Right now, Manhattan High School only offers three AP social science courses: AP US Government and Politics, AP European History and AP US History. However, according to the organization that makes and distributes the AP curriculum and exams — the College Board — there are many, many more. 

Why the discrepancy?

One possible answer is that including new classes is expensive and logistically challenging, while student interest in those classes could vary. Many students aren’t going into social science careers. And that’s okay — everyone has their own interests and goals, and everyone has their own path. However, the knowledge and skills people learn in advanced social science classes help any student distinguish themselves, understand different perspectives, and become a more informed citizen. 

Including more AP social science classes would enable students to potentially enhance their admissions chances, boost their GPAs, and prove their ability to handle rigorous courses. Furthermore, it will let students like me, who are passionate about the social sciences, challenge themselves while exploring their interests. I would have packed my schedule with all of these other AP classes had they been available — and I’m sure I’m not the only one. 

Courses like AP World History, AP African American Studies, and AP Comparative Government and Politics would also help students understand different histories and cultures outside of Europe and mainstream America. When any high school student graduates, they enter a rapidly changing, diverse nation and world. And while America has long been known as a “melting pot,” both international and domestic divisions are rising. Since many conflicts arise because of conflicting interests, cultural misunderstandings, or genuine historical grievances, I strongly believe that any step taken to understand other perspectives is a vital step to healing these divisions. 

Any student who takes additional AP social science classes will also become a more informed citizen. Not every student is going to grow up to be a software engineer or a doctor, but every student will inevitably become a voter and join the workforce. That’s where classes like AP Macroeconomics and AP Microeconomics come in. According to Pew Research Center, most Americans believe the state of our economy is going in the wrong direction, with 45% of Americans saying that it will be even worse a year from now. However, many of us likely don’t understand the full scope of the economy, which is an incredibly complex system. Though I consider myself a proud history and politics nerd, I never knew what a tariff was until President Trump’s “Liberation Day,” when he unleashed tariffs on most of the world. Thus, understanding the economy — and how we fit into i t– is incredibly important, especially with inflation, the cost of education, and the cost of living on the rise. 

Providing new classes, especially AP classes, is undeniably difficult and costly. But it’s also an investment — an investment that will create a more accomplished, aware, and informed generation of future graduates.