AP Forum helps PWHS students choose challenging classes

Plymouth Whitemarsh High School often tops the county in the number of Advanced Placement, or AP, courses it offers. To give students a better idea of what these challenging classes are like, PWHS recently held an AP Forum during a bonus block in the school cafeteria. Students manned tables to talk about AP courses, as well as other high level classes like Dual Enrollment opportunities with area colleges.

AP courses are college-level classes taken during high school. They include intense workloads and higher expectations than regular or honors level courses. With course selection for next year underway, the event helped students pick their classes for the 2026-2027 school year.

Zoe Walinsky, a PWHS junior, had a lot of students stop by her table to ask if they would do well in AP Chemistry. “The truth is that the class is really hard, so we’re telling people that you really need to enjoy chemistry. You can’t expect an easy A out of this class,” she said. “I want to go into biochemistry and possibly into the medical field. I’m also just fascinated with chemistry. I love this class.” 

School counselor Jeff Blizzard believes that the student presenters were what makes the annual event so successful. “The students that were manning the tables were kids that have taken the classes, so they can speak with some education about what the courses are like,” he said. “So the students can make sure they’re signing up for the right classes. When kids are talking to other kids about the classes, they’re getting the real scoop.” 

PWHS senior Sean Lindsay was encouraging students to try AP Computer Science. He also spoke about the benefits of taking an AP course that go beyond simply learning a subject more in depth. “It helps prepare you for college,” he said. “And you can get credits for college, which would lower the cost of tuition and the amount of courses you have to take and pay for.”

Last year, more than 400 PWHS students took AP courses. The school has earned the College Board's Female Diversity Award in AP Computer Science, AP Honor Roll, AP Access Award, and is one of 15 high schools nationally piloting a Pre-AP Engineering curriculum accredited by E4USA.