When colleges evaluate our students, they want to see that our students take the most challenging curriculum available to them at our school. Colleges do not concern themselves with, or expect our students to take AP or IB courses because, in most disciplines, we choose to offer creative and rigorous courses rather than the AP or IB curricula. This is a growing trend among many of the best schools in the country. For instance, Phillips Exeter Academy (NH), St. Paul’s School (NH), Phillips Academy (MA), and The Lawrenceville School (NJ) are rated among the 5 best schools in the country, and all exclude AP and IB courses from their curricula. We believe, and college administrators confirm, that the best education available to students is independent of the AP or IB programs.