Advanced Placement classes offer students an opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school. However, getting a class approved can sometimes be tricky.

Approval for AP classes can depend on various factors like having fewer prerequisites, or whether or not a student meets the requirements for that particular class. AP Chemistry has had a long road to approval, in part due to specialized equipment, labs, and high-qualified teachers, as well as student interest.

This year, for the first time, AP Chemistry has been offered to students who are interested in taking a second year of Chemistry and expanding their knowledge on the subject. 

Chemistry teacher Deirdre Gonzales has been teaching for roughly nine years, and there are various things that she enjoys about teaching chemistry. “I like how there’s so many labs and activities that we can do with chemistry,” Gonzales said. “Students can [both] see and do chemical reactions [to] then understand what’s going on at the level of the atoms and molecules, but based on what they can see.”

Gonzales said there’s been an increase among students interested in taking a second year of chemistry, but as a college level course. “Last year is when the students drove it and [they] were able to show that there were enough students interested to get [the] class going.” she said. “That was really exciting.” 

However, she said that it took various tries to get the class approved because the administration had to make sure there were enough students interested in the class. She then had to meet with school administrators and go to intensive training this past summer through the College Board, who administers all the AP exams. In the end, the AP course was approved and ready for the 2025-2026 school year. 

AP Chemistry covers a variety of topics, including atomic structure and properties, acids and bases, intermolecular forces and properties, and many more. “It really is a whole year of college level chemistry,” Gonzales said. 

College level chemistry dives deeper into the topics than high schools do, and it explores familiar topics in more detail while also introducing new concepts. 

This course is different from both honors and regular chemistry classes. Students enrolled in AP Chemistry need to be self-disciplined and mature because they have to complete a huge amount of independent work in order to understand the material. But, so far this school year, the class is meeting Gonzales’ expectations. “I feel really lucky because I have so many students that I had last year,” she said. “The students that I got this year in AP Chem are hardworking, they’re dedicated, and I think it’s going really well.” 

Senior Jatniel Mata said he is taking the class because he was up for a new challenging class and because it was a cool thing to try out, even though he has never taken a chemistry class before. “It’s definitely a class that should stick around,” Mata said. “The concepts being taught makes me think of the atoms and molecules that surround our everyday life. Even though I have no previous chemistry knowledge, the class itself isn’t that difficult.” 

Senior Alexis Duenas is also a returning student who took Chemistry Honors last year. He is taking AP Chemistry because he passed last year’s chemistry class with an A, and that makes him believe that he will do well in AP Chemistry. “What I like about this class is [how] our amazing teacher is so passionate about [teaching] this class,” he said. “Another thing I enjoy about this class is the bonding I do with my team. We are in groups of three and while we are working [on a lab] and waiting for any reactions to happen, we talk and laugh with one another.”

While Gonzales thought the class would only be for this year (because of changes to the science curriculum in 9th and 10th grades), she found out that was not the case. After discussing with the school’s administration, it turns out that the class will continue to be provided next school year. When she heard the news, Gonzales’ face lit up with excitement. “I’m glad I’m teaching it now,” she said. “I do think it gives an opportunity for students that are going to go [into] chemistry a chance to see what that college course is going to be like. And even if they take chemistry in college, which I hope they do, they just have a much stronger foundation.” 

Students who are taking the class shared the same reaction. Senior Aldo Barron was really surprised when he was given the news. “I’m actually really surprised [but] also really glad,” he said. “Students could take AP Chemistry the following years so that no one has the academic disadvantage when it comes to applying for STEM based careers.” 

He also has advice for students who are interested in taking the class next year. “There’s a lot of good resources out there, such as Khan Academy, teachers, and even Youtube,” he said. “If you’re really passionate [about] chemistry like I was through my organization, I would recommend taking the moment to find what exactly draws you [to] the subject.” 

Overall, the class itself has created optimistic perspectives and reviews from students. As administration continues to provide students the opportunity to take the class, Gonzales hopes for two things. “I am hopeful that if there is enough student interest, and if there are enough students prepared for the class, that there could be a [full] AP Chem class next year,” she said.