Because AP tests require a certain amount of information to be taught, AP curricula have not been shortened this year despite the school’s hybrid schedule, and many AP students find this challenging.

Senior Abby Liu, who is in AP Statistics, AP Physics and AP Computer Science A, is no different.

“I think it’s harder with hybrid learning because we only have two days a week this school year to cover a regular year’s worth of material,” Liu said.

Students have to spend more of their own time to learn, according to Liu. She said that for remote learning, one of her teachers posts YouTube videos while another teacher usually assigns online tests or quizzes.

Regardless of the changes making this year more difficult, Liu does not think this year has negatively affected her.

“My workload is not as bad as last year…,” Liu said. “The hybrid schedule hasn’t impacted my grades much because I still do the same things as I would do in a regular [AP] schedule.”

Senior Michael Pritchard is also in three AP classes, yet he finds the opposite to be true.

“I feel the hybrid schedule has significantly impacted my grades this year due to the fact [that I have] less in-class days…to talk to my teachers face to face.”

According to Pritchard, the limited in-person days make it more difficult to learn and ask teachers questions. However, he has been “managing the workload as best as [he] can.”

“The main thing to do this year when in AP classes is to especially stay on top of the work [every day],” Pritchard said. “I follow the schedule my teacher gives me and do the assignments that I am assigned on my remote days.”

Pritchard said that by learning more independently, he feels like he is preparing well for college. The hybrid schedule also provides him “the flexibility to be able to learn online,” which will also assist him in college.

Pritchard is not the only AP student who believes the hybrid schedule is beneficial. Senior Will Kirk is taking AP Physics and AP Calculus BC and said the hybrid schedule helps his “academic performance.”

“I now have to manage the workload of the classes pretty much on my own,” Kirk said. “[The hybrid schedule] has caused me to take more responsibility for learning the material.”

Kirk also said the hybrid schedule provides students with more free time now. He said he typically finishes his work well before when school would normally end at 1:50 p.m. as long as he starts his work on time. This is “the biggest positive” for Kirk.

Though the hybrid schedule helps him, Kirk said he finds that the hybrid schedule can be problematic.

“I think learning the material through hybrid is more challenging; if you have a question or are unsure about something from a video, it can take a day or more to be able to talk with [teachers] in person,” Kirk said. “Watching someone go through the problem face to face makes it much easier for me to learn, but hybrid kind of throws a wrench in that.”