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Students tell board AP course availability and pressure affect well-being

Piedmont Unified School District Board of Education · October 22, 2025

Summary

Three students told the board that AP/honors course pressure and a crowded course catalog can contribute to stress; Peter Murdoch and others said expanding AP offerings alone is not the solution and urged adults to listen to student well-being concerns.

Several students used public comment to describe pressure around AP and weighted classes. Peter Murdoch, a senior, said AP courses can be "really stressful" and that students sometimes miss seats in full sections; he advised peers to "prioritize their own health over their own transcript." Another student, Anson Zhao, said decisions about course changes often involve adults and parents while students' schedules and stress are not always considered.

Board members and administrators thanked the students for speaking and pointed to upcoming workshops on college admissions and well-being that aim to clarify what colleges seek. The students' comments were treated as input for broader discussions on course availability, scheduling, and how the district communicates admissions expectations. No immediate policy change was enacted during the meeting.

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