Class of 2025, we are officially done—and as seniors we have decided to pass down all of our class choice wisdom to you through our favorite source: the ECHO!
As a very smart group here in journalism we have taken numerous classes ranging from the APs to digital art and theater, so these are our reviews.
Journalism I-IV - 10/10
We love journalism! Journalism I is where you learn all of the basic concepts about writing the newspaper stories, and it’s only a semester long.
Journalism II through IV is the ECHO staff and we love it! This class is dedicated to writing about what is most important to the school and our own personal interests. There are always options to choose from and rarely does a staff member have to write a “boring” story. (Looking at you wrestling and chess club). Please join us 🙏.
AP World History - 7.5/10
AP World can be seen as tricky because it is the first AP class that Beaver Area students are offered, BUT it is worth taking. Mr. Schlenke’s teaching is top notch and this is a great AP to start off with. We guarantee that Mr. Schlenke’s “boot camp” is harder than the test so it’s very easy to see a 4 or 5 exam score in your future after this class. It is also a bonus that World History is actually interesting and can be fun to learn about.
AP Biology - 6/10
As a future biology major my view in this class may be jaded due to the fact that I enjoy the subject, but overall this class has both up-sides and down-sides. Mrs. Ondeck does a great job preparing you for the impending AP test and most of the time the entire class scores over a 3 which is very impressive. The downside is that labs are far and few between during the year. Bio is more focused on concepts so double periods dedicated to notes happen often. The annual kayaking trip makes up for all those slides though!
US History through Film - 9.5/10
This is THE senior class to take. Want to watch movies every day for a semester? Take film class. In all seriousness though, Mr. Hazuda chooses interesting movies that provoke thoughts about history, war, and the film industry itself. This class is the perfect replacement for one of those many study halls that seniors end up with. (I don't recommend taking this class before senior year though due to you not being able to work on anything else during the class.)
AP European History - 8/10
At this point any senior who wants to take this class has also taken AP World, so you’re prepared for the Mr. Schlenke teaching style. This class focuses on a lot of art and can be interesting, BUT when are you really going to use an extensive knowledge of European history? This is the only reason this class loses two points.
AP Calculus - 7/10
This may be the hottest take . . . but AP calc is not as bad as everyone thinks. The horror stories that come out of that class come from students who are burnt out and not willing to dedicate enough time to the class. Mr. Ludwig is a great teacher, and even though the practice tests will have you shedding a few tears this class is useful to prepare for advanced college classes. Our only advice is not to take this class on a packed schedule.
Biotechnology - 5/10
I personally took this class with AP Biology, so every other day was three periods of straight biology, but I personally would not recommend this class. I thought this class would fill some of the gaps that AP Bio was missing with labs, but the Biotech labs are mostly online. There is also a lot of overlap between AP Bio and Biotech content. The lab report at the end of Biotech is also a killer. So if you feel inclined to take Biotech maybe just take AP Bio and get the college credit too.
AP Literature - 5/10
Since it usually follows AP Lang for most students, AP Lit is quite a change. The class is mostly poetry and less book reading which gets old about a quarter into the year. The essays are brutal and subjective when it comes to grading and opinions. By the end of the year your senioritis is bound to hit, so the independent reading project seems more like Mount Everest. If you are looking to have all As in your senior year this may not be the class for you.
AP Language and Composition - 8.5/10
If not for Moby Dick this class is a 10. Just kidding, but this class is a great AP and the sheer number of students who take it indicates as much. We were the number-one TriBond warriors and any AP class where you can watch a movie gets bonus points. Also, Mr. Kissick is a great teacher and that makes a difference in any class.
AP Statistics - 7/10
The difference between regular and AP Stats is huge. Regular stats class is a walk in the park while AP Stats might have you second guessing your intelligence. Mr. Shinton is such a good teacher and oddly enough makes statistics fun, but the probability unit will have you wishing for sickness on test day. A big downside is his grading on tests vs. how homework is graded on accuracy (why?!?!) but his notes are engaging and there are bonus point opportunities.
Fundamentals of Clay - 8/10
In this class you learn a new skill and the projects are actually functional. You get to turn a lump of mud into something that you can keep and use. This is a newer class and is a fun way to dip your toes (and clay-covered fingers) into the arts.
AP Government and Politics - 9/10
This is a great class especially for senior year! It allows students to learn the basics of our government just in time to be old enough to vote. The debates are a good way to talk with classmates from different walks of life. The class as a whole is a walk in the park as long as you listen on review days and are prepared for the tests. The only down side of this class is that every day is dedicated to notes which can be boring and repetitive.