Lately there have been nationwide races to become the leader in education. It’s human nature to want to be number one, the top of the game, and Florida has proven not to be a straggler in this race, especially when it comes to AP statistics.

According to a ProPublica analysis on the number of students taking AP courses, Florida is the leading contender. The state of Florida, along with a number of other states, encourages all students to take these AP courses.

More specifically, at Seminole High School, 43% of students at the school are currently enrolled in at least one AP class.

Sophomore Lindsay Martin said, “More money being put towards education is for the better. If education reforms can improve our school, with more funding and better preparation of the students, investment in them is definitely worthwhile. Seminole should invest in the education reforms if it means that students will be better prepared for college and the highly competitive job market.”

Florida is one of the few states in the country that has enacted specific education policies such as Florida’s MTSS, or Florida’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports. The central goal of this organization is to provide Floridian students the highest level of education and support inside and outside of schools. Another education reform is Common Core, which focuses on foundational standards that will help students achieve their best.

An anonymous freshman said, “I have looked into Florida education policies, and I am aware of a fair amount of policies like Common Core and others.”

Yet some students and parents do not have knowledge of these education reforms. The question is: are they even worth it?

National data seems to imply that Florida stands out among the rest. Previous governors and officials of Florida created partnerships with College Board and other organizations in hopes of preparing students for future educational endeavors. However, Florida still has its downsides. An NPR education report claims that Florida spends the least money per student compared to other states.

Sophomore Diego Trujillo said, “There is improper preparing that is starting in the earlier years for the classes.”

There’s no telling where Florida, or in this case any state in the US, will be heading in the realm of education. For now, the American population and global population wait to see what route American education will take.