I am in IBMYP (which is IB for 6-10 grades) which is an okay program, all things considered. But if you aren't the kind of person who loves English textbooks (*cough, cough* Sakura *cough, cough*) (excuse me, I have a very bad cough today. I must be catching a cold.), then IB really isn't the program for you. I mean, we got assigned four large projects today. But if you are really dedicated, IB is actually a lot of fun. There are some really good teachers.

Yes, AP classes are common in the US. My school is the only public school in the area I know of that doesn't offer them, and that's because it just puts us in the college equivalents instead. Or it will. I'm still a freshman, so I'm not taking classes with actual college students yet.

See, I go to what's called an early college high school. This is a school where you take lots classes for college credit and have an associate's degree when you finish high school. (I don't know if those exist in Canada? It's a 2-year degree; if you want a 4-year degree, and you have one, that's two fewer years of college you need to get it).

In Canada, high school students have majors? How does that work? 

I don't know if they have that sort of thing in Canada, but it's pretty awesome. Mine is on an actual college campus; I don't think all of them are. I do have time for extracurriculars, but those and homework have pretty well taken over my life. My school also happens to be free, which is awesome but not universal. It's public, but you have to apply for it, and they interview you. At some, you have to take a test to get in, too, but not at mine. You do take one after you get in, and if you don't pass immediately, they tutor you and make sure you have by the end of your sophomore year, because there are certain college classes you can't take without having passed it. That's a Texas thing, though.

At my school, we start taking classes for dual credit in our freshman year, but we don't take college classes with actual college students until junior year. That varies. Also, we get college IDs, which means discounts at museums for technically being in college and also access to their database (which means all sorts of awesome articles and papers and things). 

A lot of local public high schools around here have AP classes, and they even get together sometimes.  I'm taking AP Bio.  It's the only class I can take as a freshman.  It seems hard, but my teacher makes it really easy.  I have it double block later, which means I can't have any 'fun' electives, but I don't really care.

@Sakura: Oh, that's good. I'll still be able to do swimming and piano. :)

@Ima: I've heard of early college HSs but I don't think there are any nearby. I know there's a dual credit system- study at a college and earn high school credits- but I don't know if it's exactly the same.

Not all high school students have majors. Just the ones in the regional arts program. We also have a specialist high skills major program (SHSMs) where in grade 11 and 12 I think they offer several (mandatory if you're a programee) courses that centre around different career areas i.e. Business, Hospitality and Tourism, Health, etc. etc. But that's only at a few high schools.

How many kids do you guys have in high school? My high school has 3200.

My school's got this gigantic AP program, at least for sophomores up. I'm in APUSH and AP Chem this trimester, and the homework load is staggering. I don't know about you guys's schools, but our teachers are out to get us.

I love the IB program. It is amazing. Everyone in the trailers is insane and it is amazing. I LOVE LATIN. My school is the only IBMYP school that has that. I LOVE Orchestra.