Most Failed High School Class: Why It’s Not What You Think

When people ask what the most failed high school class is, they usually guess math or chemistry. But the real answer is AP Physics 1, an advanced placement course that tests conceptual understanding of motion, energy, and forces without heavy math. It’s the class where the highest percentage of students fail the AP exam—not because they’re not smart, but because the way it’s taught makes it feel impossible. A 2023 College Board report showed only 42% of students passed AP Physics 1 with a 3 or higher, the lowest pass rate of any AP subject. Compare that to AP English Literature (60%) or AP Psychology (63%), and it’s clear something’s off.

It’s not just physics. The high school workload, the total amount of assignments, tests, and expectations placed on students each day has ballooned over the last decade. Students juggle five or six rigorous classes, part-time jobs, extracurriculars, and college applications—all while being told to "just work harder." But pushing harder doesn’t fix a broken system. The real issue? math hatred, the deep frustration students feel when math is taught as abstract rules instead of tools to solve real problems. That same frustration carries into physics, where formulas feel meaningless without context. You can’t solve for velocity if you don’t see why velocity matters.

And it’s not just the content—it’s the teaching. Too many teachers treat physics like a math drill, not a way to understand how the world moves. Students memorize equations like F=ma without ever pushing a cart, timing a rolling ball, or measuring how much force it takes to stop a bike. They’re not failing because they’re bad at science. They’re failing because they’re never shown the science in their lives.

What works? Schools that connect physics to real things—like skateboarding, car crashes, or even video game physics—see pass rates jump. Same with math: when students build budgets, track sports stats, or code simple simulations, they stop hating it. The hardest high school subject, the class that feels impossible because of how it’s presented, not because of its inherent difficulty isn’t physics or calculus. It’s the one taught without purpose.

Below, you’ll find real stories and practical advice from students who’ve been there, teachers who’ve changed their approach, and data that shows what actually helps. No fluff. No platitudes. Just what works when the system is stacked against you.