<p>Lots of medical schools do not accept AP credit, and those that do often don’t accept it for the sciences. AP Biology and Chemistry, for example, generally cover the same material at the same depth as in the college equivalents yet medical schools like UCLA’s won’t accept it. Also, the vast majority of people that take organic chemistry are premeds - very few people willingly take a class that’s notorious for ruining GPAs. In addition, not many high school teachers are qualified to teach organic chemistry. Even if a high school chemistry teacher majored in chemistry, chances are he/she has not taken any additional organic chemistry classes in college besides the required introductory courses during sophomore year (most chemistry major requirements do not call for additional ochem classes). It’s not a subject where the teacher can simply stay a chapter ahead of the students. Students ask tough questions, and if the teacher lacks the knowledge base typically acquired though years of immersion in the subject they will not be adequately answered. The lab experience is an essential, and most high schools don’t have the budget for the lab equipment needed (NMR, IR, GC, etc. machines cost tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars).</p>
<p>Also, if you can’t find the time to take ochem a community college then you’re not going to have time to learn it. It’s a really big time commitment. </p>
<p>If you’re really interested in the subject then get a textbook and learn it yourself or watch lectures on youtube (entire courses have been uploaded there). But I don’t see it moving to the high school level anytime soon. It would be a interesting course for sure, and I wanted such a class in high school, but after taking it in college (I’m in the 3rd of a 3 part series of ochem classes ATM) it doesn’t really seem practical or cost effective for high schools.</p>