If your child attends a top school, surrounded by other top students, and ends up in the top 40% instead of the top 10%, you have to ask yourself a simple question: Would you give up the education they are getting, in order to be ranked #1 in their class? The same applies if your school doesn’t use a weighted average when ranking. Except for a few rare situations where a particular scholarship is only available to those with a specific rank, you’re better off with the harder courses, and colleges will recognize that when reviewing the application. Tell your kids to challenge themselves, and learn everything they can - the rest will take care of itself