The honors track in our schools turns into AP classes as the students advance in grades. In history, we have 3 APs. In English, 2 APs. In science, 1 AP, or more if students choose more science as electives. In math, 1 AP, or more if students choose them as electives. In foreign language, 1 AP if they pursue foreign language all years. That is a minimum of 7, and 12 or more is not that unusual, as many students do take foreign language every year, STEM students usually take more STEM classes, and many students choose some of the non-core APs as electives.
My kids don’t view the regular core classes as viable options. They already endured that kind of class for too many years and learned very little. Maybe in another school they are good classes, full of peers who are interested and do the homework. I guess when you come from a school district like Menlo Park, it’s easy to assume that everyone has good honors classes available to them and label kids from other schools who are just trying to get a decent education as just trying to impress admissions officers in capital letters.