I've always wondered: Why can't some schools boast large AP programs as other schools do?

Each HS has a school profile which gives details about a school including the number of AP courses offered. This profile is attached to the transcript sent to colleges. A student will not be penalized for not taking classes which his or her school doesn’t offer.

Any my local HS which is part of a very well regarded school distinct dropped all APs a number of years ago in favor of more in-depth courses designed by the teachers in the HS (a number of students chose to take the AP test but it is not required and the courses do not always cover all of the material so a degree of self-study is needed).