Honors courses are lacking off around here also. While, AP, dual-enrollment, and career academies (high school programs with hands-on real world electives) are on the rise.

Dual-enrolment has become the new higher middle ground around here because AP is more rigorous than the regular community college classes.
I liked honors classes because they had more depth than the regular classes, but not as much work as AP. They are a great compromise for the smart and unmotivated.