TP has some amazing AP courses (Bev in the English dept really makes honors "qualitatively different" for the kids. It's a huge school but challenging. Canyon Crest has many wonderful teachers and plenty of AP, plus all kinds of special programs like robotics, video stuff, art, theater, all at truly amazing levels. They do a choice night in the district in maybe spring where you can get the pitch from each school, but you should be able to call and get the scoop too. Sorrento Valley (and all the residential areas right by it, like Del Mar Heights, Carmel Valley, etc, are VERY nice, I liked living there/spending time there, but if you end up farther north, there's San Dieguito Academy, which is quirky and cool, and La Costa Canyon, which definitely has AP but I personally found the kids felt it was mostly sports-focused. Those are the four big public (the academies are lotteries but not crazy hard) high schools in that district. There are definitely gifted kids here and while the AP classes are packed with kids who just want to try hard and care about school (or whose parents are pushing them hard--some stressed out tenth grade world AP kids I've seen!) even if its not their favorite/strongest area, there are plenty of truly talented/gifted kids in each, too, in my experience. So many wonderful teachers and kids and programs! If my kindy girl were in high school right now, I'd send her to one of the academies, but it all depends on the kid, and the specific programs etc.
