Polarbear - Very frustrating, I agree and can empathize with you. DD14s situation sounds very similar to your DSs. Only AP courses carry weight, so As in non-AP classes can lower your overall GPA. Same situation on HS classes taken in MS, too.
Luckily our DD has bought into our mantra of bettering herself rather than her GPA. Taking two foreign languages and band, even while getting A+s in all three, causes her GPA to trail behind others in her class who max out mainly on APs and avoid filling their schedule with other classes. But she LOVES taking two languages and thoroughly enjoys band.
Oh well. I keep hoping that, at the end of the day, she won't be worse off by bettering herself.
Best of luck,
--S.F.
