Last semester, 108 out of 147 Lynbrook juniors got a C or D in their AP U.S. history class. Many students got a D for the first time in their lives, something unthinkable at a school where student academic performance has helped rank the school as one of the top-10 high schools in the state and one of the top 100 in America.

During the past two months, a group of shocked parents and school officials have been trying to figure out what went wrong. So far, they've concluded the college system, the district, the school, the teacher, the students and even the parents are to blame.

To have an edge on their college admission, many high school students take advanced placement classes. If students complete an AP course and then pass an accompanying exam, some colleges may grant them credit for an equivalent college course and allow the entering freshmen to get ahead in their college studies.

The grades earned in AP courses are normally assigned more "weight" than those for other classes in the calculation of a student's grade point average. For example, a "B" in an AP course can be counted as an "A" because of the greater difficulties of the class. And many colleges consider the challenges of taking AP courses when reviewing students' transcripts for admission.

Taking AP classes is popular at Lynbrook.

In the past, Lynbrook students could take two AP science classes in one semester. But because of the state's budget crisis, the school, since last year, has allowed students to take only one AP science class. Many students, feeling the pressure to take two AP classes, signed up for the AP U.S. history class, according to Fremont Union High School District Deputy Superintendent Polly Bove, who has been investigating the case.

The AP U.S. history class taught by Katie Stenseth had never been in such demand before. In the 2002 academic year, only 85 students were in her AP classes, and the number was consistent with those of the previous three academic years. Only 31 percent of the 85 students got a C or D. This academic year, 76 percent of the 147 students in her class got a C or D.

Many of the students who took the class this academic year didn't belong in Stenseth's classroom, said Lynbrook Principal Mike White. Although students were required to attend three pre-class meetings with the teacher and Stenseth held four weeklong seminars to review skills essential to be successful in her class, the class had an open enrollment.

"Most of the students would have been denied access to the course if a true screening system were in place," White said. He found a majority of the students who received a D in the class had common characteristics:

*Earned a B in world literature or world history last year.

*Total GPA is below 3.5 for ninth and 10th grade.

*Are currently enrolled in four honors or AP courses this year.

*Grades are lower in other honors or AP courses this year.

"The students obviously made a wrong choice. They picked a course that was beyond their ability," White said.

Not every student fits the profile portrayed by White. One student, who wants to keep his name confidential, said he got A earlier from a world history class taught by the same teacher, and Stenseth actually told him that he would do well in her AP class. He got a D. "This is the first D in my life," he said. "I understand this is a difficult class, but I don't think I deserve a D."

White said all the students were aware of their grades throughout the semester but many hid the grades from their parents. Students received a progress card at the sixth and 12th weeks of the semester. The dates of the grade reports are well publicized in the principal's newsletter, school site calendar and the district's website. It's not mandatory for the teacher to contact the parents if their children perform poorly.

"We put the burden on the students to hand the report cards to their parents. We put the burden on the parents to ask their children for the report cards," White said. "But we find a large number of students hide their grades from the parents. This is not just for this class. It is a larger school issue."

A student said he hid his grades because his "parents don't accept anything less than a B."

Another student said she didn't withdraw from the course early because many of her senior friends told her that they had a similar experience last year but their grades went up at the end of the semester. "I got an F for my first exam. All my friends got F's, so I thought it was just her way," she said. She got a D for the class.

Many parents were astonished when they found out about the grades. Jason, who requests that the Courier not use his last name, accused the teacher and the administrators of failing to provide students with guidance.

"They should have told the students to drop the class earlier. The low grading puts students down instead of encouraging them," he said. "Although AP classes are demanding, I think the teacher puts tremendous unnecessary pressure on the students."

Another parent, Richard, who also requests that the Courier not use his last name, said his daughter suffered so much pressure that he sent her to an emergency room twice last semester.

Stenseth isn't available for comments, but White and even students who got a D from her class said Stenseth is a knowledgeable teacher. "I learned a lot from her class," said a junior who got a D.

Lisa Tam, whose daughter took the same class in the previous academic year, said Stenseth had worked closely with her daughter when her daughter performed poorly in the class. Although her daughter eventually withdrew from the course and had to go to summer school, she appreciated the teacher's efforts.

The high school board assured the parents that a full investigation will be conducted to determine who is responsible. The school has launched a pilot program to ensure parents can check their children's grades on a school website. Students who got a C or D from the class can take an independent study program to make up for their grades.

Students who withdrew from the class said their lives have become much easier now.

"Towards the end of last semester, I didn't do other homework. I just did my U.S. history homework, sometimes until 2 o'clock in the morning," a student said. "I am just glad that I can go to sleep around 12 o'clock now."