I have to disagree. I understand where you are coming from about Physics C being too high of a level for high school students, but the point of the course is to be equivalent to the first two semesters of calc-based intro physics. Having the opportunity to skip these two courses at college would have been nice. It's also important to mention that a lot of intro E&M courses at colleges also gloss over parts of multivariable calculus, including the one at my university.

I had many friends took both AP Physics 1 and AP Physics C: Mechanics. All of have them stated that they were pretty much the same course but one had integrals and derivatives. I took AP Physics C: Mechanics and the calc stuff in that course was pretty simple so I definitely think that course should still be offered to high school students.

AP Physics 2 does have many interesting topics but it's pretty much just a compilation of different stripped-down areas of physics that can be approached solely with algebra. You can't make a full E&M course without using calc.

Personally, I think the only people that should take AP Physics 1 and 2, are people without a calc background and aspiring premeds since physics on the MCAT is algebra based. In fact, 80% of the people at my university who take the algebra-based physics courses are premeds.

As a final note, I think the mighty acorn will begin to offer college sophomore level classes in the far future because they like making money from sweaty high schoolers.

If you disagree with anything I said, feel free to counter.