The purpose of this phenomenological study was to interpret the lived experience of Black and Latinx students from Lakeside Township High School (LTHS); to gain an understanding of how they make sense of their decision not to engage with AP Science coursework. After reviewing relevant literature, interviews were carried out with six Black and Latinx students who opted not to engage with such coursework. Analysis of the semi-structured interview transcripts identified three group experiential themes. First, the participants described taking an AP Science course as being an unsafe decision. Second, they identified their decision as being influenced by their academic areas of interest, by their teacher, and by their assessment of each course's curriculum being relevant to their lives. Lastly, the participants described a generally negative perception of AP science courses, primarily informed by hearsay from peers and family, as well as a lack of science self-efficacy despite success in previous science courses. Within the context of literature and theoretical framework of science self-efficacy, these findings suggest several recommendations for practice: creating science spaces that offer an inclusive community in which all students, particularly Black and Latinx student, feel safe; placing more teachers of color in AP Science spaces; simplifying the dissemination of information about science courses; recognizing and capitalizing on the influence of early high school science teachers; amplifying honest, positive experiences in AP Science among Black and Latinx students, as a means of improving the hearsay about AP Science classes, and enabling students to build their science self-efficacy in their early high school science those classes. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]