What is the point of being in AP (ASP), or honors classes, in Middle School?

[rainbowz23]

I recently visited a college and asked the man who works at accepting people into the college when he starts looking at grades. He said he looks back as far as 9th grade unless you take high school classes in middle school.
Advanced Student Placement/Honors classes don't count as high school classes so what is the point of taking them in middle school? Or even in elementary? Have I been taking them for 4 years just to make me a little smarter? Just curious..

[WhispersToKill]

They actually do count (in Florida) and they provide credits to help excel speedily, get ahead and help enter competitive colleges. Plus, regular classes are boring if they aren't challenging and you'll be ahead if you have to re-take and are pretty much guaranteed a better grade.