What's special about honors classes?

Slightly clueless junior here. I hear a lot about students taking 'honors' classes. What differentiates an honors class from a regular one? Are there significant benefits to taking these kinds of classes?

Honors classes are more advanced and rigorous than regular classes. They typically go more in-depth in the subject matter and push students to think critically, engage in discussions, work on challenging projects, and generally perform at a high academic level.

There are several benefits to taking honors classes. Firstly, they generally increase your weighted GPA, as most high schools apply an additional grade point to honors classes. This means that getting an "A" in an honors class could possibly count as a 5.0 instead of a 4.0 in your GPA calculation, depending on your school's specific policy.

Secondly, they demonstrate to college admissions committees that you're willing and ready to take on rigorous academic challenges. Many selective colleges prefer students who have taken a demanding curriculum in high school and consistently performing well in honors classes is one way to show that.

Lastly, honors classes often offer a more engaging and enriching classroom experience. They can stimulate your interest in a particular subject and prepare you well for advanced placement (AP) classes or college-level coursework.

Just remember to balance the challenge of honors classes with the rest of your academic and extracurricular responsibilities. You don't want to overload yourself to the point of stress or burnout. It's also important to do well in these classes, as going for the honors tag but then getting lower grades is usually not beneficial. So, consider your strengths, interests, and time commitments when deciding which and how many honors classes to take.