During a recent government meeting, school officials proposed the addition of five new courses to the high school curriculum for the upcoming academic year, aiming to enhance educational offerings and better prepare students for college. The courses include English 10 AP Seminar, AP Studio Art (2D), Art History, a new marketing course, and Nutrition and Wellness.

The English 10 AP Seminar is designed as an introductory course to Advanced Placement (AP) offerings, allowing students to earn college credit while preparing for more advanced studies. This initiative reflects a strategic move to increase student engagement in AP courses earlier in their academic careers.

In the arts, the introduction of AP Studio Art (2D) and Art History aims to expand the current offerings, which previously included only a dual enrollment ceramics course. These additions are expected to cater to the growing interest in art education and provide students with more opportunities to earn college credits in this field.

The marketing course is intended to complement existing Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways, allowing students to complete a sequence of courses that can enhance their career readiness. Similarly, the Nutrition and Wellness course will serve as a completer course for students interested in culinary arts, addressing a gap in the current curriculum.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of early course scheduling, as the high school operates on a 4x4 schedule, necessitating timely decisions to prepare course catalogs for incoming students. Officials emphasized the distinction between AP courses and dual enrollment, noting that AP courses are more universally accepted for college credit across the country, while dual enrollment credits may vary by institution.

The proposed courses will be reviewed further in upcoming meetings, with officials encouraging board members to consider the implications of these additions for student success and academic preparedness.