Mandy, a high school presenter, told the Nantucket School Committee on March 4 that the high school has revised its program of study and is adding a mix of college-preparatory and career‑focused courses for next year.

The change list includes honors calculus and honors statistics as senior-level options, Project Lead the Way capstone courses and an environmental science research-and-writing capstone, American Sign Language, a returning printmaking course in art, and a keyboarding course in music. Mandy said some classes will run only if enrollment meets the required number of requests.

Mandy described the scheduling timeline and course-review process that begins in November, with department reviews in December and final revisions in January before student course selection. "We started those discussions in November...we looked at courses that were undersubscribed or oversubscribed," she said. The school has held class meetings for the classes of 2026 and 2027 about course selection, and department leaders will attend an eighth-grade parent night to explain ninth-grade offerings.

Mandy said honors calculus and honors statistics were proposed to give students alternatives to AP courses that some found too rigorous. "AP is a little bit too rigorous for them...the honors level just comes down a little bit. It's still gonna be rigorous, but it might fit better with what they need," she said, noting those courses could be offered to juniors or seniors depending on pathway and student readiness and that Mr. Lucas suggested honors statistics.

On workforce and elective availability, Mandy said some courses are "grayed out" in the printed program of studies when they will not run this year but could return in future years. She noted the art department will not offer mixed media next year but is bringing back printmaking. She also told the committee that creative writing and journalism "have been dropped as electives for next year," while clarifying that the courses remain in the program materials (the transcript records both statements).

To expand access, the district is using the Edgenuity online platform for courses that the school cannot offer in person because of low enrollment; Mandy said Edgenuity makes AP and other upper-level classes available and that AP Psychology could be provided through the online platform. On student demand she added, "it all comes down to like the numbers and the request."

The presentation included discussion of student-led senior capstone presentations (Vision of the Graduate) and continued opportunities in performing and visual arts; a committee member asked whether a fine-arts requirement might be advocated for in the future.

The committee did not take formal action on the program of study at the March 4 meeting. Staff and department leaders will continue counseling students through course selection and will bring any future changes back to the committee if needed.

A closing note: department offerings and whether certain elective sections run will depend on student sign-ups during the course-selection window.