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School committee approves Andover High School 2025-26 program of studies
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Summary
The committee unanimously approved the AHS 2025-26 program of studies, which adds AP U.S. Government and Politics, pilots AP Seminar for 10th graders, renames and restructures several electives, and expands course access options. Members discussed scheduling, AP exam subsidies, and counseling support for course selection.
The Andover School Committee voted 5-0 Thursday to approve the Andover High School (AHS) program of studies for the 2025-26 school year.
Principal Jimmy DeAndrea and assistant principal Ashley Hall presented a set of proposed changes intended to broaden student course options, simplify level numbering, and expand opportunities for earlier Advanced Placement coursework. Key proposals approved by the committee include piloting AP Seminar for tenth graders (as part of Modern World Studies) with College Board assessment, adding AP U.S. Government and Politics, restoring a yearbook class if sufficient interest exists, renaming several English and arts courses for clarity, splitting beginning music offerings (piano and guitar), and offering financial literacy for seniors for credit in math or digital learning.
Administrators said the district will continue to combine some English and social studies offerings in grades 11 and 12 to increase flexibility and maximize scheduling efficiency. They described AP Seminar as a research-focused course that will allow students to take the AP exam at the end of the pilot; completion of AP Seminar and a possible AP Research course would make students eligible for the AP Capstone diploma in later years.
Committee members asked how the district will communicate course options to students and families and how counselors will support decisions. DeAndrea described a multi-step outreach plan: an AHS registration information session during advisory on Feb. 24, a three-week window for preliminary course selections with subsequent individual counselor meetings for review and adjustments, additional classroom presentations by content-area teachers, and materials posted to the school website. Students and parents will be able to revise selections during counselor meetings; staff said the school aims to make course selection individualized and iterative.
Members also discussed AP exam fees and equity. DeAndrea said College Board subsidies plus Massachusetts state support reduce the exam cost for eligible students to about $22; the district has funds and procedures to cover exam costs for students for whom the reduced fee is still a barrier.
DeAndrea and Hall noted other curriculum changes intended to clarify course naming and level (for example, renaming “American Literature” as “American Voices”), split successful writing lab offerings into two grade bands, reintroduce Contemporary World Issues, and adjust art and music course titles and caps to align with classroom space and equipment. The committee asked staff to correct table-of-contents page numbers and confirmed the counseling office will notify families about AP exam-cost support.
The committee approved the program of studies by roll-call vote, 5-0. Administrators said students will receive registration information on February 24; the master schedule and final section offerings will be determined after registration and are subject to enrollment thresholds.
