Winchester School Committee approves 2025–26 WHS course of studies; theater classes cut for now

The Winchester School Committee on Feb. 13 unanimously approved the Winchester High School course of studies for the 2025–26 school year.

The committee’s vote formalizes the high school’s published catalog of classes and follows presentations by Principal Dennis Mahoney and discussion about arts and elective access.

Principal Dennis Mahoney told the committee the administration is removing theater course listings for now because class enrollment has been too low to sustain offerings. "We're gonna take the theater classes out, due to low enrollment," Mahoney said, adding the change is temporary: "It's not gone forever. It's just on the shelf for right now while we explore it a little further." He described past efforts to reposition theater in the course catalog — moving it under English and offering an honors section — and said staff will reconsider how to make theater more accessible and attractive to students.

Committee members stressed the difference between temporarily removing a course and abandoning a program. Board member Miss Gartschem said the district needs a dedicated theater arts department and a feeder structure from middle to high school to build sustained enrollment. Doctor Hackett, the superintendent, agreed, saying a successful department requires a full-time champion to recruit students and coordinate scheduling, and compared the effort to how Mandarin language offerings were built beginning at the middle school.

Mahoney also described how guidance and departments have loosened some prerequisites, moving from hard grade cutoffs toward recommendations to increase access while protecting students from being placed in classes for which they are unprepared. "We've begun to roll back the barriers to entry year after year," he said, noting overrides remain possible but come with academic risk for some students.

The course of studies document approved Tuesday includes new elective offerings such as forensic science, cybersecurity (held for this year pending College Board alignment), and expanded AP language options. Mahoney said staffing constraints limit how many AP and elective courses can be offered: "If we could have 1 more teacher for every department, I could offer a lot more classes."

The committee voted 5–0 to approve the course catalog as presented.

School leaders said they will return to the committee with follow-ups on how to restore theater offerings, and encouraged further input from students and families as program options are reconsidered.