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Hawthorne High presents expanded AP, dual-enrollment, trades and Seal of Biliteracy plans
Summary
Hawthorne High School administrators presented a program-of-studies update to the Hawthorne Board of Education outlining additions to AP and dual-enrollment offerings, growth in STEAM and trades programs, a Seal of Biliteracy rollout and a shadowing partnership with Hackensack for juniors and seniors.
Hawthorne High School administrators on Jan. 14, 2025, delivered a detailed program-of-studies presentation to the Hawthorne Board of Education highlighting expanded Advanced Placement and dual-enrollment offerings, stronger career-and-technical pathways, and new language-certification steps for juniors and seniors.
Principal Kevin Fisser told the board the school will add AP Economics next year, expand dual-enrollment agreements, and sustain increased AP participation. "I would strongly recommend any of our students who are looking to go to a 4-year college to at least take 1 honors or 1 AP course before they go to college," Fisser said during the presentation.
Why it matters: the changes aim to broaden college and career pathways for students, give them earlier access to college credits and industry-relevant training and provide credentialing (Seal of Biliteracy) that can affect college placement and workforce options.
Key takeaways from the presentation - AP and testing outcomes: The school reported that 141 students participated in AP courses last year (about 25% of the student body as presented), with 258 exams administered and 82 students scoring a 3 or higher on at least one exam. The administration said AP enrollment remains strong this year with roughly similar participation.
- New and sustained course offerings: The program will add AP Economics (new next year) and offers 17 AP classes this year with 18 planned next year. The school also expanded electives including intermediate dance, music technology, directing/production and an Introduction to Accounting elective.
- Dual enrollment partners and credits: Hawthorne High has dual-enrollment arrangements with Fairleigh Dickinson University, Seton Hall University, Passaic County Community College, and Ramapo College. Administrators described opportunities for students to earn up to approximately 30 college credits through those relationships.
- STEAM and competitions: Principal Fisser and supervisors highlighted STEAM successes including a team that placed second in the New Jersey School Boards Association STEAM Tech Challenge with a rainwater-to-electricity prototype.
- Trades and career exposure: A new or expanded trades course (Explorations of Careers in the Trades) has doubled enrollment year-over-year. The school also runs field trips to technical institutes and plans to continue expanding hands-on pathways.
- Computer science and cybersecurity: The district emphasized a four-year computer-science pathway that includes robotics, app design, Java and Python programming, and a cybersecurity course focused on defense and prevention.
- World languages and Seal of Biliteracy: Administrators said 17 languages are spoken in the school community and that juniors and seniors will be tested this year for a state Seal of Biliteracy in French, Albanian, Italian and Spanish. The district also plans a Hispanic-heritage acceleration program to identify middle-school students eligible to skip to higher-level Spanish courses.
- Hospital partnership (Hackensack): The board heard that the district has placed 10 seniors in shadowing opportunities at Hackensack; nine of those students had completed paperwork at the time of the meeting. The program will now include nonclinical rotations on the business side of hospital operations, such as accounting and philanthropy.
Administration and counselor notes Several supervisors spoke about department-specific pathways: Bonnie Aschenbrand (math and science) outlined the shift to freshman physics and AP science options; Ashley Smith (humanities supervisor) described new AP Seminar and curricular approaches; and world-language staff described plans to expand biliteracy recognition and a forthcoming multicultural night at the high school on March 7.
Community reaction and next steps Board members praised the presentation and asked that the recorded presentation be clipped and shared to reach families who could not attend. Staff said counselors will begin course recommendation meetings this week and that program details are available on the district's updated website.
Ending Administrators characterized the program-of-studies changes as responsive to student interest and said they will continue to refine pathways, expand dual enrollment and provide vocational and college-preparatory options.
