The Henry County School Board approved the 2025-26 middle school and high school program of studies after presentations by district staff.

Administrators said no major changes were made to the middle school course list but that updated graphics and core-subject progression charts were added to help families see how middle grades prepare students for high school.

The high school program of studies included a larger set of changes: additional honors English courses (English 9 Honors and English 10 Honors), a clarified side-by-side chart showing dual-enrollment (DE), ACE, and Governor's School options, and a reworking of how Advanced Placement (AP) and DE overlap is presented. Staff said courses that previously carried both AP and DE labels will focus on the DE credential while students retain the option to take an AP exam if they choose.

Administrators also discussed program changes and pilots:
- Warrior Tech: Because enrollment has declined, the program is not listed in the program of studies for new enrollments next year. Staff proposed continuing to support current cohorts so students already in Warrior Tech can finish; officials cited enrollment targets (roughly 50 students for two certified teachers) and said staffing and scheduling make it fiscally difficult to sustain multiple low-enrollment year-long sections.
- 9th-grade academy pilot: To support incoming students, administrators proposed piloting a 9th-grade academy model that pairs teachers and gives 9th graders cohort-based scheduling (example: pairing English and world history year-long) while preserving stand-alone math placement because of varied student math levels.
- Teacher-prep pathways: The program-of-studies adds tracks for students interested in teacher careers, including a Teachers for Tomorrow sequence and pathways through ACE for dual-enrollment college-level preparation.
- Career/CTE additions: Staff highlighted an EMT program and additional ACE career tracks; counselors will receive supplemental materials and one-page pathway guides to help students plan course sequences.

Board discussion touched on enrollment thresholds, sustainability of small CTE offerings, counselor workload for student planning, and marketing the teacher-prep pathways to students. A board member said the program-of-studies is lengthier but easier to follow with the charts and the new side-by-side comparisons.

Votes: The middle-school program of studies passed by unanimous vote. The high-school program passed with one abstention recorded.

Why it matters: The program of studies defines course offerings, graduation requirements and pathways that affect scheduling, staffing and student postsecondary options. Changes to DE/AP labeling and the removal of a low-enrollment CTE program for new students have implications for course availability, counselor planning and resource allocation.

Ending: Staff said they will meet this spring with counselors and schools to finalize schedules and support materials and to pilot the proposed 9th-grade academy model where feasible.