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Susquehanna Township presents 2025–26 course plan: honors Algebra 1, year-long statistics, ESL semester options and schedule tweaks
Summary
District staff outlined the high school course planning guide for 2025–26, including new and restored courses, changes to AP/honors weighting, a move to year-long statistics, semesterization of ESL acquisition classes, a 1-minute longer passing time and extended lunch, and expanded dual‑enrollment and career partnerships.
Susquehanna Township School District staff presented the high school course planning guide for the 2025–26 school year during the board's January meeting, detailing new course offerings, schedule adjustments and expanded college and career partnerships.
The presentation, given by a high‑school presenter for the district, explained changes intended to increase students' access to remediation and college‑level work, restore certain Keystone‑aligned offerings and refine schedule timing. The presenter said the process began with leadership recommendations in the fall, teacher and counselor reviews through winter and spring, and that schedules are now being provided earlier to families (by May) so students can plan and, where applicable, complete summer work for AP sections.
Why it matters: the guide changes academic pathways that affect graduation requirements, Keystone remediation opportunities and students' eligibility for weighted honors/AP grade point averages — a detail the presenter said can materially affect scholarship outcomes.
Key details from the presentation
- Course additions and restorations: staff reported 13 new courses introduced last year remain in place and the district restored semester courses that help students prepare for Keystone exams in English, algebra and biology. Those Keystone‑support courses will be offered as semester electives aimed at students who need targeted remediation.
- Honors and AP structure: the district will add an honors Algebra I section intended to give students a stronger bridge between middle and high‑school math. The presenter explained the district uses weighted grades: honors classes are weighted at 1.08 and AP classes at 1.14.
- Statistics: staff said AP/college partners and community feedback showed statistics content was too compressed; the district will move statistics back to a year‑long course to slow pacing and improve mastery.
- ESL/English acquisition classes: current year‑long ESL acquisition courses will become semester courses so English learners who accelerate can move into mainstream classes sooner while still earning needed credits.
- Schedule timing: to reduce lost instructional time, passing time will increase by one minute and lunch periods will be extended. The presenter described the adjusted bell plan as incorporating a roughly 38‑minute lunch block while keeping classroom instruction minutes aligned with prior expectations.
- AP and course inventory: the high school will continue to offer 21 AP courses and roughly 153 total regular course sections across core and elective departments; staff said they will continue to monitor demand and enrollment when determining which electives run.
- College and career partnerships: the district highlighted local partners used for dual enrollment and early college opportunities, including Harrisburg University, Central Penn College, Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC), and other local programs. Staff also described an expanded cadet‑teaching program and a new community liaison position focused on work‑study and career readiness.
What board members asked and staff responses
Board members asked about distinctions between honors and AP pacing and costs for AP exams; the presenter said students choose whether to take AP exams and acknowledged fees may apply. Members pressed for more parent communication; the presenter said administrators plan in‑person open houses, evening and weekend sessions and ongoing advisory reminders so families understand pathways and GPA weighting.
Implementation notes and next steps
Staff said counselors will meet with 8th–11th graders in April to finalize course recommendations. The presenter said schedules were targeted to be in families' hands by May to allow summer changes and student preparation for AP assignments where offered.
Ending note: the board received the presentation and later approved related items on the consent/action agenda (see "Votes at a glance" article for formal motions and outcomes).
