Wakefield outlines new high-school courses, tighter timelines for course selection
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Summary
Wakefield presented updates to its program of studies including new electives (percussion ensemble, content-creation, mathematical literacy for life), an AP business offering and social-studies electives; administrators detailed course-selection timing and changes to the level-change override procedure.
David Robinson, the district administrator presenting the Program of Studies, summarized changes to course offerings for next year and explained the course-selection timeline during the School Committee meeting on Jan. 13.
Robinson highlighted multiple new classes at the high school level and elsewhere: a percussion ensemble in performing arts, a film class titled "content creation" to teach students conceptualizing and distributing multimedia, a senior-level "mathematical literacy for life" class, a ninth-grade "foundations of algebra" preparatory course, an AP business course (the first year the College Board is offering that AP subject), an entrepreneurship school-based enterprise course aligned to ADEC curriculum, social-studies semester electives (history of social media; Holocaust/Totalitarianism & World War II; Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire) and a mindfulness-for-teens wellness elective that will count toward a physical-education requirement.
Robinson explained the district's scheduling process: peak course selection occurs in February into March, with teachers recommending levels and families able to request level-change overrides during the March selection window. Under a clarified procedure, the district will generally keep students in their selected level through the midpoint of the first quarter (mid-October) to give students time to engage with coursework before switching levels.
Committee members asked for clearer flowcharts and course-mapping for the new "foundations of algebra" and mathematical-literacy options; administrators acknowledged the flowchart in the packet had not been updated and agreed to correct it. Members also raised concerns about several electives that were dropped due to under-enrollment (examples cited included courses on indigenous peoples, LGBTQ studies and civic action). Robinson said some topics may be embedded across core courses and that departments will review how to continue coverage of important themes. The committee asked administration to follow up with department leaders and return with clarifications.