Radford City School Board approves four new high‑school courses

The Radford City School Board approved four new course offerings for Radford High School on Feb. 10, following a presentation from high‑school staff about student demand and scheduling timelines.

Mr. Simpson, who presented the proposals, said the district wants to offer both physics and AP physics locally instead of relying on Virtual Virginia for students who plan to pursue engineering. “We would like to see especially kids going into engineering, we'd like to see more physics on transcripts,” Simpson said, adding that the district will pursue certified instructors if interest meets staffing thresholds.

Also proposed and approved were an entry‑level Principles of Business and Marketing course to create a clearer business pathway in CTE and a dual‑enrolled nurse‑aide course intended to let students test for and earn CNA credentials if a certified instructor is available. Simpson said registration for classes begins Feb. 19 and that the district typically requires a “critical mass” of interested students before staffing a new class.

The approval came after a motion to add the new courses to the agenda and a subsequent motion to approve them as presented. Board members voice‑voted in favor without recorded roll‑call tallies.

Next steps include finalizing staffing and curriculum materials and reporting back to the board as enrollment numbers drive the master schedule for next year.