Art by Sean Mayer

Keira Cavanaugh ‘27

WRITER

The high school’s Course Selection for the 2025-2026 school year opened on February 7, giving students the opportunity to map out their schedules for the upcoming school year. While this can be exciting, choosing classes may also feel overwhelming and daunting due to the numerous options available. To help ease the stress, the Counseling Department works diligently to simplify the process by providing in-class presentations and additional individual assistance.

When course selection opens, students are instructed to log into PowerSchool and submit their course requests under the “Class Registration” option. Students can either follow the class recommendations made by their teachers or choose other courses that better align with their interests. Counselors and teachers encourage students to make thoughtful decisions, taking into account their lives both inside and outside of school. “A common mistake I see is students over-scheduling themselves with too many higher-level courses,” says Melissa Albrand, a counselor at the high school. According to Albrand, students should challenge themselves with rigorous courses but avoid overloading their schedules to maintain a balanced year.

Junior Sydney Grieco shares that “varying the difficulty level of [her] classes helped ensure [she is] not bombarded with schoolwork.” Limiting the number of Honors classes she takes each year allows Grieco more time for studying and extracurriculars.

To assist with selecting the right courses, the Counseling Center advises students to meet with their counselor to discuss which classes align with their plans both during and after high school. “Selecting classes last year felt stressful for me,” says sophomore Aditi Banda. “However, talking to my counselor really helped me map out my ideal schedule,” she explains.

Course selections are not set in stone, as an optional ‘Add/Drop’ period will be available from March 30 to April 7. This allows students to make changes to their course selections by adding new classes or dropping previously chosen ones.

To meet students’ needs, the high school is introducing four new courses for the upcoming school year. One of the new offerings is English 12 Academic, which explores themes of morality and behavior. In this course, students will engage in storytelling and writing assignments related to human ethics, while also participating in research, public speaking, and persuasive writing.

Another new addition is AP Computer Science A Blended, a course that was previously offered but now incorporates both in-person and asynchronous learning. The blended instruction format will follow the same curriculum but will require students to be more organized, dedicated, and flexible to ensure success.

As the course selection process for the 2025-2026 school year concludes on February 21, students should carefully consider their options, seek guidance from their counselors, and take advantage of the new courses available to create a balanced schedule that aligns with their goals and interests.