In the past few years, many departments at Horace Greeley High School have been going through curriculum changes, adding and altering classes to adapt to the ever-changing world of education. This year, 9th grade students had the opportunity to choose between four semester-long science courses and Physics 9, in addition to Biology (which has been offered in past years). In the Art department, there were several new classes created, including Architecture, Art as Activism, Printmaking, Jewelry Design, Entrepreneurial Arts, and Furniture Design. These classes, in addition to those already offered, give students many options to explore.
This year, the English department made changes to their class options for upperclassmen. The department has shifted away from offering semester-long classes, mixed with both 11th and 12th graders. In the 2025-2026 school year, juniors and seniors will now only be offered full-year English classes. Each grade is given four different English courses to choose from, in addition to full-year electives like AP Seminar.
As stated by the Decisions Catalog 2025-2026, current sophomores have the option to take American Literature, World Literature, College Writing: Literature and Film Theory, or Classic Literature and Contemporary Echoes next year. Students who complete College Writing: Literature and Film Theory may earn three college credits from SUNY Purchase. Current juniors are able to take Advanced Placement English Literature; British and Ancient Greek Literature; Racism, Classism, and Sexism; or Creative Writing and Media next year. Two of these are interdisciplinary classes: Creative Writing and Media can be taken for an English or Art credit, and Racism, Classism, and Sexism (RCS) can be taken for Social Studies elective credit or English credit. The SUNY Albany University High School Program allows students who complete RCS to be eligible for three college credits from SUNY Albany.
These classes build upon the current courses that are offered, while also adapting to the needs of students at HGHS. English teacher and Department Chair Ms. Abair says, “Our current program has been in place since the late 1980’s. The world has changed, the school has changed, and we wanted to consider topics that are more relevant to students in the 21st century.” She mentioned Senior Experience, and how “meeting seniors at the end of January did not afford opportunities for the meaningful development of relationships. What we have experienced is that when juniors and seniors are mixed, at the end of the year, half of the class may leave. By transitioning to full year courses, students can take a deeper dive into the subject with a more sustained inquiry.”
Many people were involved in the process of making these changes for next school year, including students. “This was a department endeavor for certain, and we’ve been working on it for a few years,” Ms. Abair says. “A few times during the process we worked with students in order to gain [their] input and we’ve received feedback from kids in our current classes over a period of many years.” In addition to the student body and English department, other members of the district, such as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Dr. Pease, and many staff developers were a part of shaping this new curriculum.
Regarding the curriculum of these new classes and why each class was chosen for 11th or 12th grade, Ms. Abair says, “We know that typically the majority of the 11th grade takes APUSH, so American Literature will complement that course. We also wanted each grade to have the opportunity to take an English course for college credit, through SUNY.” She says, “In creating these new courses, we wanted to align the curriculum. If you are taking one class with one teacher, the experience should be similar to another student taking the same class with a different teacher.”
Student experience is an important aspect in the decision making process for these new courses. Regarding the class adjustments, junior Uma S. says, “Full-year classes allow students to develop a relationship with their teachers and classmates, which is especially valuable for juniors beginning the search for a college recommendation.”
These changes to English courses aim to improve the student experience at HGHS. However, there is still work to be done. The English department will continue to plan through the spring and summer, detailing and finalizing the curriculum, and cementing the books that students will be reading. In the fall, juniors and seniors will begin the new classes and explore the worlds of literature, film, and media with the guidance of their teachers.
