SWAMPSCOTT — School officials are proposing several updates to Swampscott High School’s course offerings for the coming academic year, including the return of honors-level classes alongside Advanced Placement courses and a slate of new electives aimed at expanding learning opportunities for students.
The changes were outlined during Thursday’s School Committee meeting as part of Swampscott High School Principal Emily Zotto’s presentation on the school’s annual Program of Studies, the course catalog that guides students and families as they plan schedules and map out their four-year high school experience.
The document, Zotto said, is a “massive collaboration” among teachers, department chairs, and directors of teaching and learning. It’s meant to deliver the best student experiences and deliver a plan that is meaningful for individual students.
Zotto said the updates are designed to give students more flexibility and ensure they can pursue challenging coursework at a level that fits their learning needs. One of the most notable adjustments is the reintroduction of honors classes subjects such as English, Math, and History. In recent years, the school had largely shifted toward offering Advanced Placement courses as the primary rigorous option. But educators said the change created a wide range of student preparation levels within those classes.
By bringing honors courses back, officials hope to create a clearer progression of difficulty.
“We have a lot of diversity in terms of student profile and experience in the ACP level,” Zotto said. “I think we want to be able to support students the best we possibly can at all levels, and give students the best we possibly can at all levels and give students the ability to succeed and access rigor without over-stressing them.”
Under the proposal, honors and AP classes would run side by side for upperclassmen in several subjects. Students would then be able to choose the path that best suits their academic goals.
Administrators said the change could be particularly helpful for students transitioning into high school. Committee members noted that some students previously found themselves caught between course levels — unsure whether to take on the workload of AP classes or remain in standard sections.
Zotto stressed that the change will not take away AP course opportunities from those students who are looking for the most rigorous options, but to create an environment where there is an appropriate curriculum available for all students. Providing an honors option, she said, could give students a more gradual step toward advanced coursework.
“Our hope is that we’ll be able to provide more support for the students that need it,” she said. “Students who are ready to continue and move on at a faster pace will be able to do that at the honors level, and can also make a choice between AP and honors if they so choose.”
The proposed program of studies also includes several new electives designed to broaden academic and creative opportunities. Among them are courses in street poetry and hip-hop history, which educators say will expand the English department’s offerings and connect literature to contemporary culture.
In science, the school plans to introduce a second level of astronomy, as the initial course has been incredibly popular. They will also offer marine science, which Zotto mentioned makes sense given Swampscott’s coastal geographic location.
“I will also say seeing the marine science is kind of amazing,” said School Committee member Miguel Contreras. “I was able to take it when I was in high school … It was very helpful for some of the other sciences later … So I’m excited that the students have that opportunity.”
Zotto also walked the committee through some slight timeline changes, following up on alterations to the freshman class offerings to align more closely with subjects students gain momentum through in eighth grade.
Information about next year’s course options will be shared with students and families in the coming weeks as the scheduling process begins. School leaders said the goal remains the same: offering a broad range of academic, artistic, and technical opportunities so every student can find a path that fits their interests and ambitions.
