English
English 9
Grade 9 | Credit:1.0
English 9 is a required year-long course that will focus on critical reading and writing skills. Students will deepen analytical reading skills through examining a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts across multiple subgenres, topics, and perspectives. Writing focuses are primarily for expository and argumentative writing structures using MLA formatting and citation methods. The course aims to strengthen holistic thinking, speaking, listening, research, language, and communication skills with frequent reading and writing tasks. Summative tasks, especially larger writing pieces, will be scaffolded to support academic stamina, complexity, and growth.
Prerequisite: None | Weekly Homework: Moderate
2026–2027 Teacher: Mr. John Purcell
English 10
Grade 10 | Credit:1.0
English 10 is a required course that will focus on comprehensive language skills for reading and writing, including thinking, speaking, listening, research, and analyzing. Students will refine their reading skills through the study and annotation of a variety of texts such as short stories, poetry, and novels. Students will also continue to develop writing skills with an emphasis on grammar, style, and editing.
Prerequisite: English 9 | Weekly Homework: Moderate
2026–2027 Teacher: Ms. Nicole Henderson
English 11
Grade 11 | Credit:1.0
English 11 is a course that will focus on enhancing students’ abilities to read and write about both fiction and nonfiction texts. Students will be focused on reading American literature to support their understanding of their social studies class. Students will also be expected to write effectively in a variety of different formats including general argument, synthesis of ideas, and rhetorical analysis.
Prerequisite: English 10 | Weekly Homework: Moderate
2026–2027 Teacher: Ms. Julianne McAdams
English 12
Grade 12 | Credit:1.0
English 12 is a course that emphasizes literary theory and application of literary terms and techniques. Students will explore literature and non-fiction texts through multiple lenses focusing on how their own lives and experiences influence our collective understandings of a particular text. Students will engage in rhetorical exploration, inquiry based projects, creative writing and college essay writing. There will be a strong focus building skills to prepare students for reading and discourse in a university setting.
Prerequisite: English 11, AP Language, or AP Literature | Weekly Homework: Moderate
2026–2027 Teacher: Mr. Joseph Buric
Creative Writing
Grades 9–12 | Credit:0.5
Creative Writing is designed for students who enjoy writing and reading as a form of art and personal expression. In this course, students will examine aspects of a variety of literary genres, including short fiction, poetry, drama, film, and online magazines. To develop original writing pieces, students will participate in writing workshops, literary element development lessons, writing/author studies, and peer reviews/conferences.
Prerequisite: None | Weekly Homework: Light
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Film as Literature
Grades 10–12 | Credit:0.5
Film as Literature is a course that studies how films are constructed and looks at the relationship between the film and the world. In this course, students will develop the cinematic and literary techniques needed to analyze a film from a literary perspective. Students will engage in short-writing pieces and small group discussions about film, and their learning will culminate with a student analyzing and teaching the class about a significant film or film movement.
Cost: Students are required to have a personal Netflix subscription. | Prerequisite: English 9 | Weekly Homework: Light
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Journalism
Grades 9–12 | Credit:0.5
Journalism is a semester-long class to expand critical reading and multimedia writing skills. Students will analyze individual media sources for credibility and bias in addition to comparing media coverage on key issues. Using a multi-step writing process, students will create multiple genres and formats of print, video, and audio media that address local, national, and international topics of interest.
Prerequisite: None | Weekly Homework: Light
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AP English Language and Composition
Grades 11–12 | Credit:1.0
AP English Language and Composition is a college-level course that will focus on enhancing students’ abilities to read and write about nonfiction texts in preparation for the AP examination in the spring. Students will analyze rhetorical strategies within complex written works, and then use those strategies to create arguments and counterarguments. Students will also be expected to write effectively in a variety of different formats, including general argument, synthesis of ideas, and rhetorical analysis. Successful students will possess self-discipline, time-management skills, and a willingness to conquer new challenges. This course will prepare students for the AP Exam as well as for college-level writing.
Prerequisite: Most recent required English class and meets AP course entry requirements. | Weekly Homework: Heavy | Summer assignment: Yes, to be assessed at the start of the year
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AP English Literature and Composition
Grades 11–12 | Credit:1.0
AP Literature and Composition is a university-level seminar that explores universal themes in literature across multiple text types. Students are expected to be mature and responsible readers and to be able to handle complex and serious themes, and how those themes reflect their analysis of literary techniques. Leading seminar-style discussions and presenting unique ideas and arguments in writing and in speaking are required skills of this course. This course will prepare students for the AP exam.
Prerequisite: Most recent required English class and meets AP course entry requirements. | Weekly Homework: Heavy | Summer assignment: Yes, to be assessed at the start of the year
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AP Seminar
Grades 10–12 | Credit:1.0
AP Seminar is the first course in the AP Capstone Program. The course focuses on developing inquiry and argumentation through critical reading, iterative writing, responsible research, and both independent and collaborative reporting. Interdisciplinary issues of local and global relevance invite students to challenge assumptions and draw from sources that approach these issues through a broad spectrum of social, political, and environmental lenses. Upon understanding what experts say, students articulate their own perspective to demonstrate complexity and sophistication. In addition to the end of course exam, students enrolled in Seminar are responsible for completing a series of performance tasks that are externally assessed by the College Board. These include two intensive written reports, accompanying multimedia presentations and an oral defense; which when factored together with the exam provide ample opportunity for students to demonstrate targeted skill development. Students must pass the end of course AP exam with a 3 or higher to move on to AP Research.
Prerequisite: Most recent required English class and meets AP course entry requirements. | Weekly Homework: Very Heavy. This course requires a substantial amount of independent work. | Summer assignment: Yes, to be assessed at the start of the year
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AP Research
Grades 11–12 | Credit:1.0
AP Research is the second of the two year long AP courses in the AP Capstone Program. AP Research is only open to who have been accepted into the AP Capstone program and have successfully completed AP Seminar. AP Research allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, issue, or idea of individual interest. Students design, plan, and implement a yearlong investigation to address a research question. Through this inquiry, they further the skills they acquired in the AP Seminar course by learning research methodology, employing ethical research practices, and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information. The course culminates in an academic paper of 4,000-5,000 words (accompanied by a performance, exhibit, or product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense.
Prerequisite: AP Seminar and a 3 or higher on the AP Seminar end of course exam. | Weekly Homework: Very Heavy, course requires a substantial amount of independent work. | Summer assignment: Yes, to be assessed at the start of the year
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