Prior to the start of the 2025-2026 school year, the SHS English department decided to split Honors and College Preparatory (CP) level courses into different classes, which was a change from the previously combined curriculum model. The question is, was this implementation of separate courses a good decision?
In previous years, mixed-level English classes were strange to a lot of students and teachers. Honors students thought the coursework moved too slowly, which was not ideal, while CP students saw the coursework as too fast-paced.
In particular, students identified flaws in the Outside Reading Project (ORP) assignments, which were required only for honors-level students. Honors students felt unsatisfied, and CP students felt disconnected from the rest of the class. Sophomore honors student Caedon DeMontigny commented, “I think ORP books didn’t really help students. It felt too much like busy work in my opinion, and I was just rushing to complete it, so I couldn’t really enjoy the book.”
Some English teachers, including English Department Chair Laura Messner, were concerned about the mixed classes. Messner commented that when she started working at SHS, the mixed classes didn’t make sense to her, and when she started teaching English, it made even less sense.
This year, with the separation of Honors and CP classes, honors-level students are expected to move at a faster pace. SHS English teacher Christina Dimitri commented, “If they ever bring back the mixed classes, they should discuss how to do them more and decide what is the best way they are structured.”
DeMontigney said, “If they bring back mixed classes, I hope they just learn how to balance the work with the amount of time given for the Honors kids.”