For every academic subject, Scituate High School students have the ability to choose a level or placement that best suits their learning style: College Prep (CP), Honors (H), and Advanced Placement (AP) are all available. In nearly all subjects, juniors and seniors are offered a choice of all three levels, but there is one exception: senior English. When choosing their senior English class, SHS students have two choices: CP senior selectives or AP Literature.

Senior selectives include courses such as The Epic Hero’s Journey, 21st Century Texts & Social Commentary: Living in the Age of Media, Literature to Film, and Creative Writing: Developing the Author in You. According to English Department Chairperson, Ryan Beattie, three new senior selectives were added to the 2016-17 Program of Studies: The Literature of Sport, Climate Fiction: Can Books Save the Planet? and Shakespeare: Here and Now. Even though some seniors take AP Literature to fulfill their English credits, some also choose one of the senior selectives.  

Currently, there are 260 SHS students enrolled in junior English classes: 105 students are taking CP level, 23 students are taking honors level, and 132 students are taking AP Language and Composition. In the senior class, there are 104 seniors currently taking a selective course and 110 students enrolled in the AP Literature.  

When asked if a senior level honors English class should be available at SHS, a variety of students, teachers, and guidance counselors said there was no need for an honors class for seniors, while others thought it should be an option, but they recognized there are a lot of options for seniors.  

Mr. Beattie does not believe a senior level honors English course is necessary. He said, “All students, no matter what class, are held to high expectations.”  However, several South Shore high schools, including Cohasset, Norwell, Duxbury, and Middleboro, currently offer honors level English classes for seniors. These schools also offer a variety of electives, similar to those available at Scituate.