Highlands adds 3 new electives at high school for 2019-20

Highlands High School students will have three new elective courses to take in the 2019-20 school year.

The school board approved adding courses in SAT Prep, Community Engagement and Introduction to Computer Science.

The SAT Prep class will be a full-year course available to sophomores and juniors. It will prepare students to take the SAT I exam.

The course will include testing to measure and establish growth and potential success on the test, and to monitor the understanding and development of skills, the course description reads.

“The student will emerge prepared to take the SAT (and) be ready to embark on the college application process,” according to the course description.

The one-semester Community Engagement class will be open to sophomores, juniors and seniors with a teacher recommendation. In it, students will learn about different organizations in the area and understand what services they provide to the community, according to the course description.

“Engaging in community service projects will provide students with the opportunity to become active members of their community and have a lasting, positive impact on society at large,” the description says.

“Students enrolled in this class will complete the semester with the required two hours of community service needed for each school year.”

Introduction to Computer Science will be a full-year class open to all high school students who have successfully completed Algebra 1. It’s intended for students who are new to programming.

The Python language will be used to teach the foundations of computer science, according to the course description. It will prepare students for advanced placement computer science and computer science principles.

“Students will learn how to think computationally and solve complex problems, skills that are important for every student,” the description says.