Ria Beri ‘27
EE Staff Writer
Trumbull High boasts a variety of courses that engage students with all interests. From photography to mythology to wood technology, there is something for everyone. Choosing from this wide array of courses can be stressful and confusing, so here is a guide on how to choose classes that best fit you.
Incoming freshmen will have five core classes, leaving room for 2.5 elective credits. The core classes typically encompass the areas of math, science, world language, English, and social studies. While all freshmen take English 9, Global Civilizations, and Physical Science, potential math classes include Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II, and potential world language classes include Spanish, French, Latin, and Italian. All freshmen will also take Health 9 and Physical Education 9 (or Personal fitness if they choose). To fill the remaining 2.5 credits, many choose to take a full-year fine art course, such as Chorus, String Orchestra, Band, or Painting. The most popular way to fill the other 1.5 credits is to request a full-year study hall along with a half-year course. With the new schedule, regular students (those not enrolled in RCA, Agriscience, or Aquaculture) are given a full year of study hall anyways. Popular half-year courses for freshmen include Journalism I, Cultural Anthropology, and Web Design.
Freshman CJ Slaughter is currently taking Web Design and reports that the class “allows [her] to explore [her] creativity in a technological and code-based environment in a way that not many other classes do.” They have kicked off the semester with building basic websites but will dive into analyzing and creating the code for more complex websites later on.
Sophomore year is the time when many students choose to take their first Advanced Placement Class. AP classes offered to sophomores include: Art History, Computer Science Principles, Computer Science A, Statistics, Biology, Psychology, European History, Human Geography, Comparative Government & Politics, and even U.S. History. Those looking for a challenge should take just one or two of these classes, making sure that they are actually interested in the topic. For example, those interested in coding might take AP Computer Science A, while those interested in human movement might take AP Human Geography. While it is tempting to take as many AP classes as possible to boost your GPA, remember that these are college-level classes and that taking too many will overwhelm you and take up all of your time. High school is not only about education but also about freedom and happiness, so you don’t want to compromise on your social life, other activities, and well-being by taking too many advanced courses.
The core classes of sophomore year are similar to freshmen year, with English, Geometry/Algebra II/Precalculus, Biology, and a world language being recommended. However, there is no designated social studies course. Many sophomores still take this open slot in their schedule and use it to fulfill one of the STEM, humanities, fine art, and/or social studies credits required for graduation.
Although not a junior myself, I believe that the hardest classes should not be saved for this year. Almost all high schoolers take the SAT in their junior year. The majority of colleges consider this test while judging an applicant, so it is crucial that you put aside ample time to study and do your best. Additionally, the harsh reality is that juniors are nearing adulthood. They are just over a year away from graduation. Because of this, if you are selecting your courses for junior year, it is important that you make sure to take fundamental courses if you haven’t already done so. Finance, economics, and communications are all classes that teach skills that are necessary for any field. In fact, Trumbull High has made Personal Finance a mandatory class for graduation starting with the Class of 2027 and beyond.
Katelyn Minard has taken Introduction to Business and describes it as simple but necessary. “The business class covered a lot, from marketing to entrepreneurship, accounting, economics, investing, and different business ownership structures. Each topic taught me something valuable. For example, I learned about taking risks and managing resources in entrepreneurship. Economics taught me about supply and demand, and how inflation affects investments. Accounting helped me understand financial management while investing showed me the risk-return relationship and the benefits of diversification. Marketing explained the four P’s and target markets. Despite my ups and downs, this course laid a solid foundation for understanding businesses, which is helpful no matter where my career takes me.”
All juniors will also take U.S. History, English, Chemistry, Algebra II/Precalculus/Calculus, and their world language. The advice I have received from upperclassmen is to take just two to three APs this year and start reviewing for the SAT three months beforehand. Even if you choose to save yourself time and stress by not taking AP classes this year, it is still important that you study for the SAT. The Princeton Review, Barron’s, and Kaplan’s books are all great ways to get started.
Last but definitely not least is senior year. Senior year should be the time to lay back and reap the rewards of all your hard work. While applying to colleges in Semester 1 can seem scary, remember that all of your accomplishments have already been earned. Besides, your achievements and GPA do not define you. It is your character and attitude that matters. While choosing classes for senior year, make sure that you take the classes that fulfill any final credit requirements (a chart of the graduation requirements can be found on the Program of Studies). For most seniors, this means taking a half-year civics course, any final STEM electives, and a recommended but not mandatory economics course. Political systems, AP U.S. Government & Politics, and AP Constitutional Studies all fulfill the civics requirements while Human Anatomy & Physiology, Marine Science & Environmental Science, Astronomy, Forensics, Science Research, Statistics, and Computer Science satisfy the STEM Requirements. Many of these classes are offered across the CP, ACP, Honors, and AP levels, making them accessible to everyone. To fulfill the encouraged Economics credit, consider taking AP Micro/Macro Economics, Honors Essentials of Economics, or ACP/CP U.S. Economic Systems. While not mandatory, economics is one of the earlier mentioned skills that is necessary for general life. If you have already fulfilled all of the graduation requirements, then load up your schedule with free periods and fun classes like photography, robotics, and ceramics! Just make sure to continue putting effort into your schoolwork instead of succumbing to “senioritis”!
Overall, the key to course selection is to choose courses that interest you, prepare you for the real world, and challenge you without overwhelming you. In a world where we are constantly pressured to take advanced classes, it is important to prioritize your health and happiness- even if it means taking no advanced courses. Whatever you choose to do, make sure to stay practical, healthy, and smiling!