Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, the science department will be offering Astronomy with Physics as an option to complete one of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) required science courses. This curriculum change will make it possible for students to receive enough science credits to graduate without taking Chemistry.
“Biology will still be required,” counselor Heather Dodge said. “After biology, students will have the choice between the new course that we are offering next year, which is Astronomy with Physics, Chemistry, Physics or any AP science.”
Astronomy with Physics is not a replacement for a physics credit, but instead counts as an additional option for the required science credits. While the school does offer Astronomy, it does not count for NGSS credits. The new course will cover a range of science topics including physics, chemistry and physical science. This way, students are introduced to the new subjects which allows them to feel confident in an honors class later on. For students who struggle with the math aspect, the main advantage of taking Astronomy with Physics is that it is not an algebra-based course like Chemistry.
“You can pass Honors Biology while being in on-level Algebra, but I know that moving into Chemistry next year, that’s going to be a problem,” Honors Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Brock Eastman said. “Chemistry has a lot of applications of Algebra, and Physics tends to apply geometry and calculus principles. So, over the years, the lack of the accumulation of math will also conflate problems in science.”
However, with this new curriculum change, there are concerns that students who avoid chemistry altogether will lack basic scientific knowledge and skills that contribute to a well-rounded education.
“I think if the goal is to make your grade go up, if that’s the only way you assess this, then it will be beneficial,” Eastman said. “But, in terms of being a well-versed learner and a citizen of the world, because, like it or not, chemicals exist. I have big concerns about that.”
Eastman stated that the science department was not consulted by administration before determining the new course change. Rather than creating a new class, Eastman stated how offering Biology and Chemistry earlier on in school would allow students to progress to their AP sciences much earlier on in high school or get students onto the honors track.
“For the humanities, it’s often a different level of the same class,” Eastman said. “For science, it’s more like a sequel. You really have to take Biology before you take AP Biology, and Chemistry before AP Chemistry.”
In contrast, some students feel positively about the change. Sophomore Conner Holzman, a student currently enrolled in Honors Chemistry, feels the adjustment could be constructive.
“I feel like it all depends on where you want to go,” Holzman said. “If you want to be a scientist or a doctor, you should probably take Chemistry. Other than that, I don’t think it’s really necessary.”
As for the teachers expected to teach Astronomy with Physics, it’s unclear exactly who will be assigned to it. However, there are educators who would be strong candidates due to their current teaching courses.
“Mr. Lorenzi currently teaches our Astronomy class and Physics, so I feel like he would be one who would teach Astronomy with Physics,” Dodge said.
