As the Upper School Academic Dean, I partner with our College Advising team to help students choose their courses each spring. Course selection is an exciting time for students to take ownership of their education, and we’re here to help them make the best choices for their future.

We focus on a few key criteria during course selection. The first step in choosing courses is to make sure the student meets the requirements for graduation. Our curriculum is designed to give students a strong foundation in core subjects such as English, math, science, and history. As students complete requirements along the way, they can consider advanced courses or electives taught in the same subject or pivot to other electives in a different discipline. Each year, we help students review the credits they need and the courses they have to take.

The next part of the process is teacher recommendations. Our teachers and advisors play an important role in helping students find the right courses. They encourage students to reflect on the skills and content that they have been working on, evaluate the level and consistency of their performance in class, and identify continuing areas for growth. The skills needed in the next course are also important considerations.

We encourage students to talk with their teachers throughout the year — not just during course selection — to get feedback. This ensures students are challenged appropriately without being overwhelmed.

The recommendation in each subject area, based not just on a letter grade but also other factors, including the student’s demonstrated work habits and engagement with the course, helps to ensure that students are placed appropriately.

The final step is for the student to request the classes that interest them most. High school is a time for teenagers to affirm their own strengths while exploring new ideas, making mistakes, discovering their passions, and clarifying their vision for the future.

Our college advisors also help students look ahead and consider how their course selections will affect their college applications. With a wide range of electives in departments like math, science, history, English, modern languages and Classics, innovation, and fine arts, students have plenty of options to customize their schedules and explore their interests.

My goal is to help students choose challenging classes while still having time for sports, clubs, family, and their own well-being. This is a busy, often complicated period of their lives. By working together, we can ensure that your student finds all four years of their courses successful and rewarding.

Howard Chang is Assistant Director of the Upper School and Upper School Academic Dean. A former Chair of the Classics Department, he serves as the faculty advisor to the Academic Honor Council and mentors independent study projects for the Innovation Department. As an administrator, Mr. Chang has also served in previous roles as Upper School Dean of Students and Dean of Professional Development and Coordinator of Faculty Hiring.