AP African American Studies Coming to HHS

A new Advanced Placement African American Studies course is coming to Huntington High School. It will debut in September. Annual enrollment is expected to run about 25 students. Huntington School Board members approved the new course at a public meeting in the Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School on Monday night.

“The interdisciplinary College Board Advanced Placement African American Studies course will examine the diversity of African American experiences through direct encounters with authentic and varied sources,” states the course description. “Students will explore key topics that extend from early African kingdoms to the ongoing challenges and achievements of the contemporary moment. The course foregrounds a study of the diversity of Black communities in the U.S. within the broader context of Africa and the African diaspora. The course will reach into a variety of fields; literature, the arts and humanities, political science, geography, science – to explore the vital contributions and experiences of African Americans.”

The Subject Matter Council approved the new course on December 13. The Educational Development Committee gave its approval on January 12.

“The course is designed to offer high school students an evidence-based introduction to African American studies,” states the course rationale provided to trustees. “It will deepen and strengthen Huntington’s long-standing commitment to serve diverse communities with culturally relevant and challenging college-level course work.”

The course prerequisite is Global Studies 9 Regents/Honors. It is open to students in grades 10-12.