Global Studies Moves to a Year-Long Course for 8th Grade

Beginning in the 2026–27 school year, Global Studies will shift from a semester-long class to a full year-long course for all 8th grade students. This change allows us to ensure that students experience the complete curriculum and meet all state social studies standards.

Global Studies covers a wide range of topics. In its current format, teachers are able to cover most of the geography and history benchmarks, but only portions of the citizenship, government, and economics benchmarks. Expanding the course to a full year will allow students to engage more deeply with all areas of the curriculum and receive a more comprehensive learning experience.

As a result of this change, 8th graders will have one fewer semester elective to choose from. While we recognize that electives are important for student exploration, this adjustment ensures that all core content expectations are met and that students build the foundational knowledge needed for high school social studies.

Watch for more information about 8th grade registration coming soon.