2025-2026 Program of Studies
Burlington High School offers a comprehensive and challenging college preparatory program with an emphasis on academic excellence and intellectual curiosity. It is important to set aside time to review the 2025-2026 Program of Studies. The Program of Studies is a digital resource that includes course descriptions about each class, including information about academic rigor, credit award, prerequisites, and more.
BHS students rely upon a variety of supportive adults to make deliberate choices in their course of study, such as counselors, teachers, case managers, and families. We encourage a thoughtful conversation about academic planning goals with students ahead of next year’s requests. Consider questions such as
- Where do your interests and strengths guide you-both inside and outside of the classroom?
- What are your postsecondary goals? What do you see for yourself in life after high school?
- What classes did you enjoy the most or least this year? What does that mean for next year’s choices?
Student Course Request and Schedule Timeline
- January 29 – February 7: Teachers from students’ current enrollment year will provide course recommendations for individuals in each content area. These recommendations will be visible in PowerSchool when students make their course selections.
- February 10 – 21: 9th-11th grade students will learn about the course request process in Advisory. Advisors will provide Course Request Worksheets to be used as practice in determining what your student would like to choose. We encourage students to bring these home to review with their families, alongside the Program of Studies, so that you can make informed decisions together. Students should bring their completed Course Request Worksheets to Advisory and input their requested courses in PowerSchool with the help of their Advisor. Parents/guardians will also be able to view their student’s course request selections by logging into the PowerSchool parent portal.
- March – April: School Counselors will review course requests to ensure completion. They will consult with teachers and case managers before meeting individually with select students to review and/or modify course requests throughout the Spring, as needed. Meetings with rising 12th and 11th graders will take priority in Quarter 3, followed by rising 10th graders in Quarter 4.
- April – June: BHS administrators build multiple drafts of a Master Schedule until a version is developed that fulfills as many course requests for as many students as possible.
- August: Students and parents/guardians will be able to view schedules in PowerSchool. Students will have the opportunity to request final course changes through a Google Form for review by their assigned School Counselor before school starts.
- End of August/Early September: Students will have the additional opportunity to request minor changes at the start of school during the 1st Semester Add/Drop period, if needed.
Course Selection Resources
These videos may help guide students through the course selection process in PowerSchool.
Course registration video for incoming 9th graders.
Course registration video for current 9th-11th graders.
Program of Studies Archive
Faculty and Accreditation
Burlington High School is accredited by the New England Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the Vermont Department of Education.
