Pennsbury Approves 13 New Courses

The Pennsbury School District Board has approved an expanded program of studies for the 2026-2027 school year.

The vote late last year includes 13 new high school courses and a personal finance class for all incoming ninth graders to meet new state requirements.

Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Theresa Ricci presented the program plan before the school board at a recent meeting.

Ricci explained that the Pennsylvania Department of Education has mandated personal finance instruction for all students.

“This is the first time that the Pennsylvania Department of Education has mandated that on a high school transcript a specific course is listed,” Ricci said. “It needs to be a half credit course and it needs to be indicated on a student’s transcript for any student who begins high school in the 2026-2027 school year.”

All ninth graders will take a combined course that meets every other day throughout the year. The first semester covers ninth grade seminar topics including career planning and communication skills, while the second semester focuses on personal finance standards, Ricci said.

Among the other new course offerings will be an Advanced Placement (AP) Business Principles class designed for both college-bound and workforce-bound students. Unlike traditional AP courses, the class centers on entrepreneurship and business development rather than a standard exam format, Ricci explained.

“The project is really about entrepreneurship and building one’s own business,” Ricci said.

The district is also introducing a four-credit Bucks County Community College firefighting course where students spend half their day at Pennsbury High School and the other half at the community college’s Bristol Township campus.

Other new courses include Digital Visual Arts, Art Making Around the World, Video Production 2, Unified Physical Education with an honors section, AP Human Geography, Global Connections Culture Travel, Digital Information, and Applied Health Sciences.

Ricci said the new hands-on Applied Health Sciences course came after feedback during post-graduation sessions with recent alumni.

Several existing courses will receive updates for the coming school year.

Video Production 1 and 2 will offer both academic and honors levels and become available to ninth graders for the first time. Human Anatomy and Physiology will add an honors option, while Calculus Honors splits into separate academic and honors tracks.

The 2026-2027 school year marks the first time Pennsbury students can earn an AP Capstone Diploma.

To earn the special diploma, students must earn a score of 3 or better on AP Seminar, AP Research, and four additional AP courses to receive recognition from the College Board and special recognition at graduation.

Pennsbury, according to Ricci, has also expanded its dual enrollment program to allow students to earn college credit while taking high school courses.

Partnerships with Gwynedd Mercy University, Bucks County Community College, and The College of New Jersey offer students opportunities to earn three to four college credits per course.

“It’s a really fantastic way to do some career planning, to do some planning in advance, and to save some very significant amounts of money versus taking these courses at the college level after graduation,” Ricci said.

At the middle school level, students must take Family and Consumer Science at least once during their three years to meet personal finance standards. Seventh grade mathematics and eighth grade social studies courses also incorporate required financial literacy content.

Virtual asynchronous courses remain available for students seeking flexible scheduling options.

The online asynchronous courses allow students to accommodate internships, volunteer work, or other commitments while maintaining their academic progress.