FAQ

NO! This program is designed to help students make better connections and retain their understanding through more immersive experiences and projects. It is designed to bring in and focus on connections between disciplines to develop a deeper understanding. It is also adding in interdisciplinary skills as a focal point (collaboration, presentations, community connections, problem solving) to be directly taught and evaluated as part of the course work. This is an enhancement to the curriculum. The curriculum itself will be the same as the regular honors or accelerated courses, just packaged and ordered in a different process. That being said, because of the cohort aspect, teachers are able to work together to provide more individual attention and support as a team which provides a benefit that isn't as common outside of the program.

Currently, the program is designed at the Honors level with content covered equivalent to that in traditional Honors courses. For 2024-2025 the program will add an accelerated option for each subject area. Students will have the option to take 1 or the subjects at the accelerated level. So students will need to be enrolled in the honors level for all 4 classes OR in the honors level for 3 classes - accelerated level for 1 class. Students will get to select which class to take at the accelerated level, however, course level requests by students will dictate how many of the subjects will run an accelerated level class within 9IP. If a student's choice for accelerated does not run within 9IP, we will work with families on alternative options or changes to the schedule. Students can take elective courses (including World Language, Fine & Performing Arts, and others) at any level they choose. 

In terms of concerns about mot classes primarily at the honors level: 

• If a student was looking at perhaps one or two college prep courses, then this program might be a good option instead of the one or two courses at the CP level because of the 21st century skills, transfer of knowledge aiding understanding, connections to other disciplines that reinforce learning, and the built in support that is a byproduct pf the program. 

• If a student was looking to take one course at the accelerated level, they can still do that and join the program!

• If a student was looking to take two courses at the accelerated level, perhaps consider doing the program and just 1 accelerated for this year. You could view this program as a different way to challenge yourself as a student compared to the challenge of accelerated content. 

• If a student is planning on taking more than 2 accelerated or college prep courses, then this program might not be a good fit in the current form.

The benefit of a program that teaches interdisciplinary skills is that teachers will explicitly teach, practice, and give feedback on those skills. In 9IP, collaboration will be one of the main skills that is focused on within all the classes. Students will learn about what makes a group successful, how to manage decision making, how to deal with conflict, how to give and receive feedback, how to maintain accountability, and many other skills within collaboration.

We do have 10IP! It ran in the 2022-23 school year! Due to lower enrollment it did not run this year, a major dissappointment for the students in 9IP that were pushing for it. We hope to have the enrollment numbers to run it again moving forward. If it does, this means students who take 9IP will have the opportunity to continue with 10IP, but that won't be a requirement. 10IP will also be an available option for students who did NOT take 9IP in 9th grade. Whether or not 10IP runs is determined by course sign ups. Regardless of future enrollment, experiencing 9IP will provide a great framework for students as they continue on in their future years at Needham High School and beyond. There will also be other interdisciplinary opportunities students can enroll in during junior and senior years including the Greater Boston Project.