Learning Opportunities

Our project has been to analyze learning opportunities provided at Southington High, as well as determine how they have changed over the course of the 50 years of the building. Learning opportunities have— and always will remain, a crucial aspect of our Southington High School. - Liliana DiMauro & Frank Cocozza

SHS Career Pathways

At Southington High, the course offerings have constantly evolved throughout its history, and are continuing to develop. SHS currently offers 11 career pathways, 2 of which, require acceptance by program staff due to their advanced nature and dual-enrollment status. Within each career pathway, a student can find college-level or advanced courses, a testament to the quality of education provided at Southington High. The addition of these pathways has allowed for students to take a variety of courses that are targeted towards their careers. While, also allowing for the addition of many new classes tailored to the desires of students each year.

For more information, and a complete program of studies, please visit the link provided below.

2025-26 Program of Studies

Program of Studies

Southington High School offers over 276 classes between all departments and electives. Therefore, making it important to have a place for students to find the courses available to them. Therefore, making the program of studies important as students are able to see all the courses offered at SHS and the requirements to take them. Without this document it would be hard for SHS to offer the amount of courses it does with enough interest in them to keep them all running.

Please see the information below to see the details & changes within each department at our school.

Changes by Department

Tech Ed. & Project Lead the Way

Technology has always been a key pathway at Southington High. On top of the academic support within the school, the school also supports and sponsors opportunities that create world-class engineering students. Cyberknights 195, a nationally recognized robotics team, has continually competed in the premier Worlds competition. This is a single instance of the many reputable after-school programs at SHS.

PLTW Senior Knight

Every year, the outgoing PLTW seniors develop projects to real world issues. They connect with experts to create a product to improve the world.

Below is a brief history of important developments at SHS:

1989 Technology Wing Built
- Autoshop
- Metalshop
"1998-1999 was the first school year PLTW was offered to SHS students. It was the first school in the state to offer any of the courses. It ran as a pilot program in conjunction with the State of Connecticut Department of Education to judge the curriculum’s effectiveness. One course was offered 98-99, Introduction to Engineering and Design" - Justin Mirante
- And as we soon learned, the course was extremely effective in outputting talented engineering students.
- Keep reading to see the effect!

Justin Mirante, PLTW Site Coordinator since 2010, in front of a FDM 3D Printer demonstrating additive manufacturing.

Mr. Mirante

PLTW Site Coordinator at SHS, Interview on Engineering & Tech

What is the purpose of the Engineering & PLTW program?

"To increase the number of young people who pursue engineering and engineering technology programs requiring a four or two-year college degree.

To reduce the future college attrition rates within four and two-year engineering and engineering technology degree programs.

To contribute to the continuance of America's national prosperity." - Justin Mirante

Agriculture Science and Technology

The Agriculture Science and Technology program(agsi) has been around since the start of Southington High School. The agsi program has changed in both location and class offerings over the past 50 years. The Agriculture Science Program has moved from classrooms, to part of the main building and then its own building. All these changes have better allowed the agsi program to expand its course offerings from the late 1900´s were there was only 3 teachers, 0 Early College Experience Classes(ECE) and agsi 1-4 for classes. Then, in the early 2000´s classes started to evolve to focus on four main pathways small animal, large animal, natural resources and mechanics. This variety continued to expand from 2010-now with the addition of more classes in each section and ECE opportunities. Agsi now offers 7 ECE opportunities which together provide students with 15 college credits or 1 semesters equivalent in college.

Heather Davis

Southington High School Alumni 1998

Heather Davis attended Southington High School from 1994-1998 and was in a variety of programs. One of the most memorable programs she was a part of was the agsi program.

"Agsi was my favorite class because it sparked my passion what I do know as a job"-Heather Davis

"The agsi program has expanded since I have graduated. I have heard about many changes as my daughter is now part of the agsi program"-Heather Davis

Mr. O´Keefe

Southington High School Alumni and current Agsi teacher

Mr. O'Keefe attended Southington High School in the late 1900's and then choose to return to SHS as an agsi teacher. He has seen the changes in the agsi program personally through being part of and running the agsi program.

"When I was here there agsi 1-4 and there where only 3 teachers in the whole program"-Mr. O' Keefe

"The agsi program currently offers 15 ECE credits, has 7 college level classes and 6 teachers"- Mr. O' Keefe

Science

The Science Department has seen many changes throughout the years from the addition and removal of classes due to student interest. This shift has been most seen in the last 4 years with the addition of forensics a physical science credit. Forensics enrollment has blossomed due to it being able to be taken along which conceptual chem 1 to achieve the physical science graduation requirement. However, forensics success has come at the cost of other classes enrollment or interest. This decrease has been seen in astronomy and marine bio, with weather class having to be removed from the program of studies due to lack of interest.

Mr. DeStefano

Current Biology at Southington High School

Mr. DeStefano has been at Southington High School for over 20 years. He has taught Biology(Acc, Aca and Ap), Entomology and Genetics and Environmental Science. He currently teaches Biology at all levels for a variety of grades.

"Students are taking forensics to help achieve their physical science credit instead of in the past where students had to take Chemistry aca or acc or Conceptual Chemistry 1 & 2 to get the physical science credit".-Mr. DeStefano

Italian-World Language

The Italian Elective has continued to grow in popularity over the past 50 years, in turn warranting the need for more sections of it needing to be added. This need for more sections led to the need for a new Italian teacher to help cover the new interest. This resulted in Mr. Torrisi being hired to accommodate the increase of new kids wanting/currently taking Italian. The Italian program has also evolved in course level offerings with the addition of Uconn ECE Italian class in 1998-1999 which allows students to earn college credit for excelling in the Italian language.

Mr. Torrisi

Joined SHS last year

Mrs. Tavera-Collins

"TC" or "Tavera"

Ms. Cusano

"I was thrilled to be offered a position at SHS two years ago. I graduated from SHS in 2015 and in my senior year my Italian class consisted of just 6 kids. I was so happy to learn that there where already two full time Italian teachers at SHS and there was need for a third. Now the Italian ECE class has about 25 kids and the Italian 4 class has 20 kids. I am so proud that we have been able to grow the program so much and next year we are able to offer 15 Italian classes. This is a tremendous achievement for our school and our state"-Mr.Torissi

Ms.Riccio

Current head of the World Language Department

Ms.Riccio has been at Southington High School for many years and has personally seen the changes in the World Language Department as the Department Leader. She also is credited with creating the Uconn ECE Italian Class at Southington High School.

"I wanted to create a ECE opportunity for Italian students as in 1998 there was only ECE Spanish. I wanted to make sure people didn't choose to not take Italian just because you could not get college credit. The Uconn ECE Italian Class was added in 1998 and has since grown"- Ms.Riccio

Classes From the Past

Drivers Ed Course

In the early years of Southington High School they offered a drivers ed class for students to take. This was a great alternative for students that were not able to do traditional driving schools due to conflicts in there schedule.

German

German was the first language offered to students at Southington High School. It was an interesting alternative to Spanish and French which were the only languages offered at the middle schools. This class lasted till 2020, however due to struggles to find a teacher and lack of interest it had to be removed from course offerings.

Level Changes

Southington High School has seen changes not just in the selection of classes but also the level they are available. In the early 2000's to know there has been an uptick in AP courses offered at SHS. In 2012-2013 there were 12 AP courses offered, while in 2014 it increased to 18 AP classes. The amount of AP classes from 2014 has stayed the same, however the interest in these classes has increased in turn resulting in more sections of AP classes needing to be offered.

Southington High School has also had changes in the common levels of classes offered. In contrast, to AP's there has been more change in names than level of work. In 2013, they added honors level classes before this it was competitive college prep and college prep. This has continued to change to know in 2025 the levels are academic, accelerated and AP or ECE.

Cafeteria Slides

Ag. Sci. Cafe Slide

This slide highlights the agriculture science and technology program, as well as the different courses and sections offered to agsi students.

Tech. Ed. Cafe Slide

A slide to recognize the quality of the engineering program at SHS, as well as encourage students to consider join the technology programs offered.

Thank you for reading our page on Learning Opportunities at SHS! For more information, please go to the academics page at SHS.

- Curators: Liliana DiMauro & Frank Cocozza

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