As New York State moves forward with plans to redesign its graduation requirements, the Hornell City School District is already providing students with many of the opportunities and experiences at the heart of those changes. The state’s graduation redesign places greater emphasis on preparing students for life after high school, including career readiness, financial literacy, critical thinking and opportunities to explore different pathways to success. For Hornell students, many of those experiences are already part of their education.
Hornell High School currently offers five Advanced Placement (AP) courses and 13 college-credit course options through partnerships with Corning Community College, Alfred State and Alfred University. These opportunities allow students to challenge themselves academically while potentially earning college credits before graduating from high school. Courses range from AP English Language and Composition, AP U.S. History and AP Biology to college-level mathematics, Spanish, accounting and business. Four of Hornell’s AP courses also offer dual enrollment opportunities, giving students additional ways to get a head start on their college education.
While college preparation remains an important part of the Hornell experience, the district also recognizes that students have different interests, strengths and goals. Through Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs offered in partnership with BOCES, students can explore career pathways and develop practical skills while completing their high school education.
Currently, 74 of Hornell’s 110 juniors, or approximately 67%, are enrolled in CTE programs. Among seniors, 50 of 103 students, or approximately 49%, participate in CTE. An additional 17 seniors are enrolled in one-year New Visions programs, which include Health Career Exploration, Engineering, and Education and Human Services.
These programs provide students with valuable hands-on experiences, exposure to potential careers and opportunities to develop skills that can help them transition into the workforce or continue their education.
Hornell also works closely with the Career Development Center to help students explore career opportunities and make informed decisions about their futures. Another major focus of New York State’s graduation redesign is financial literacy, an area Hornell has already incorporated into its curriculum across multiple grade levels.
Financial education begins in sixth grade, when students take Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS). As part of the course, students learn about personal and family budgeting, financial needs versus wants, banking, credit and responsible consumer decisions. In ninth grade, students take Career and Financial Management, which builds upon those foundational skills. The course covers budgeting, money management, credit, loans, interest, investing, insurance, taxes, career planning and the employment process. By senior year, students continue developing their understanding of financial systems through Government and Economics, where they explore economic policy, individual financial responsibility and the relationship between businesses, consumers and the economy.
Students interested in further developing these skills can also take business electives, including Entrepreneurship, Business Math and Principles of Marketing, along with college-level business and accounting courses.
Some of Hornell’s learning experiences also take place outside the traditional classroom. Through The Vault, a student-run branch of ServU Credit Union, students have the opportunity to learn how a financial institution operates while gaining firsthand experience with the responsibilities of a bank teller. The program connects classroom lessons about financial literacy to real-world applications, helping students understand banking operations, customer service and professional responsibility.
Hornell’s Entrepreneurship class provides another example of hands-on learning. Students in the course oversee the school’s concession stand, putting business concepts into practice while gaining experience in operating a business.
As New York State continues developing its new graduation requirements, Hornell is well positioned to build upon programs that already reflect many of the state’s priorities.
From advanced academics and college-credit opportunities to career and technical education, financial literacy and hands-on learning, Hornell continues to provide students with multiple ways to discover their interests, develop valuable skills and prepare for life after high school.