With Semester 1 coming to a close, we have reached the time of year where students are cramming for exams, and teachers are cramming to grade them on time! But, we are also at the stage where students will start deciding what courses they want to participate in next year.

On February 2nd, the WHS Course Registration window will open up, allowing for students to select their desired courses. But, with the new year, new course options have popped up. The new courses that may be offered for the 2026-2027 school year, based on student interest are as follows:

• AP Business and Personal Finance, course 742
• Automated Engineering, course 953
• Aviation and Aerospace 1, course 223
• Journalism 2, course 178
• Professional Communication, course 187

Read through the course descriptions to determine if one or more of these new options is right for you.

742 – AP Business & Personal Finance: 2 Terms / 2 Credits, Grades 10-12

AP Business with Personal Finance is an introductory, college-level course with the goal of introducing students to the fundamentals of business, entrepreneurship, marketing, management and finance. Students will explore how businesses operate through real-world applications as well as learn financial literary skills.

This course earns college credit and is the equivalent of a semester of an introductory business course.

953 – Automated Engineering: 1 Term / 1 Credit, Grades 9-12

This is a hands-on course introducing students to design, automation and modern manufacturing. Students will create and machine original projects using both robots and CNC equipment such as mills, routers and laser engravers, programming with G-Code and industry-standard software.

This course is ideal for those serious about and/or preparing for careers in the skilled trades (ex. construction and manufacturing).

223 – Aviation & Aerospace: 1 Term /1 Credit, Grades 10–12

This course studies how human innovation transformed aviation, global connectivity and modern society. This course expands on the history of aviation and the revolutionized travel technology. Along with this, students will demonstrate aviation skills, such as iPad-based flight simulations, planning and navigation, applying scientific reasoning and risk assessment in modern-day aviation

178 – Journalism 2: 1 Term / 1 Credit, Grades 9-12

Prerequisite: Journalism 1 or instructor approval

This advanced journalism course is designed for students with an overall understanding of journalism, and specifically for those that want to take on leadership and production roles in social media. If you join this course, you will serve as staff writers and editors for the Trojan Tribune, taking on the responsibility of content planning, reporting, writing and much more.

187 – Professional Communication: 1 Term / 1 Credit, Grades 10-12

This course helps students bridge the gap between high school and the professional landscape regarding communication. In our world, and especially in this day and age,  it’s important to be able to express yourself clearly and authentically. In this course you will explore “professionalism” and learn how to transcend the boundaries in communication, from mastering the nuances of messaging to adapting your personal style to those of workplace environments.

Along with these new options, all students will need to complete Personal Financial Literacy (772) or Independent Money Management (885) as a graduation requirement, effective with the Class of 2028. These courses will satisfy this requirement:

• AP Business and Personal Finance, course 742
• Independent Money Management, course 855
• Finance 1: Personal Finance, course 722

You now know about some potential new courses Wayzata will offer. Now the real question is, Will you sign up?