Starting next school year, Griffith High School will introduce several new courses and pathway changes to align with Indiana’s updated diploma requirements for the Class of 2028 and beyond.

One major change involves the Human and Social Services pathway, which will be renamed the Social and Community Services pathway as part of updates made by the Indiana Department of Education for the 2029 diploma requirements.

Selene Giron, Griffith’s counselor for grades 8-12, said details about the transition are still being finalized by the state.

“There will be a meeting sometime over the summer or closer to the end of the year, but the date is not solidified yet,” Giron said.

According to Giron, students currently in the Human and Social Services pathway will transition into the Social and Community Services pathway next year before later advancing into Advanced Social and Community Services.

Giron also said accommodations in the pathway will remain similar to those offered in other classes.

“There is not really a difference with accommodations,” Giron said. “Accommodation-wise, it’s like your typical class.”

Another addition for next school year is a new “Communication Focused” course requirement. Students can fulfill the requirement by taking Speech, Journalism, Panther Press, Yearbook or Interpersonal Relationships.

Chemistry II will also return after students requested the course be brought back. The class will continue to offer dual credit through Ivy Tech.

Career Exploration Internship is another returning course. The class allows students to leave the building in the afternoon to shadow professionals, work jobs and explore career opportunities.

Giron encouraged students to take advantage of Griffith’s dual credit offerings.

“We recommend our students take as many of the free dual credit courses as they can for college,” Giron said.

She added that Griffith is excited to offer the new and returning classes and encouraged students to plan ahead for the updated diploma requirements.