25 Apr Trad Classes Reimagined at SET
When you think of high school, are you just bracing yourself for the heavy hitters like English (9, 10, 11, and 12!), algebra, physics, and history? What if you enjoyed them AND got to sprinkle in some really exciting electives? Well, you can at tuition-free public SET High in San Diego, serving grades 9-12. Our small school offers traditional classes in a refreshing way plus returning favorites and new electives every year.
How does SET make high school classes exciting? It helps that we’re an independent charter school and have more autonomy when it comes to what we offer. More than that though, it’s having incredible teachers and giving them the freedom to design their classes so that they are excited to teach them and guess what, that enthusiasm carries to our students who enjoy them. Our approach to teaching through unique and wide-ranging courses sets us apart from other schools. Our emphasis on connection and a strong sense of belonging encourages motivation too!
In addition to the top quality academic classes we teach at SET, our elective courses offer students a wide range of subjects to explore (see both here). From Civil Litigation Trials to Making Beats: the Basics of Music Production, to The Wisdom of Star Wars, our motivated instructors are inspired to share individual interests and passions through our electives.
Core Classes
All of our courses are on our website. Let’s look at some innovative core classes offered right now at SET.
In addition to U.S. History and World History, we’re offering:
- History through Media: Video Games follows the history of game making and gaming. Yes, games are played in the name of research and learning. No, you should not finish the Oregon Trail by rafting the Columbia River.
- History: Conspiracy and Propaganda looks at history through noted conspiracies and propaganda campaigns and examines how incomplete truths and full-out fallacies can influence the course of human history. The class asks questions like, “How are memes modern day propaganda?” Influencers in training take note!
For science, yes, there’s Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Earth Science, but there’s also Green Engineering and BioTech to take your interests in various directions.
Green Engineering is a hands-on class which works really well with our block schedule. Students build miniature engineering models and test their hypothesis in a competition setting. Topics in class include how much electricity do modern appliances use with students designing energy efficient systems. Students also learn how solar cells work and how they can be tied into the electrical grid.
BioTech is a course that focuses on effectively using technology to improve biological research. Students learn real world laboratory techniques, and develop the skills necessary to be successful in a higher education biotechnology course or career. This class is almost entirely hands-on, and is based on the laboratory experiments performed.
Exciting Electives
Here are our electives for this spring but you can find more here, here, here, and even here!
Aerospace Engineering, or, Engineering Design and Construction
Art 1 and 2, Drawing, and Digital Art
ASB: Associated Student Body. Balance event-planning with a little student government in ASB. This supervised class teaches students the practicalities and responsibilities associated with both social and leadership roles. Dances, pep rallies, and spirit week all fall under this hybrid elective. G-O S-E-T H-I-G-H!
Computer Science: Among many projects, build your first website! Make it ugly! Do you think there’s a lesson in this somewhere?
Debunking Disney: for this popular class, there’s even an Honors option!
Guitar
Jiu Jitsu
Personal Finance: an informal poll of teachers suggests that they wish they had taken this in high school.
Psychology
Spanish 1 & 2
Strength and Leadership: two classes that are taught to the whole 9th grade simultaneously with the days alternating between the two. Strength of Mind and Body helps students understand and implement the concepts of a healthy body, a healthy mind, and emotional wellness. Leadership SET Style is designed to ignite student success through the intentional study of self.
Support – staffed by teachers and academic coaches who can give students personalized and targeted help.
And remember, if there’s a class we don’t offer that you want to take through our dual enrollment program with Mesa College, go for it! We want you to go as far as your curiosity can take you.
Ready to be engaged in high school? Come see SET High for yourself and take a tour. Did you know that we’re a California Distinguished School? Call (858)874-4338 or email tours@sethigh.org. Enrolling now..
About SET High
SET High offers each student individual attention from multi-talented, highly qualified teachers. Students at our twice-awarded California Distinguished School build a healthy camaraderie with classmates inside an intellectually rigorous environment that brings out their talents and personality, helping them develop their individual character and direction in life. With a wide variety of electives, flexible scheduling, dual enrollment college classes and more — our students regularly exceed their academic and personal expectations. Enroll now. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Find us at www.sethigh.org.