Liberty High unveils its course offerings

NORTH LIBERTY - With construction well underway, the new Liberty High School this week announced what courses it will offer students when it opens in August.

Principal Scott Kibby said the $75 million school - near the intersection of North Liberty Road and Dubuque Street - will offer courses similar to those offered at the Iowa City district's two other comprehensive high schools.

The school may have fewer sections of classes than at West or City high schools, he said, noting those decisions will be driven by enrollment.

'The unknown is what the kids need,” Kibby said. 'Let's make decisions on what real data is instead of guessing. The more kids I get, the more I can offer.”

Liberty's offerings includes Advanced Placement and honors courses in English, math, science, social studies and world languages.

'They're going to have AP Chemistry, they're going to have a marching band, they're going to have varsity basketball,” Kibby said. 'They (Liberty families) have more information, and they need that information. I think the jury is still out on who's going to come.”

Liberty's attendance boundary was redrawn in September in an effort to create socioeconomic balance at the district's three high schools.

Kibby said he expects about 250 freshmen and 250 sophomores to attend the school during the 2017-18 school year.

He hopes about 200 upperclassmen - who have the option to stay at West or City high schools and graduate - decide to attend Liberty.

'Those are the kids that worry the most about it,” Kibby said. 'What are you going to offer for seniors? We're going to offer a full breadth of senior programming.”

City High, 1900 Morningside Dr., has about 1,600 students this year. West High, 2901 Melrose Ave., has about 2,000. Many of Liberty's students are likely to come from West.

Registration at Liberty High begins in early January.

Should low enrollment numbers hinder Liberty's course offerings, Kibby said he will explore remote learning opportunities and partnerships with Kirkwood Community College.

Despite some unknowns, Iowa City Assistant Superintendent Matt Degner said students should expect the same quality of education at Liberty.

'They'll be presented with the same options as the West High and City High students for the most part,” Degner said.

The new school, with 263,000 square feet, will have room for at least 1,000 students. Outdoor competition fields will be completed in 2019, with a 500-student classroom addition planned for 2022.

Student enrollment also is to drive Liberty's hiring, which Kibby said he hopes to finish by spring break of this school year.

He anticipates a teaching staff of about 30.

Most of the teachers will be in-district hires, with several likely moving from West, he said.

'These are people that are in the community already, that the kids already know, teachers of their brothers and sisters,” Kibby said. 'I think that will have a real positive impact on building the climate.”

Here is a look at the minimum number of courses to be offered to students next fall when Liberty High School opens in North Liberty.

l English/Language Arts: 4 regular courses; 3 honors courses; 1 AP course

l Math: 5 regular courses; 2 honors courses; 1 AP course

l Science: 3 regular courses; 3 AP courses; 3 trimester-long courses

l World languages: 4 Spanish courses; 2 honors Spanish courses; 1 AP Spanish course; 4 French courses

l Business education: 4 trimester-long courses

l Family and consumer sciences: 4 trimester-long courses

l Industrial technology: 3 trimester-long courses; 2 'Project Lead-the-Way” courses

l Art: 4 trimester-long courses

l Music: 2 band courses;

2 choir courses; 1 orchestra course

l PE/Health: 1 trimester-long health course; 2 trimester-long PE courses