Explore Our Courses

Pr1me Time (homeroom) is a dedicated period for students to work on Individual Plans of Study and Character Strong Social-Emotional Learning while receiving academic support, enrichment, homework time and important school-wide communication. Students have the same Pr1me Time teacher from their first year through graduation, allowing them to develop longer-lasting relationships and build a system of support with their peers and teacher.

The overall objective of this course is to learn how to make jewelry safely, correctly and creatively. With this information, students are encouraged to be innovative and unique with their projects, bringing their own character and personality into their pieces. Currently in Natalie Brown’s class, students are making positive/negative pendants, honing skills like sawing, filing, polishing, applying patinas, cold connections, acid etching and wire work. A variety of different media are used, including glass, resin, clay, copper and paper.

In this required course, students learn basic health and wellness principles and apply the necessary skills to make informed decisions about their physical, mental and social health.CPR and AED training take place over the course of three weeks. Learning these lifesaving skills can help students respond to an emergency situation with confidence and care. Students who meet the American Red Cross criteria will receive the chance to become certified. Those who took the course last semester will be given the opportunity to take the certification exam during their Pr1meTime. Featured in the video, freshmen Camdyn Kuntz and Kinley Brownlee demonstrate CPR and AED use.

The course allows students to take a deep dive into European history, covering the time periods of the Renaissance through modern day. Students will research and write about the global nature of historical events, including political, economic and social issues. Through project-based instruction and various activities, students will work through nine units to learn about the modern-era Western Civilization at a college level. Currently, students in Christopher Brittingham’s classes are working on a project where they are tasked with researching a topic relating to the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s. 

Derby High School offers a number of vocal music courses, including vocal training in singing, music literacy and sight-reading for advanced work. In each class, students practice their songs for the next concert. There are five total choirs. Choralaires and Men’s Chorus are auditioned choirs, where every student will start. Bel Canto is the auditioned women’s choir. Philharmonic Choir is the auditioned mixed choir, and Madrigals are the top mixed honour choir.

In this class, students use the metric system of measurement, laboratory skills and scientific processing methods throughout the year, while learning the names and the symbols for elements, ions, compounds and chemical equations. Other topics of study include detailed structures of the atom, nuclear events, the Periodic Table, the theories for chemical bonding, the mole concept and the principles of chemical reactions. 

This program provides students with opportunities to go beyond the standard classroom experience. Students engage in independent research projects and participate in specialized courses tailored to their learning needs. This encourages collaboration as well as independent study, allowing students to move at an accelerated pace or explore topics in greater depth.

In this class, students explore the economic, social, and political developments of the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China, Japan, Greece, Rome and the Islamic World.This week, students in Preston Peer’s class listened to guest speaker Matt Dweir, the Education Manager from the Museum of World Treasures.

In this course, students apply basic Physics skills and knowledge fundamental to all sciences. This course uses science investigation, measurement in the Metric System and data in the creation and interpretation of graphs throughout the semester.

Algebra 1 introduces linear equations and inequalities, systems of equations, arithmetic operations applied to polynomials, factoring second-degree polynomials, graphs of linear equations and inequalities, irrational numbers and radical expressions, the quadratic formula, direct and inverse variation and word problems. 

This course provides students with the essential skills, techniques, and knowledge necessary to succeed in the professional food industry. Through a combination of hands-on training and classroom instruction, students learn the fundamentals of cooking, baking, and food presentation, while also developing an understanding of kitchen management, sanitation, and nutrition.

In Clay Fundamentals, students are encouraged to exercise their creative abilities by using references and creating clay pieces with their own details added. Students will learn different art techniques using different media and designs.

In this course, students take care of a robot baby for a weekend while catering to the child's needs, including feeding, crying, burping, and changing diapers. Currently, in Family Studies, students are learning how to properly use baby carriers.

This course focuses on leadership, responsibility, character-building, and honor. Students dress in uniform on certain days and undergo a uniform inspection. It is a great opportunity for students to learn leadership skills and be more involved with the community.

Certified Nurse Aide students attended the pinning ceremony to receive their pins after learning and growing as CNAs. "It’s been a long process but I really enjoyed it," senior Makayla Wood said. “I’m glad that I have this community of other CNAs and we have really grown close.” Makayla also mentioned that her favorite memory was making friends with a new elderly resident. “She didn’t have any friends since she was new, so I was her first friend and she was so excited to have someone to talk to,” Makayla added.

Students are using their sewing skills to create tote bags. "There are different parts that we are sewing together to make the tote bag complete," freshman Abby Wagner said. Abby considers herself a crafty person and mentioned that this class interested her.

Recently, while having a list of topics, students chose what they wanted to research and present over. "I presented on philanthropy and I love the fact that we are able to move around and hear a bunch of different people's presentations and present them one by one," senior Adriana Dollarhide said. She added, “I’ve learned a lot about hurricanes, and how not only is that a catastrophe, but all that it does to the economy and the people around it, as well as construction infrastructure.”

While working with fake skin and some tools, students are in the process of learning how to suture. This includes practicing their stitches on fake skin and once they get used to this process, they advance this technique by using oranges and bananas.

This course is an introductory level course designed to instruct students in the basic skills necessary to all occupations in the Construction, Manufacturing and Transportation areas. Students are exposed to opportunities available in construction-related trades while also learning about the processes involved in construction projects and engaging in a variety of small projects. Recently, students have been working to create step stools by cutting, sanding and bolting pieces of wood together.

Spanish 3 continues the development of communicative skills, encouraging students to express increasingly complex concepts both verbally and in writing. Students work to expand their ability to communicate in less structured or unpredictable areas of need or want. The goal is to easily comprehend speech of native speakers and authentic texts at a limited level of text complexity. Students are working to pilot a new textbook and they are currently making posters in Spanish.

Natalie Brown, Visual Art Teacher, Art Department Chair and National Art Honor Society Co-Sponsor at Derby High School, along with Senior Grace Summers, National Art Honor Society President, spoke alongside Dr. Holly Putnam-Jackson. They shared insights into the various art skills and mediums offered at Derby High School while expressing their passion for art. View here: https://bit.ly/3FlsKAK.

Students are working to create cracked Easter eggs with their airbrush equipment. "You have to have a steady hand and have self control to not over-paint the project," freshman Alayna Stuhlsatz said. Alayna also mentioned that “it’s definitely very straight forward, you can sit down and be creative and take your time to make something.”

Students are writing a response paper over the play, Romeo and Juliet in teacher Kenneth Buff’s English 9 class. "We have to write a paper over whether or not we thought Romeo and Juliet were emotionally mature," freshman Janie Sinard said.

Students engage in research using MLA format while studying and analyzing a wide range of literary works, including short stories, poetry, drama, novels, and classical literature. The curriculum also explores author styles, text structures, media literacy and the integration of technology in learning. Currently, students are collaborating in groups to analyze Anthem by Ayn Rand.

Commercial Graphic Design courses teach students to use artistic techniques to effectively communicate ideas and information to business and customer audiences via illustration and other forms of digital or printed media. Currently, students are creating designs for T-shirts on their computers and then cleaning screens to use for the ink.

Did you know? February is National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month! Derby Public Schools offers 17 dynamic CTE pathways. CTE provides students with hands-on, real-world learning experiences that enhance college and career readiness.

Among the units covered include HTML, Internet protection and protocols, Ethics and Legal issues (copyrights, internet security and safety, cyber ethics, etc.), Adobe Dreamweaver - Introduction of page layouts and basic web page creation, Adobe Fireworks - Introductions and application using animation and graphic and vector editing. Students also learn how to move from one part of a web page to another through web tree directories. 

Air Force Junior ROTC is a citizenship program for high school students in the ninth through twelfth grades. AFJROTC encourages its students to get involved in their local communities to produce well-informed and helpful citizens.

Pr1me Time, formerly known as homeroom, is a daily structured class designed to provide enrichment, academic support and opportunities for connection. It offers a dedicated time for students to complete assignments, make up classwork missed due to excused absences or get extra help from teachers and tutors if they can’t before or after school.

Law Enforcement 1 is a continuation of Introduction to Law and Public Safety. Students are exposed to multiple aspects of law enforcement, including courtroom and trial proceedings. Law Enforcement 2 is the second of two courses designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to obtain entrance to the Law Enforcement or Highway Patrol Academy.

Functional Family and Consumer Science (FACS) is a practical cooking course focused on developing essential culinary skills needed for everyday life, emphasizing healthy food choices, meal planning and safe food handling practices, with a strong emphasis on hands-on cooking experiences in the kitchen to prepare a variety of dishes.

Derby High School offers Family and Consumer Science (FACS) classes, including a variety of culinary options.Culinary Essentials teaches skills for careers in food production, including food safety, sanitation, measuring techniques and nutrition principles in food preparation.

While AFJROTC teaches discipline, respect and citizenship, uniform inspections, a weekly requirement of each class, show a lot about character. As shown in the infographic, sophomore Ayden Yeubanks and junior Joyce Mwarema are leaders who demonstrate the standard rules needed for uniform inspections.

The major focus of this course is to expose students to the world of aeronautics, flight, and engineering through the fields of aeronautics, aerospace engineering and related areas of study.

The Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) program prepares students to be caregivers in nursing homes while working under the supervision of licensed nurses.

This advanced course is for students interested in techniques outside of functional and thrown work.

Medical Interventions is a “how to” manual for maintaining overall health and homeostasis in the body.

This class introduces students to the principles underlying teaching and learning, the responsibilities and duties of teachers, and the techniques of imparting knowledge and information.

This class teaches technical skills vital for careers in aviation and manufacturing, including the safe use of precision instruments, power tools and more.

Students in Airbrush class are shown working on their skull project. Practicing shading to get a three-dimensional look is an important skill in this class.