Each year John Pitman High School offers new classes, but it’s not a guarantee that the class will be there for the next school year. Pitman has offered 12 new classes for the 2026/2027 ballot:
-Intro to Healthcare and Careers
-AP Calculus
-Leaders for Today and Tomorrow
-Dance/Choreography
-Art Appreciation
-Intro to Sociology
-Academic Reading and Writing
-Intro to Public Speaking
-Medical Terminology
-Elementary Anatomy/Physiology
-American Government/Politics
-Agriculture Farm to Fork
According to Wendi Cook, the assistant principal at Pitman High School, these classes are promoted but not a guarantee in the master schedule. For those who don’t know who Mrs. Cook is she explained that,
“I am an assistant principal of curriculum and instruction and I’m a part of our administration team. I’m fortunate enough to work with teachers, support them to increase student outcomes with learning. This is my third year here. Before that I was an elementary school principal, a literacy coach, an ELD teacher and a first grade teacher. My longest span was as a kindergarten teacher. It was close to 20 years.”
When asked about the new classes coming to PHS, Cook responded:
“We put new classes on the ballot but that doesn’t mean the classes will be available, it depends on student balloting, approving, or course request. And if we can make it fit on the master schedule. If there are not enough students who ballot for it there will not be a new class. I check every day on course requests because counselors are working every day on updating the course requests.
I’m proud to say the master schedule is driven by graduation requirements and student requests. Like journalism, that’s an elective, it’s available for the 2026-2027 school year; enough students requested it. This is why we have ballot day to vote and our ballot video that our broadcasting class put together. We want our students to be exposed to what is available and maybe offered. In addition our counselors go to Turlock Jr. High and Dutcher Middle School along with clubs and teachers and students to promote courses and electives. We also go to Spratling Middle School. I should say that our counselors help our incoming 9th graders to enroll.”
Through the counselors and the Pitman website students are able to view the course directory which also shares the different courses and electives that students can ballot for. Several of the classes offered for next year include Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses. CTE courses as explained on the 2026/27 Pitman Course Directory are programs to “…prepare students to enter today’s competitive workforce by assuring each course teaches the latest industry standards.”
Each CTE course offers a pathway to a career offering courses based on different levels called an Introductory, Concentrator and Capstone. These courses often are worked through Modesto Junior College as a dual enrollment program but not all. About 7 of the new courses listed are a part of the dual enrollment program.
Mrs. Cook was also asked if she knew when classes were going to be successful:
“March 27th was the last day for 8th grade students to ballot so we get an idea there. I try my best to contact the teachers to make sure the teachers are sure to take the class. We also call them over the summer. I want to be open and transparent to the staff. In May we will know a yes, no or a maybe.”
As Pitman continues to wonder what will come for next year some students have been advocating for classes. Mrs. Cook mentioned that, “Farm to Fork was promoted a lot from the students.” Mrs. Cook also mentioned other classes that have been offered in the past—or were suggested as a new class—but due to numbers haven’t worked out.
“We haven’t had a speech class for a while but we are hoping to. No guarantee;” and “The European class didn’t work last year.”
Although these classes have been trying to become a part of the master schedule it’s not a guarantee. When speaking of uncertainty there has also been talks around new equipment. The guitar classes did in fact receive new guitars with new cases on the way, though there were also talks of new computers. When asked if the rumor of new computers was true she replied,
“I don’t know. I’ve not heard an official word from the technology department if that is actually happening or not. Mrs. Arakelian [Pitman’s principal] would find out before I would.”
In conclusion, Pitman is offering a lot of new courses for next school year, feel free to check them out on Pitman’s website.