Last month, families came to Revere High School (RHS) during the school’s monthly family coffee hour to learn more about the growing number of new academic and career options available to students and how the new RHS Program of Studies Website can help them figure it all out.
Principal Chris Bowen led the meeting. He showed parents and caregivers the school's new "Program of Studies” Website, a comprehensive online guide that lists all courses, internships, career paths, dual enrollment options, and graduation requirements for the 2026-2027 school year. Bowen said the goal is simple: ensure every student graduates with a clear plan and a meaningful experience that prepares them for college, work, or both.
Bowen told families, "Today is really a chance for us to share some brief information so you have some ideas," and then he gave them all a chance to talk and ask questions of us, "so you can leave knowing how to support your students and make the best plan."
The new Program of Studies website is a big step forward in making things more open and easier to find. For the first time, families can see a detailed list of all the high school courses, organized by department and grade level, all in one place. Students and caregivers can search the website through multiple access points, including a searchable database and courses listed by department.
Students can look for classes by subject, such as English, math, science, history, and more. They can read class descriptions to better understand them before choosing. The site also lists the number and types of courses students must pass in each subject to graduate.
The website has a translation feature, which is important for Revere's diverse community. Families can easily change the whole page into several languages with just a few clicks. The change makes it easier and more accessible for more people to find information about academic planning and post-secondary opportunities.
In January, as Bowen shared, RHS introduced the site to students during advisory periods. Advisory meets midweek and provides dedicated time for students to connect with staff, reflect on their goals, and explore academic options.
“It was important to us that students not only review the Program of Studies, but also learn how to navigate the website effectively so they can thoughtfully and accurately plan their courses for the upcoming school year,” said Bowen. “The school will also send the website directly to families, telling them to look it over at home and use it as a way to start a conversation.”
The website not only lists traditional courses, but it also shows students many ways to continue their education outside of school.
Students can get real-world experience in fields they might want to work in after college through internships in Revere and Boston. School counselors work one-on-one with students to help them find placements that fit their interests.
"We give students many chances to learn outside of Revere High School," Bowen said. "Students can talk to their counselor about getting an internship in Revere or Boston to learn more about a career they might like."
The school also lets students take college classes for free while they are still in high school. Students in these programs get both high school and college credit at the same time. After they graduate, they get a college transcript that can be used at many schools.
The Early College program is an exciting opportunity that is offered to RHS students. College professors teach classes right at the high school through a partnership with North Shore Community College. Students in Early College take a mix of high school and college classes starting in their sophomore year.
Students can earn up to 30 college credits for free—almost two years' worth—that can be transferred to any four-year public college in Massachusetts and many private colleges as well.
Bowen said, "That's almost two years of college done for free," stressing the long-term financial benefits. Students can also use the experience to try out possible majors before they choose one after high school.
Salem State University, Suffolk University, the University of Massachusetts, Bunker Hill Community College, and Franklin Cummings Tech are some of the other colleges and universities that work together with higher education institutions. In every case, families can take the courses for free.
Next year, the high school will launch a senior Capstone Program, a year-long course that allows students in grade 12 to personalize their learning around a topic tied to their passions and goals.
Through an inquiry-based project, students conduct research, think critically, and design and present a final product, applying the skills they’ve developed throughout high school while building readiness for college, careers, and civic life. Bowen said, "It basically helps seniors choose something they're really interested in and plan a study of that topic for the whole school year."
Additionally, next year, RHS will launch a Global Education Program. The school recently partnered with the Institute for Global Learning and became a member school to connect students, faculty, and the learning community with other schools around the world. This partnership celebrates the rich diversity of the Revere community by giving students opportunities to explore their learning through a global lens in direct connection to their own experiences.
Over the coming years, the school will co-create the RHS global education program with students and teachers, ensuring it reflects the unique spirit of RHS. Students will have the chance to participate in global exchanges with peers and educators worldwide, as well as “glocal” experiences—local projects approached through a global perspective—that strengthen connections within our vibrant Revere community.
Through these experiences, RHS aims to foster curiosity, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of the world beyond our classroom walls. Students will explore the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development and tackle global challenges like climate change, energy reliability, hunger, and immigration. Students who choose to explore their learning through this program will receive a Global Scholar Endorsement on their transcript after completing all programmatic requirements.
Another important part of the RHS Program of Studies is the rollout of structured career concentrations. These are concentrated learning experiences that combine required classes with internships, dual enrollment, and capstone projects in fields that are in high demand.
The program began in 2020, when the City of Revere, the school district, state officials, local colleges, and area businesses partnered to analyze workforce data, identify high-growth industries in the Greater Boston region, and determine how the high school could better prepare students for emerging career opportunities.
“This year, we proudly launched our Engineering & Robotics Career Concentration, marking an exciting expansion of opportunities for our students,” said Bowen. “Next year, we will introduce the Business Leadership, Hospitality & Entrepreneurship Career Concentration, further broadening pathways aligned to student interests and future careers.”
Bowen added that as RHS moves through the construction of its new high school building, the school will continue to develop and add additional career concentrations over the next four years, thoughtfully designing new courses that complement and strengthen each program.
Students who choose to pursue a specific concentration will enroll in targeted coursework, participate in internships or related work-based learning experiences, engage in the Capstone Program, and curate a comprehensive portfolio that thoughtfully showcases and connects their learning across all experiences.
Bowen stressed during the meeting that even the best programs need students to be involved and families to support them.
He said, "What you need to know before you leave today is that the more you talk to your student about what they like, what they don't like, what they want to do in five years, and how that relates to the opportunities we have here, the better prepared they will be to graduate and move on to the next step."
The school gave families a list of 10 questions to talk about at home. These included whether students had looked into internship opportunities, met with their counselor, or gone over what they needed to do to graduate.
This month, counselors will start meeting with students again. They will first meet with them in advisory sessions and then one-on-one or in small groups. In March, students will choose their classes for the next school year.
Bowen said that to be able to participate in many programs, especially internships and college courses, you need to have excellent attendance, do well in school, and be responsible.
"We can't send a student to an internship,” he said. "We can't pay for a student to take a college class if they stop going." "Students' actions in high school, such as attending classes, advocating for themselves, and seeking guidance from teachers, create opportunities."
School leaders want more students to graduate with not only a diploma but also college credits, work experience, and a sense of direction. They hope that by giving students clearer information and more options for real-world careers, they will be able to do this.
Bowen said that the message to families was simple: visit the Program of Studies Website, ask questions, and stay involved.
"We want every student to know their counselor," he said. "Before you leave, we want you to be ready to talk to your child. Make sure they have read this, know when their counselor will meet with them, and follow up."