This program allows the department to meet the needs of a diverse and international student body. All students are placed in their Upper School English classes through expressed areas of interest and their competency in English. Student's individual skill levels are estimated by teacher suggestions, past performance in English and related courses, and periodic testing of the reading and writing. Thus, students of different grade levels may take the same competency course. The primary goal of the HPA English department is to teach students to read and write in more complex ways and with increasing sophistication as they move through their successive courses towards graduation.
Language development is continuous and recursive throughout an individual's life.
Each graduate should leave HPA with the ability to understand and appreciate language and to use it confidently and competently in a variety of situations for communication, personal satisfaction and learning. To become lifelong learners, students at all grade levels must develop fluency and confidence in their language abilities as this will allow them to explore ideas, concepts, and personal experiences in a critical and thoughtful manner.