Archie Williams offers a variety of art and academic electives for students to choose from, ranging from Ceramics and Advanced Placement (AP) Art History to Physiology and AP Chemistry. Although Archie Williams only requires one year of art for graduation, students can continue taking creative classes for all four years. However, despite the variety of options and benefits of artistic classes, students tend to prioritize academic electives to strengthen their college applications. 

Archie Williams students face pressure each year when choosing electives for the upcoming school year. While trying to balance STEM and humanities graduation requirements, and competition for admission to college increases, the temptation to opt for more challenging courses increases.     

A survey conducted by BestColleges in 2022 found that 52 percent of the 1,000 high school students they surveyed felt pressure to make decisions about their future early on. As a result, high school students can be influenced to choose electives to prepare for their future and college applications. This emphasis on academic performance can especially incentivize students to take more demanding classes that offer GPA boosts. 

GPA is a calculation of performance in classes and plays a significant role in a student’s academic journey, leading many to feel pressured to maintain high marks. If a student achieves an “A” in an art elective, this can positively impact them by raising their GPA while also providing a creative outlet. 

Archie Williams sophomore Molly Ehrlinspiel, currently enrolled in Physiology, experiences these GPA related pressures firsthand.             

“I just hear people asking, ‘What’s your GPA?’” Molly said. “Everyone talks about GPAs. So I know it’s important [academically].”       

Currently, 614 million students are enrolled in high school globally, and the average GPA has risen by 12 percent in the last 30 years. As more high schoolers enroll in AP classes, the percentage of public high school graduates who have taken an AP exam increased from 31.5 percent in 2013 to 34.7 percent in 2023.         

At Archie Williams, some art classes are available with Honors or AP credit, attracting more students’ interest. Currently, the selection for students to choose from includes AP Studio Art Drawing & Painting, AP Studio Art 3D Ceramics, AP Studio Art 2D Design, AP Art History, Honors Ceramics, Honors Photography, and Honors Theater Directing.

Archie Williams senior and former three-year art student Ben Kyburg sees the advantages of enrolling in an art elective, AP or not, especially for those already engaged in art as a hobby.                   

“[Art electives] would help [your academic performance], because you can focus more on specific classes [after school] and have the [extra] time that you would be spending on your hobbies in an actual class,” Ben said. 

 Archie Williams art teacher Laura Kimpton emphasizes the value of art-based electives and their contribution to students’ wellbeing.  

“One thing I teach in my class is it’s about the process, not the product, and it’s about getting into a meditative state, and making, and not judging,” Kimpton said.  “You can make art, and there’s never a mistake in art. So it’s teaching how to live in life, how to let go.”  

While some students may dismiss art classes as just a requirement, a study by the College Board showed that students who took four years of art electives scored 100 points higher on average on the SAT exams. 

The Princeton Review also found that art provides a space to express creativity while improving critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities through various challenges. They can also build self-confidence and help students bounce back from failure due to the trial-and-error aspect of creative work. The classes offer unique environments that encourage students to focus on their growth and understanding, rather than solely on grades. 

Molly Baker, an Archie Williams counselor of eight years, notices firsthand the  changing pattern of elective choices as colleges have become more selective.               

“I’ve definitely seen a change in students picking more academic electives, like Physio[logy], especially in sophomore year. I think there’s a lot of pressure in this community to build a resume based on what they think colleges will like,” Baker said.       

According to Spark Admissions, college acceptance rates inevitably drive up the competition for spots between students. Competitive factors can serve as a form of motivation or encourage students to branch out and grow. Students feel the need to stand out by taking on more than they can handle in extracurricular activities or advanced classes. 

“Elective classes are ways for [students] them to find out what they enjoy doing and bring a lot of joy to their lives.” Baker said.  

Archie Williams freshman Isaac Holden is currently enrolled in Ceramics 1-2 and chose the elective to explore something new.   

“I’m doing [ceramics] because I wanted to… [It’s] sort of an upside to that [art requirement], because you can do what you want and also fill the requirement while enjoying yourself,” Isaac said.                  

Art classes present many other benefits to students such as improved writing skills, better engagement, and decreased trouble in learning environments. The high school years are a time for exploration, and art provides many students with a creative outlet.   

With many elective options available, deciding between them can be overwhelming. While students may select academic courses more frequently, art classes offer unique benefits to consider during the elective process in the spring. 

“We’re hoping that students will start to move away from [college preference] and pick electives that they really enjoy,” Baker said.