Nestled in the back corner of SHS is the art wing, vibrant paintings, drawings and photographs line the hall that is home to some of SHS’s most creative and innovative students. Art classes are held for every level of artist, from complete beginners all the way up to the most advanced and difficult courses, namely AP 3-D Art, AP 2-D Art and AP Drawing.
By the AP level, many students have worked their entire lives to get to the coveted classes, looking forward to the courses each year. But this year, the AP art classes look a little different.
At the beginning of the school year, AP students walked into their classrooms to find the art classes had been combined with lower levels in the same bell, meaning a class once meant for 10 now had upwards of 20 students.
Claire Lemmons, 12, is leading the charge to prevent the consolidation of art classes at SHS from happening next year. Through her initiative ‘Save the AP Arts 2026,’ Lemmons is seeking to “raise awareness and get a conversation going” about what has happened to the AP art classes this year. The biggest issue with the new class structure, Lemmons said, is the fact that no one was notified of the change beforehand. Frustrated by this, she reached out to the administration for an explanation. They explained that it was for scheduling purposes and to ensure more students received the classes they wanted, without fully considering the impact it would make.
By merging the art classes, Lemmons emphasized how the “closeness and relationships that are fostered” within the smaller AP art classes is lost. The teachers are also forced to split their time and focus. To protest, during the district art show AP Art students plan to put up flyers in their designated AP sections, and wear pins to display their dissatisfaction with the change.
As someone who has been involved in the SHS art program “since first grade,” Lemmons has been working towards the AP level “for twelve years” and plans to continue pursuing art post-high school, so the shift is particularly jarring. “I was so personally let down when this happened, because I have been waiting for senior year for the longest time and working towards it… and it didn’t happen in the way I was expecting,” she explained. In future years, Lemmons hopes that the Save the AP Arts initiative will prevent the change from happening again next year, and to implore the “administration to prioritize the integrity of the AP classes.”
The SHS Art program is a vivacious community full of creativity, imagination, and everyday brilliance. It is home to an environment that not only creates, but continuously fosters artistry and individuality, where students from all walks of life and backgrounds can find a home. Choosing to consolidate the art courses makes it harder for students and teachers to effectively create a space where every student can thrive, and so it is crucial that this space is persevered for years to come.
To support Claire and the initiative, make sure to sign the change.org petition, follow ‘@savetheaparts26’ on Instagram, use ‘#savetheaparts26’ to spread awareness, and above all (as Lemmons succinctly puts it) “care about the arts!”
