ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP— Rock Hill High School juniors had new options for classes when they returned to classes Friday.

Principal Steve Lambert said a new two-year health academy will allow those interested in a career in the medical field a chance to learn more about it while they are in high school.

“This is for juniors and some senior students. It really supplements what we do in math and science,” Lambert said.

“It will give career-based information and gives students another step toward college classes and experience.”

The academy will be taught at the high school; students will not need to leave campus to take the health academy classes. He said thus far, 14 juniors have signed up for it and 14 have signed up to take the project Lead the Way program that allows students experience and education in various aspects of engineering.

The new health tech prep class is similar to the one now offered to students in the Ironton and Dawson-Bryant school districts.

Lambert said this year, the high school also is offering a calculus class. The school has offered calculus and pre-calculus in the past and educators realized there was a need to offer it again.

At Thursday’s board of education meeting, superintendent Lloyd Evans said work would continue this year to improve test scores at all three schools within the district. He said at the middle school, additional emphasis is being given to reading writing and language skills.

“This will help in areas where we had problems last year,” he said.

He said at the elementary school, staff is analyzing data to determine how best to improve test scores.