Language Arts Department


The Language Arts Department of Leavenworth High School considers skills and knowledge in language and literature to be basic to all further success in high school and beyond. In keeping with our school's mission statement, the ability to communicate in writing, reading, and speech is essential "to prepare students to be successful in our culturally diverse and technologically changing society." Our offerings give many opportunities to the student to develop skills in and to excel in demonstrating a command of the language arts.

Our classes are organized in six areas or aspects of language communication: general survey courses, language skills courses, composition courses, reading courses, performance or production courses and advance study courses. Students should take classes that cover each of these areas.

Freshman Survey and Sophomore Survey are required of all students. Success at other levels depends on successfully completing these fundamental courses. Beginning with the sophomore year, students may select specific areas of concentration, either specifically designed college-preparatory classes or general study courses or some mixture of these two.

We recommend that college-bound students take classes in American and British literature as well as expository and research writing. We also recommend Vocabulary and Word Study and Critical Thinking and Reading.

For those with superior ability, we offer Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition and two college-credit classes. The beginning college composition course and the introductory literature course are taught in cooperation with the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth.

For course descriptions, see the LHS Curriculum Guide.

For faculty members, see the LHS Faculty and Staff webpage.