Participatory Budgeting

What is Participatory Budgeting? Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process in which community members decide how to spend a part of a public budget. In this case, the community members are students— even families, teachers, and staff—and the budget is a part of the school budget. Students collect ideas about the school’s needs, develop project proposals, and vote on projects to fund. The PB project is meant to emulate, on a smaller scale, the process utilized by several New York City Council community districts.

Participatory Budgeting at Richmond Hill
As part of Participatory Budgeting 2025, RHHS has been allocated $2,688 to fund a project proposed, researched, and promoted by students that will improve the students’ quality of life at school. This year, student Research Committee groups across 12 senior Economics classes created over 50 initial proposals. Each class then voted for one project to represent their class. These semifinal proposals were then presented to our student Steering Committee, who narrowed the final ballot down to 4 final project proposals for our school wide vote.

Students, families, staff and the entire Richmond Hill community - Now YOU have a chance to vote on the winning Participatory Budgeting proposal to be funded!

CLICK HERE OR SCAN THE QR CODE TO CAST YOUR VOTE BY 2pm, MARCH 14th

CLICK BELOW TO VIEW EACH PROPOSAL

Proposal 1: Athletic Equipment
Proposal 2: Materials for Art Classes
Proposal 3: Music Production Equipment
Proposal 4: Student & Teacher School Supplies

Freshman / 9th Grade

9th Grade:
Global Studies 1: This 9th grade course reviews human history from the Paleolithic period through the end of the Renaissance and scientific Revolutions. Emphasis is placed on the development of close reading, document analysis and writing skills, to set the foundation for the 10th grade year in preparation for the Global History Regents exam.

Sophmore / 10th Grade

10th Grade

• Global Studies 2: This 10th grade course focuses on the changes that occurred from the 14th to 20th centuries and culminates in students taking the Regents Exam in Global History and Geography in June. Beginning with the Enlightenment and French Revolutions, students move on to study the impacts of industrialization, human rights violations across the world and modern global conflicts, including World War I, World War II, the Cold War and modern issues facing the world including globalization, power, inequity, scarcity, environmental impact, technology and innovation.
• Honors Global Studies 2 (College Credit) - This advanced course provides students an opportunity to earn college credit  from SUNY Farmingdale through the application of rigorous reading, writing and research skills, while preparing them for the Global History Regents in June.
• Advanced Placement World History (College Credit)  is an advanced 10th grade course that prepares students for the AP Exam in World History in May as well as the Global History Regents in June of their sophomore year. Students who pass this course earn college credit fromSt. John’s University

Junior / 11th Grade

• United States History: This year-long 11th grade course prepares our students to take the Regents Examination in U.S. History and Government in June. The fall term begins with a study of events leading up to the American Revolution and culminates with the post-Civil War industrialization of the United States. In the spring, students learn about the development of the modern United States throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, including the impacts of industrialization, World Wars and global conflict, culminating in a study of modern issues including the Civil Rights Movements, globalization, and challenges of modern presidencies.
• Honors United States History (College Credit): This advanced course provides students an opportunity to earn college credit through SUNY Farmingdale’s University in the High School program, while preparing them for the US History History Regents in June.
• Advanced Placement United States History (College Credit): is an advanced 11th  grade course that prepares students for the AP Exam in World History in May as well as the U.S. History Regents in June of their sophomore year. Students who pass this course earn college credit from Molloy University

Senior / 12th Grade

12th Grade -Fall Semester:

• Participation in Government: This project-based course is designed to cultivate civically minded and engaged young adults who can be active members of their communities. Beginning with a brief review of the foundations of U.S. government and the basic principles of federalism and our system of checks and balances, the class moves on to explore the workings of the three branches of government in greater depth. Students engage in Project Based Learning that allows them to explore issues in the community and take action. Students also participate in our Voter Registration drive and are encouraged to register to vote. Through participation in the DOE’s Participatory Budgeting project, students have a chance to explore an issue in their school community, propose a solution and win funding to address the problem.
• Honors Participation in Government (College Credit): This course offers a chance to earn college credit through SUNY Farmingdale’s University in the High School program or CUNY York’s College Now program, while engaging students in Project Based Learning designed to promote civic engagement and involvement in their school and communities.
• Advanced Placement Participation in Government (College Credit): This class offers students college credit through Molloy University and prepares them to take the Advanced Placement exam in United States Government in May.

12th Grade - Spring Semester:

• Economics: This project-based course that builds financial literacy while exposing students to  core economic principles such as scarcity, opportunity cost and supply and demand. All students complete a “Life Project Portfolio”  engaging in real world simulations where they research a career choice, projected earnings, and create a budget. Our scholars participate in the Stock Market Game,competing against one another and students across other schools while learning how to choose, buy and sell stock. We also participate in a Financial Literacy Certification program sponsored by the W!SE foundation, culminating in an assessment where students can earn a financial literacy designation.  Students conclude the course by preparing resumes and participating in mock job interviews.
• Honors Economics (College Credit): This course offers students an opportunity to earn college credit through SUNY Farmingdale’s University in the High School program.
• Economics and Finance (College Credit) is a project-based course that allows students to earn college credit through CUNY York’s College Now Program, while  further challenging them with a number of topics in micro- and macro-economics.

Electives

Additional Elective + College Level Courses:

• Art History
• Honors Art History (College Credit, Molloy University)
• Intro to Criminal and Civil Law
• Introduction to Legal Studies (College Credit - SUNY Farmingdale)
• History of the World (College Credit - CUNY York College Now)
• Sociology (College Credit - CUNY York College Now)
• Psychology (College Credit - CUNY York College Now)

Social Studies Staff