A Full-Year High School Art Curriculum for the Only Art Teacher in the Building
Art Complete – High School is for the high school art teacher who runs Art I through advanced students alone: 100+ ready resources for grades 9–12 that move students from guided technique toward independent, concept-driven work. It handles the structure of the year, analysis through final artwork, so your planning time can go to individual critique, the part nobody else in the building can do.
View the HS art curriculum →Art Complete – High School is a ready-to-teach curriculum for grades 9–12 with 100+ resources, from $149.90. It covers analysis and interpretation of fine art, design, media art and visual culture across periods and contemporary contexts, plus studio practice in drawing, painting, mixed media, design, experimental and conceptual approaches, and traditional and digital media. It helps a solo high school art teacher structure several levels at once. No supplies are included.
The curriculum
Art Complete – High School, Grades 9–12
Start with the full curriculum. The other resources below are optional add-ons. Open any cover for the full contents and price.
The real problem
Several art levels, one teacher, no second opinion
In a lot of high schools the only art teacher has Art I, a drawing and painting section, and a handful of upper-level students working on their own, sometimes in the same period. Each group needs something different. Beginners need technique and the basics of composition. Older students need to develop a concept, explain their intention and push into conceptual or digital work. With no colleague, there is nobody to look at a senior's piece and tell you whether your feedback is fair, and nobody to share the job of writing interpretation prompts about contemporary art. The analysis side is where solo teachers tend to cut corners: it takes time to find artworks and write questions about style, symbolism and intention, so lessons default to studio time. That is fine until a student needs to write about their work for a portfolio or college application and has never practiced. A course that keeps interpretation and practice moving together, and that increases independence as students advance, does the sequencing you would otherwise do alone in August.
Why it fits
What it handles for a one-person high school art program
The design follows students from guided assignments to self-directed work, which is the progression a solo teacher has to manage.
- Concept-to-final-artwork projects teach upper-level students to plan and justify their own pieces.
- Interpretation lessons on style, symbolism and intention give students language for artist statements.
- Contemporary contexts, media art and visual culture keep analysis from stopping at older European painting.
- Experimental and conceptual approaches stretch advanced students while beginners stay on drawing and painting.
- Traditional and digital media both appear, so you can use the devices your school already has.
- Over 100 resources give enough range to run two levels in one room without repeating projects.
Getting started
Your first two weeks across every level
A suggested opening that sorts your levels quickly and gets the year moving.
- Map units to each course levelSort the material into what suits Art I, intermediate and advanced students. That sorting becomes the course map you have never had time to write down.
- Open with an interpretation taskGive every level the same artwork and ask about composition, symbolism and intention. Answers tell you who can already analyze and who needs the vocabulary first.
- Start beginners on guided techniquePut Art I on drawing and materials practice so they build control. Their projects stay structured while you spend more conference time with older students.
- Launch an advanced concept projectAsk upper-level students to develop an idea from concept to final artwork, using experimental or digital approaches if they fit. They work independently while you circulate.
- Set a critique routine for all levelsSchedule short critiques where students use the analysis vocabulary on their own work. Peers become the second opinion you lack in a one-teacher department.
Which version
Which version suits a solo high school art teacher
The $149.90 version includes all 100+ resources and covers a full year across levels. The $189.90 version adds Teach-Life-Balance, a time-saving course with a planner, guides and templates for teachers; it does not add art lessons. If supply orders, show setup and multiple preps leave you no evenings, that planner may help. If they do not, save the difference. The Complete Art Education Bundle for High School is a separate, smaller add-on for more studio ideas. If you also teach a middle school art section, buying both Complete Curricula with TEACHMORE15 gives 15% off.
Honest limits
What you still decide and provide
No art supplies, software or devices are included. Projects need adapting to your room, budget and kiln, darkroom or computer access. The course is written for U.S. high school classrooms; check it yourself against your state and district requirements, including any course credit or portfolio rules. It does not prepare a specific exam or portfolio format. For use by other teachers in your school, message Teach Lessons first. Within 7 days you can exchange it for store credit of equal value if it does not fit; this is not a cash refund.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is it aligned to state or National Core Arts Standards?
It is not endorsed, certified or adopted by any standards body or state, and we do not guarantee alignment with the National Core Arts Standards. It is written for U.S. high school art classrooms. Because you are the only art teacher, you are the one checking it against your state framework and district course descriptions before relying on it.
Can I run Art I and advanced students in the same period?
That is one of the situations it handles well. Beginners can work on guided drawing and painting while advanced students take a concept-to-final-artwork project with experimental or conceptual approaches. The same interpretation lessons can be used at both levels with different expectations.
Does it help students write about their own art?
Analysis and interpretation units focus on style, symbolism, composition and intention. Students who practice that on other artworks have the language to write about their own, which is useful for critiques and artist statements. Final wording for applications is still up to the student and you.
Does it cover digital art?
Practice includes both traditional and digital media, and analysis covers media art and visual culture. No software or devices are included, so digital projects depend on what your school provides. If you have no devices, the traditional media projects still give you a full year.
What happens on days I am out?
The curriculum is described as flexible for substitute teaching. Interpretation worksheets with answer keys work well when a sub without art training covers your room, because students can analyze artworks without handling materials. Studio days are better kept for when you are there.
Where do I see what is included?
The product page lists what is included. Read it with your course list in hand so you can see which units suit Art I and which will carry your advanced students.
Spend your time on critique, not on rebuilding the course
Open the product page to see the full list of resources and both versions.
View the HS art curriculum →