What’s engaging these high schoolers? Classes about the election.

Every four years, the presidential election energizes civics education. It presents a natural opportunity for educators to discuss topics such as the Electoral College, campaign finance, and the policy issues being debated – even if they say it has gotten trickier in recent years.

Learning about elections and the democratic process can lead to greater civic engagement among young people. A fringe benefit, though, may be student engagement. In an age of chronic absenteeism, some educators are finding that leaning into election topics piques students’ interests and keeps them motivated to learn.

So far this academic year, Lawson Waldrop, a 12th grader in Bar Harbor, Maine, says she has barely missed a day of school. She’s been drawn to a course about the election at Mount Desert Island High School.

“It feels like the most important class to me,” says Lawson, who turned 18 over the weekend. “English is cool and all, but this is, like, real-world stuff that I need to know, especially because I’m going to be partaking in the election.”

Lawson Waldrop used to have a spotty attendance record. So far this academic year, the 12th grader in Bar Harbor, Maine, says she has barely missed a day of school.

What’s the gravitational pull bringing her to class? A nine-week elective course all about the upcoming election.

“It feels like the most important class to me,” says Lawson, who turned 18 over the weekend. “English is cool and all, but this is, like, real-world stuff that I need to know, especially because I’m going to be partaking in the election.”

Every four years, the presidential election energizes civics education. It presents a natural opportunity for educators to discuss topics such as the Electoral College, campaign finance, and the policy issues being debated – even if they say it has gotten trickier in recent years. Nearly a third of principals surveyed in August by EdWeek Research Center say a “challenging” or “very challenging” obstacle to civics education has been the notion that it’s too political or controversial.

Still, experts say learning about elections and the democratic process can lead to greater civic engagement among young people. A fringe benefit, though, may be student engagement. In an age of chronic absenteeism, some educators are finding that leaning into election topics piques students’ interests and keeps them motivated to learn.

When students have a chance to talk about their identity and values, it breeds engagement both inside and outside the classroom, says Adrianne Billingham Bock, director of curriculum and implementation for the Harvard University-based Democratic Knowledge Project. The group partners with educators to co-design civics lessons.