Editing Head of the Class (section)

==Synopsis==
''Head of the Class'' is mainly set in the classroom of academically gifted high school students in the Individualized Honors Program (IHP) at Millard Fillmore High School in New York City. The IHP students comprised a diverse range of personalities, ethnicities and academic specialties.

For the first three years of the show, the IHP class had ten students. Arvid Engen ([[Dan Frischman]]) was a skinny, bespectacled [[nerd]], mathematics expert, and budding scientist. Arvid's best friend was the overweight, wisecracking cynic Dennis Blunden ([[Dan Schneider]]), a computer whiz whose fields were chemistry and physics and who had a knack for getting the socially inept Arvid involved in various schemes. Both characters wanted to go to M.I.T. Alan Pinkard ([[Tony O'Dell]]) was an ultra-[[conservatism|conservative]] [[preppy]] and egotist; his area of expertise was [[political science]] and he was a devout fan of [[Ronald Reagan]]. Alan competed for the highest grades in the class with Darlene Merriman ([[Robin Givens]]), a spoiled rich girl who was probably even more self-centered than Alan and whose specialties were speech and debate. Both Alan and Darlene held the ambition of being named class valedictorian. Sarah Nevins ([[Kimberly Russell]]) did not have any particular area of expertise; she was the most down-to-earth of the IHP class and was once cited as having the lowest G.P.A. Maria Borges ([[Leslie Bega]]) was the pretty girl, but intelligent, with some emotional and mental issues but was very passionate about getting A's (going as far as grounding herself in the pilot episode for getting a 'B'), and Jawaharlal Choudhury (Jory Husain aka Joher Coleman) was an exchange student from India whose expertise was natural science. Eleven-year-old Janice Lazarotto ([[Tannis Vallely]]), despite her young age, was in high school and the IHP class because of her advanced intellect. Arts student Simone Foster ([[Khrystyne Haje]]) was a quiet, sensitive redhead with a particular fondness for poetry. A notable development in the show was the relationship between Simone and Eric Mardian ([[Brian Robbins]]), an aspiring writer and, outwardly, the most unlikely member of the IHP. Eric wore black leather, drove a motorcycle, acted tough, and ostensibly disliked anything academic (to Dr. Samuels's delight, he was the only one in the class not on the [[Quiz bowl|academic team]], although he would never leave the IHP). Eric constantly hit on Simone and the two eventually had an on-again-off-again romance.

There was some turnover in the cast in seasons four and five. Janice left for [[Harvard]], Maria went to [[Performing Arts High School]], and Jawaharlal moved to California with his family. New students included Aristotle McKenzie ([[De'voreaux White]]), described by Dennis as "this reject from ''[[Do the Right Thing]]''" for his [[dreadlocks]], Viki Amory (Lara Piper), a [[new-age]]r interested in [[quantum physics]] and skin-revealing clothing, and Alex Torres ([[Michael DeLorenzo]]), who had transferred from [[parochial school]] with a love for dance and an eye for the ladies (in particular, Simone and Viki). T.J. Jones ([[Rain Pryor]]), who had first appeared as a potential IHP member in season three, was eventually added to the program and the cast. Jasper Kwong ([[Ke Huy Quan]]) was introduced as a new transfer student late in season four.

Appearing as regulars throughout all five seasons were school administrators Dr. Harold Samuels ([[William G. Schilling]]) the principal of Fillmore High and Bernadette Meara ([[Jeannetta Arnette]]). Dr. Samuels was portrayed as the blustery, overweight principal of the school. He was ambivalent toward the IHP students. Dr. Samuels distrusted the kids (and had a particularly antagonistic relationship with Dennis, and tried to avoid Eric), but at the same time he was proud of their achievements and valued the prestige they brought to the school. He also distrusted the teaching methods of the class's teacher, Charlie Moore ([[Howard Hesseman]]), concerned that Charlie's methods – which often involved helping the IHP students branch out of their comfort zones and help them deal with the typical problems of kids their age, as well as using unorthodox methods of teaching the class subject at hand – might distract them too much from their studies. Ms. Meara was the level-headed assistant principal. There was some romantic tension between her and Charlie, although this ultimately came to nothing, and she later had a romantic friendship with Billy.

In season 5, Mr Moore got his big break in Broadway and decided to quit.  Billy MacGregor, from Scotland, replaced Mr Moore.  Unlike in the previous seasons, the students are allowed to call their new teacher Billy. The students get to prepare for senior year and the closing of Fillmore High School.

In the series, the students often faced off against the rival [[Bronx High School of Science]]. Also, in every season, the IHP students produced the school musical. Musicals staged by the students included ''[[Grease (musical)|Grease]]'', ''[[Little Shop of Horrors (musical)|Little Shop of Horrors]]'', and'' [[Hair (musical)|Hair]].''