Year - 10 Credits (a)

Following State guidelines the U.S. History class spends one year on U.S. History from 1900 to the present. The first several weeks of Academic Choice U.S. History includes an introduction and background to American History prior to 1900. The first semester ends with the period just prior to World War II. The second semester covers the period from World War II to the present. The last 6 weeks include current historic events. Students will continue to develop academic skills including analysis of primary source material, and DBQs. 

Year - 10 Credits (a)

This course is designed to study the influence of African upon America and the world. The saga of the African American is traced from his African origins in Ethiopia and Egypt through slavery in America to the Civil War, and up to the “Harlem Renaissance.” The second semester of this course will examine the accomplishments of African Americans from the end of the “Harlem Renaissance” period through the tumultuous Civil Rights era, and the Black consciousness movement to the present. This course may be taken by students in grades 11 and 12 and meets the UC/CSU US History requirement. 

Year - 10 Credits (a)

AP US History is a college-level study and analysis of American history from the era of colonization to the present that will prepare students to take the national advanced placement test in May. The course will focus on the themes and topics outlined in the Grade Eleven California Social Science content standards cited above. Students continue to build on the academic skills they have developed in their freshmen and sophomore years and can take advantage of a variety of support services available to help them succeed in AP.

Year - 10 Credits (a)

Latinx History is a course designed to study the history and influence of Latinxs upon the United States and beyond. The history is traced from Pre-Columbian life in the Americas to the present, covering more than 500 years of history. Some major themes and topics include the complex Chicano-Latino identity, Manifest Destiny and the Mexican American War, the history of the border and the displacement and resistance up until the present. The course promotes critical thinking about race, and other systems of difference that shape individual and group interactions, American identity, and culture. This course may be taken by students in grades 11–12.

Year - 10 Credits (b)

This course examines American literature from Puritanism to contemporary America through the lenses of critical theory. Students participate in close examination of essays, short stories, novels, poetry, non-fiction, and drama, learning to view and analyze literature through various critical lenses. Students will continue to develop their critical reading and analytic skills. Writing in the course focuses on literary analysis and the development of arguments on and analysis of texts. Students will also continue to explore rhetorical strategies. Course materials include writing from a diverse group of authors.

Year - 10 Credits (b)

Students will take a year long course of advanced placement composition that focuses on students analyzing and interpreting an author’s use of rhetorical strategies and techniques, and applying them to their own writing. Students will read a variety of excellent American Literature and then create and sustain arguments based on readings, research, and/or personal experience. Students also demonstrate understanding and mastery of standard written English as well as stylistic maturity in their own writing. Students write in a variety of genres and contexts, both formal and informal, employing appropriate conventions. The examination for the AP English Language and Composition course requires that students recognize and employ a battery of literary strategies. Teachers work to support all students to be successful in this rigorous course

Year - 10 Credits (b)

This course explores the stories and experiences of Latinx people around the world with a focus on local Latinx authors and storytellers. Students will read and study various texts and genres such as poetry, short stories, fiction, nonfiction, essays, drama, and film in order to make meaning of the ways in which society, politics, culture, and intersectionality shape and inform our identities. Students also will learn the many ways authors use texts as a mode of expression, art, and activism, and be challenged to use what they learn in order to dive deeper into their own identity exploration. More so, students will acquire a deep knowledge and understanding of the historical factors which have influenced present-day Latinx communities, especially in the Bay Area, and gain an appreciation for the many contributions Latinx writers, historians, and artist have made to the world. Open to all Juniors and Seniors.

Year - 10 Credits (b)

This African American Studies course is an intensified study of African American writing from Lucy Terry to Leroi Jones. A multi-pronged teaching approach is used: aesthetic, cultural, social, and historical.

Year - 10 Credits (b) (g)

This course introduces students to LGBTQ+ literature and culture. Students will explore the personal, cultural, and political literature and histories of our contemporary understandings of gender and sexuality. Through this, students will engage with a number of questions: what does it mean to be LGBTQ? How does queerness/transness intersect with other identities and movements? How do we define queer/trans literature and culture? This interdisciplinary course will span multiple genres: novels (including graphic), memoirs, drama, podcasts, oral histories, zines, film, poetry, visual art, and more. 

Year - 10 Credits (b) (g)

This course explores contemporary Asian and Pacific Islander American issues through the works of APIA authors, poets, essayists, cultural critics and filmmakers. We will investigate topics such as: APIA representation in the media, how imperialism has complicated identities, and where APIAs fall in the Black-White binary. Students will be exposed to a range of perspectives from various historical contexts, which will ground their understanding of what it means to be APIA today.

Year - 10 Credits (b)

Description: World of Media is a film class that introduces students to the academic study of film. Students will gain exposure to several film theories including Formalist Film theory, genre theory, cultural film theory, and auteur theory. Students watch, discuss, analyze, write about and complete projects on films in each unit considering how they can apply visual theory in their own presentation of ideas. Students will examine many different kinds of film including shorts from several genres, film noir and neo-noir films, modern films by Black directors or featuring diverse casts, suspense films, and films by a variety of auteur directors. Additionally, students apply their theoretical knowledge as they gain experience with film production by collaborating in groups to write, plan, film and edit short films. 

Year - 10 Credits (c)

Prerequisite: “C” or better in Math 2.

This course covers strands from algebra, geometry, and statistics. Specific topics include deeper work with functions and inverses (including logarithmic, polynomial, trigonometric, and rational functions), law of sines and cosines, trigonometric identities, polar graphing, DeMoivre’s Theorem, modeling with geometry and functions, normal distributions and sampling. In addition, students will be expected to show proficiency in the Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice such as constructing viable arguments and critiquing the reasoning of others, attending to precision, and reasoning abstractly. This is the third year in the Math 1, Math 2, Math 3 sequence. A graphing calculator is recommended. This sequence prepares students for higher level math courses such as AP Calculus AB, AP Statistics, and IB-SL Math. 

Year - 10 Credits (c)

Prerequisite: Grade 11–12 and a grade of “B” or better in Advanced Math 2.

This is an accelerated, fast paced course that completes the remaining material of Math 3 with additional topics, challenging proofs, and open ended problems. Specific topics include function analysis, trigonometric functions and graphs, right triangle and wrapping functions trigonometry, laws of sines and cosines, trigonometric identities, complex numbers, polar graphing, DeMoivre’s theorem, vectors, conic sections, parametric equations, normal distributions, the Binomial Theorem, limits, and continuity. Students will be expected to explain the reasoning behind their solutions for open-ended questions using formal, academic language. In addition, students will demonstrate deep application of the Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice such as constructing viable arguments and critiquing the reasoning of others, looking for and making use of structure, and reasoning abstractly and quantitatively. The time commitment for this course is most similar to that of an AP course. A graphing calculator is recommended. This sequence prepares students for higher level math courses such as AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, and IB-HL Math. UC/CSU Honors credit is available for this course. 

Year - 10 Credits (d)

Prerequisites: Grades 11-12. Completion of Physics 1 and Chemistry.

Description: This course is a junior and senior level laboratory course that covers concepts of biology based on the Next Generation Science Standards. Topics include the origin of life, unity and diversity of life, bio-energetics (cell respiration, photosynthesis, enzyme functions) genetics, evolution, anatomy and physiology, ecology and global climate change. Emphasis is placed on understanding science and its role in society.

Year - 10 Credits (d)

Prerequisites:  Grades 11-12. Completion of Physics 1 and “C” or better in Chemistry. Students must attend an informational meeting in the spring before the course.

Description: This Advanced Placement course is designed to be the equivalent of a college introductory biology course taken by biology majors. This course differs from Advanced Biology with respect to the textbook used, the range and depth of topics covered and the time and effort required by students. Molecular, cellular and evolutionary biology represent approximately 50% of the course material. Organismic and population biology is studied. from a molecular, cellular and developmental viewpoint. 

Advice: Skill in algebraic reasoning is required for success. Students must be able to recall basic facts and synthesize these into major concepts and themes. Time spent in reading the text is about twice that expected for Biology.  

Year - 10 Credits (d)

Prerequisites: STRONG recommendation to enroll in Biology or AP Biology as well

Description: The course centers around the following areas: laboratory measurement and calculation, energetics of life, growth and reproduction, structural basis of function in living systems, chemistry of living systems, quantitative problem solving and data acquisition and display. Issues of career development, ethics and technology will also be stressed. All students must have earned a “C” average in college preparatory math.

Year - 10 Credits (g)

Description: This course follows the California Firefighter 1 curriculum and prepares students for future study of fire science as well as providing them hands on experience. The fundamentals of the fire fighting equipment, methods of rescue, emergency procedures and fire department organization. Integrated throughout the course are career preparation standards which include basic academic skills, communication, interpersonal skills, problem solving, workplace safety, technology and employment literacy. Prerequisite: Students will be required to arrange for their own transportation to a fire station when necessary. Note: Students are never allowed to drive other students.