This is a required course that will provide an introduction and overview to the physical sciences. Students will study large topics within the disciplines of physics, chemistry, and Earth Sciences. Part of the class will be taught as a standalone science course, and part will be taught as an integrated study with 9th grade English.

New course

This interdisciplinary course combines science and English language arts to help students build essential skills while exploring real-world topics in meaningful and engaging ways. Designed for students focused on graduation indicator recovery, this course blends reading, writing, scientific inquiry, and critical thinking. Students will explore themes and problems that connect across disciplines—such as environmental justice, human impact on ecosystems, or the science of storytelling—while also reinforcing key academic competencies. Math, social studies, and other subjects will be integrated where relevant to support a holistic understanding. This is a dynamic, project-based course—not a study hall—where students will actively participate in discussions, labs, research, and writing to meet learning goals and move confidently toward graduation.

Bioethics will allow students to delve into a variety of controversial issues in society. Students will focus on issues through the lens of current scientific research, while also focusing on societal influences in the making of ethical decisions. In examining the morality of situations, students will formulate arguments based on scientific research, paying particular attention to supporting evidence. In addition, students will include in their arguments influences that are more difficult to quantify, such as background, personal experience, and religion. Students will also study literature, investigating how authors make connections to science and civilization and how science influences culture. Possible titles for study include The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and Flowers for Algernon.

Permission of instructor required to sign up.

This class will explore everyday science by looking at situations that might arise in your home. We will look at the chemistry of cleaning products, scientific reactions in cooking, and how to approach different types of stains in the laundry. We will look at how to grow herbs in our kitchen and ways we can use food scraps to minimize waste. 

Few things are more important than how LIFE works. This class will first explore the study of the natural world, then move to the human body. We will learn more deeply the important role of the cell with a focus on genetics. We will explore the different processes involved in cell growth and division, and how cells work together to allow complex life processes to occur. Part of the class will be taught as a standalone science course, and part will be taught as an integrated study with 9th grade English.