AP Biology (10-12):

Prerequisite: Students must have completed Chemistry (suggested grade of B or higher in Honors Chemistry or an A in CCR Chemistry).

This course is an advanced-level general biology course with more extensive laboratory time.  Biology will be studied at levels from molecular to ecosystems and will be based on the four Big Ideas of evolution, energy, information, and interaction. It is similar to a college-level introductory biology course and is intended to prepare students to take the AP Biology examination in the spring.  Students will complete an independent research experiment for this course. 

This is a three trimester course.

AP Chemistry (10-12): 

Prerequisite: Students must have completed Honors Chemistry (suggested grade of B or better). They must also have completed Algebra II (suggested grade of B or better) or Honors Algebra II (suggested grade of C or better).

This is a full-year course in general chemistry designed for college-bound students interested in chemistry or a chemistry-related field in college.  The course will cover the same material presented in a typical freshman college chemistry course including physical, inorganic, organic, and analytical chemistry.  Students will be prepared to take the Chemistry AP test offered by the College Board in May.  Students will complete an independent research experiment or an alternate project for this course.  

Summer work is a requirement for this course.

AP Environmental Science (11-12): 

Prerequisite: Students who take this course must have completed General Science, Biology, and Algebra I.

AP Environmental Science is a 2-trimester course. The goal of the course is to understand and analyze environmental processes and concepts to propose and justify solutions to environmental problems. This is an interdisciplinary science course that includes concepts from biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, and social sciences. Major topics of study include ecosystems, populations, earth systems, land use, energy resources, and pollution. Emphasis will be on hands-on learning and students will be required to study and complete assignments outside of class time as they prepare to take the AP exam in the spring.    

AP Physics 1 (10-12): 

Prerequisite: Students should have a strong math background and must have completed both Algebra II and Geometry (suggested grade of B or better in both) OR Honors Algebra II and Honors Geometry (suggested grade of C or better in both).  Students who have completed math only through Honors Algebra II may take AP Physics 1 if they’ve earned a grade of B or better in Honors Algebra II. 

This first year physics course is a rigorous survey of Newtonian mechanics, simple harmonic motion, and fluids.  It will prepare students to take the AP Physics 1 test offered by The College Board.

 Problem-solving and laboratory work are emphasized.  This course is designed particularly for students having a strong interest in pursuing careers in science or engineering. This is a two trimester course.

Summer work is also a requirement for this course.

AP Physics 2 (11-12): 

Prerequisite: Students must have completed AP Physics 1 (suggested grade of C or better) or Honors Physics (suggested grade of B or better).  Students should be enrolled in Calculus when taking this course.

This is a second-year course recommended for students planning to enroll in science-related college programs or having a strong interest in physics. Emphasis will be placed upon wave mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, optics, and various topics from modern physics.  This course will prepare students to take the AP Physics 2 test offered by The College Board.  Students will complete an independent research experiment for this course. This is a three trimester course.

Astronomy, Climate, and Resources (10-12): Astronomy and Climate is a one-trimester elective course for 10th-12th grade. This elective is an interdisciplinary course that explores the Universe and its stars, our solar system, the history of Earth and its moon, impact on Earth's climate, and how human processes affect Earth’s systems. Students will develop an understanding of the life span of the Sun and how nuclear fusion releases energy, the formation and evolution of the solar system, the life cycles of stars, the motion of distant galaxies, and the composition of matter in the universe. Students will also investigate characteristics of other planets and how the flow of energy drives weather patterns and climate change, helping students connect astronomical processes to climate systems and the human influence on Earth.

Chemistry (10-12): 

Prerequisite: Students must have taken Algebra I (suggested grade of C or higher) before taking this course.

This course is a two-trimester course in general chemistry designed for college-bound students.  Upon completion of this course, students will have been exposed to a wide variety of chemical principles.  An attempt is made to meet the needs of the student wishing to continue their education in the sciences as well as the liberal arts student who desires a less rigorous course covering a variety of topics. 

Field Zoology (11-12): 

Prerequisite: Completion of Honors Biology or Biology.

This course provides practical experiences in the study of Mammalogy, Ornithology, and Entomology.  Students will develop and apply skills in identification and sampling, as well as explore relations between species diversity and habitat, and investigate through guided study, the extent of anatomical, skeletal, and morphological variations.

Trimester 1 or 3 only.

Forensics (11-12): 

Prerequisite: General Science (suggested grade of C or better) and Biology.

This course will give students an overview of the crime scene investigation process as well as issues involved in presenting forensic evidence in a court of law.  The course will cover identification, documentation, and collection of evidence, including fingerprints, shoe impressions, hair and fibers, firearm evidence, questioned documents, DNA, blood, and other materials that could be presented as evidence.  The course will also cover the use of forensic evidence in a court of law and how it has an impact on guilt and innocence.  The course is designed to provide a basic foundation and overview of criminalistics and is meant for students who have an interest in using science to solve crimes.

Geology & Meteorology (10-12): Geology & Meteorology covers Earth history and geologic time, plate tectonics (including earthquakes and volcanoes), rocks and the rock cycle, the atmosphere, and meteorology– leads to successful careers in academics, research, politics, government, industry, publishing, the arts, and much more…including Meteorology, Mineralogy, Soil Science, Paleontology, Geophysics, Volcanology, Seismology, Hydrology and Environmental Science, Petroleum Geology. The course emphasizes connections between earth systems, how our actions affect our environment, and how our Earth affects us (earthquakes, sinkholes, flooding, etc.) Every citizen can benefit from learning about potential dangers.

Honors Challenges in Physics (10-12): 

Prerequisite: Students electing this course must have completed either Physics (term A), Honors Physics (term A), or AP Physics 1 and must have taken or be enrolled in Precalculus.

This course is designed to give students who have already studied the theory of physics an opportunity to apply it to practical and theoretical challenges.  Practical challenges will include a projectile target shoot, an egg bungee drop, a Tarzan swing, and others.  Part of the course will be devoted to analyzing the physics of amusement park rides and roller coaster design, culminating in a trip to an amusement park to collect and analyze data.  

Honors Chemistry (9-12): 

Prerequisite: Students should have a strong math and science background and must have completed Algebra I in grade 8 (suggested grade of B or better) or completed Honors General Science A (suggested grade of B or better).

This course is a two-trimester course in general chemistry designed for students with a strong interest in pursuing careers in science, engineering, or medical-related fields.  Students in this course will need to apply algebra skills and chemistry concepts to the solution of challenging problems.  Homework, test, and quiz problems will NOT be essentially identical to the ones done in class.  Upon completion of this course, students will have been exposed to a wide variety of chemical principles and will be prepared to take additional courses in chemistry at the college level or to enroll in Advanced Placement Chemistry. 

*All incoming freshmen must pass General Science, Honors General Science, or Honors Chemistry to fulfill one science credit for graduation.   

Honors Physics (11-12): 

Prerequisite: Students should have a strong math background and must have completed both Algebra II and Geometry (suggested grade of B or better in both) OR Honors Algebra II and Honors Geometry (suggested grade of C or better in both).

This two-trimester, first-year physics course is a rigorous survey of Newtonian mechanics and electricity. Problem-solving and laboratory work will be emphasized. This course is designed for students having a strong interest in science. Although the content of this course will be similar to that of AP Physics 1, it will cover fewer topics and focus more on numerical solutions to problems instead of theoretical explanations and algebraic expressions. 

Human Biology (9-12): This course is designed for students who do not plan to pursue a post-secondary experience but who wish to gain a better biology-based understanding of the human experience.  Students will study the human body at various levels, particularly at the systems level.  Topics include reproduction, development, comparative anatomy, pathology, and mortality.  The objective is to develop a more complete understanding of what makes us uniquely human. 

Materials Science (11-12): 

Prerequisite: Completion of General Science and Biology NOTE: If a student fails part A or part B of General Science, they may take this course as a substitute for the failed portion of General Science.

Materials Science is a one-trimester course that will study sports materials, metals, polymers, ceramics, composites, and packaging materials.  Students will explore the differences between these types of materials and the unique characteristics that make them suitable for industrial use.  Students will also get hands-on experience using these types of materials through lab experiences.  To take this course, students should have some understanding of the physical sciences to understand the background of the materials to have distinguishing properties. This is a project-based, hands-on course.

Physics (11-12): 

Prerequisite: Students must have completed Academic Algebra II, Algebra II or Honors Algebra II (suggested grade of C or better in both parts of the course).

This college-preparatory course covers classical mechanics, relativity, waves, sound, and optics.  There will be less emphasis on mathematics than in AP Physics 1, but the concepts and insights of classical and modern physics will be covered.  This course is intended for students who have scientific ability and interest, but it does not meet the prerequisite for AP Physics 2. This is a two trimester course.

Practical Physics (11-12): 

Prerequisite: Completion of General Science. NOTE: If a student fails part A or part B of General Science, they may take this course as a substitute for the failed portion of General Science.

This course will study the practical applications of thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, and optics.  While physical theory will be addressed, an emphasis will be placed on how these topics apply to everyday situations.  For instance, students will design and build a model energy-efficient home, build and test a working electric motor, and build a spectroscope to study the composition of stars.