COURSES

Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics is a nonpartisan introductory college-level course in U.S. government and politics. The course introduces key political concepts, ideas, institutions, policies, interactions, roles, and behaviors that characterize the constitutional system and political culture of the United States. Students will cultivate their understanding of U.S. government by studying foundational documents, Supreme Court decisions, and data for the purposes of comparison, application, and the development of evidence-based arguments. Students will engage with current events and develop their own political identities while contending with multiple perspectives. 

Participation in Government is a mandatory 1/2 year course for seniors (if a student does not take an AP option). The course looks at the functioning of American government through foundational principles and current events. Students will leave the course understanding their political beliefs and comprehend how to participate in politics through voting and other means. The development of critical thinking skills necessary to comprehend media and other discipline-specific texts is central to the course. Additionally, students will be guided as to how to consume, produce, and act as conduits of reliable news and media.