Science

Students have to pass three courses aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).  One must be a life science aligned to the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment for Life Science (Honors or On-level Biology), one must be a physical science (Chemistry, Physics, or Astronomy with Physics), and the third must have topics of Earth and space science integrated.  The standard progression is Honors or On-level Biology, Honors or On-level Chemistry, and then Astronomy with Physics, Honors Physics, or AP Physics 1 as the third course. Courses considered to have Earth/space sciences integrated include all levels of chemistry and physics, as well as AP Biology and AP Environmental Science. 

Additionally, all students graduating from 2024-2026 will need to take the MISA-Life Science assessment.  Beginning with students enrolling in 2023, the Life Science Assessment will be scored and included as part of the Biology course grade.  Students must pass Biology for graduation.    

There are four options: 

1.   Earth Systems and Sustainability: This is a new offering, with a target audience of Emergent Multilingual Learners.  This provides a year of high school science before Biology, which students must pass for graduation.  Starting in 2023,  scores on the Life Science MISA exam will be embedded into Biology semester grades.  

2. On-Level Biology: Taken by about 30% of 9th graders.  This is a great option if you are not confident in math, or if you want to make a smooth transition to high school academics.  You can still opt for Honors Chemistry in 10th grade if you perform at a high level in On-Level Biology.

3. Honors Biology: Over half of 9th graders take this course.  This course begins adding in the enrichment that helps prepare for upper level science electives and AP courses

4. Honors Chemistry: About 13% of 9th graders take Honors Chemistry.  These students have taken Honors Geometry in 8th grade and enroll in Honors Algebra 2 as 9th graders.  The advantage is that students can take AP Chemistry as 10th graders, along with Honors Biology.  

See further descriptions of options and pathways here.  

The former STARS (Science, Technology, And Research Scholars) program was redesigned to align with the College Board's AP Capstone Diploma Program, as our Humanities and Arts programs has done.  This has changed program requirements, most notably requiring all students to take AP Seminar (11th grade) and AP Research (12th grade) along with their science-focused course plan.  You can find more information about Wootton's Science Capstone Plus here (also linked above)

Physics is generally the third science course taken by students to meet graduation requirements, but it can be taken the same year as Honors Chemistry (we do not recommend that On-level Chemistry students 'double-up' in science--taking 2 science classes in the same year).  

1. Astronomy with Physics is a great course for those who have a genuine interest in Astronomy and would like to formally explore it while meeting the physics requirement.  This course is not math-heavy, but it still covers all of the same learning objectives as Honors Physics.  

2. Honors Physics is what most students should take.  This course integrates major ideas in physics with topics in earth and space science, and focuses on real-world connections.  It is designed to meet a wide variety of student needs, and can be used as preparation for AP Physics.

3. AP Physics 1 is an extremely rigorous option for a first year physics course.  By College Board measures, this is one of the most difficult AP science courses.  Students should be in Honors Precalculus or above when taking this.

AP Physics C (single or double period) is a calculus-based physics course that can only be taken after taking one of the first-year courses listed above.  

There is no standard pathway!  Once you have completed your 3 state requirements (Biology, Chemistry, then Physics or an AP Science, you can take any of the course that we offer.  Students often take two courses in 10th grade to complete graduation requirements, and then have two years to take as many others as they can fit.  Note that some AP courses, like Biology, Chemistry, and one of the AP Physics C options, count as two credits and occupy two periods in a student's schedule.  Look at the courses listed above.  Find the ones that interest you, and make a plan!  

Our AP options in Biology and Chemistry will be very important preparation, both for the content and the rigor associated with a pre-med major.  Additionally, our electives in Nutrition Science, Forensic Science, Molecular Biology, and Anatomy & Physiology will build up a knowledge bank that will make college learning easier!  There are really more choices than you can possibly take, but they are all excellent options.

Outside of science, you want to aim for AP Calculus BC in math and a computer programming sequence.  In science, you will want to take AP Physics C as a double period course (you must take either Honors Physics or AP Physics 1 before AP Physics C).  This will give you extensive lab experience as well as some programming practice.