Science

Science Graduation Requirements

To graduate with a High School Diploma in the Seminole County Public Schools, students must meet the following requirements related to Science:

• 1 credit in Biology 1

• 3 credits of Science Electives

  • 2 of these credits must have a laboratory component and be classified as "equally rigorous" (EQ)

  • Lake Brantley High School only offers Science Electives that meet the EQ requirement. This is not the case for all schools, especially private and virtual schools - students with transfer credits are encouraged to discuss with the school counselor.

Science Course Progressions

There are numerous ways to meet the Science Graduation Requirements at Lake Brantley High School.

There are no prescribed or required pathways or tracks. However, there are many common progressions students follow depending on their current science skills and their academic and career plans for after graduation.

2001340 Environmental Science (9th grade only)

This course is recommended for incoming 9th grade students who would benefit from building a stronger foundation in the sciences before taking on the Biology 1 Graduation Requirement and its End-of-Course Exam. Students who struggled in 8th Grade Science and/or did not demonstrate proficiency on the Grade 8 F.A.S.T. ELA PM3 are encouraged to take Environmental Science in 9th grade before attempting the more rigorous Biology 1 course in 10th Grade.

This course fulfills 1 credit of the High School Graduation Requirement for Equally Rigorous Science Electives (EQ).

2000310 Biology 1 Standard

2000320 Biology 1 Honors

One credit in Biology 1 is required for High School Graduation.

Biology 1 Honors is intended for 9th Graders who demonstrated success in Grade 8 Science and met proficiency on the Grade 8 F.A.S.T. ELA PM3 and 10th Graders who excelled in Environmental Science in 9th Grade.

Biology 1 Standard is intended for 10th Graders who completed Environmental Science in 9th Grade, but did not necessarily excel and/or did not meet proficiency on the Grade 9 F.A.S.T. ELA PM3.

Both Biology 1 Standard and Honors fulfill the High School Graduation Requirement for Biology 1.

2003310 Physical Science 1

2002500 Marine Science 1 (4th Year Only)

These courses are recommended for third- and fourth-year students who are only seeking to fulfill their Equally Rigorous Science Elective (EQ) High School Graduation Requirements. These students are most likely not intending to pursue a 2- or 4-year degree immediately after high school graduation. Students who are intending to pursue a 2- or 4-year degree immediately following high school graduation are encouraged to take Chemistry, Physics, and/or Anatomy and Physiology instead.

Each of these courses fulfills 1 credit of the High School Graduation Requirement for Equally Rigorous Science Electives (EQ).

2003340 Chemistry 1 Standard

2003350 Chemistry 1 Honors

2003380 Physics 1 Standard

2003390 Physics 1 Honors

2000360 Anatomy and Physiology Honors (4th Year Only)

These courses are recommended for second-, third-, and fourth-year students who may or are definitely planning to pursue a 2- or 4-year college degree immediately after high school graduation. The rigor of these courses is intended to prepare students for college-level science coursework after high school.

Chemistry 1 Honors is recommended for students who earned a Level 4 or Level 5 on the Biology End-of-Course exam.

Physics 1 Honors is recommended for students who are enrolled in or have successfully completed Algebra 2.

Each of these courses fulfills 1 credit of the High School Graduation Requirement for Equally Rigorous Science Electives (EQ).

2001380 AP Environmental Science

This course is recommended for students who have limited experience with pre-collegiate rigor science coursework, but who are interested in developing those skills and potentially earning college credit while in high school. While this is an outstanding introduction to advanced science coursework for such students, they must understand in advance that they will be required to devote time, energy, and effort to their studies outside of the regular class time.

Students who pass the AP Environmental Science assessment will earn Science General Education or Elective credit at most participating colleges and universities. 

This course fulfills 1 credit of the High School Graduation Requirement for Equally Rigorous Science Electives (EQ).

2000340 AP Biology

This course is recommended for all students intending to enroll in a state university for a 4-year degree immediately following high school, and is strongly recommended for such students who seek to be highly-competitive and/or pursue an undergraduate degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Such students are advised that this course requires students to devote time, energy, and effort to their studies outside of the regular class time. 9th Graders who take AP Biology will also take the Florida Biology End-of-Course Exam in addition to the AP Biology exam.

Students who pass the AP Biology exam will earn Science General Education or Elective credit at most participating colleges and universities.

This course fulfills 1 credit of the High School Graduation Requirement for Equally Rigorous Science Electives (EQ) or Biology 1, but not both.

This course contributes to the requirements for the AP Capstone Diploma. 

2003370 AP Chemistry

2003421 AP Physics 1

2003422 AP Physics 2

2003430 AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism

These rigorous college-level courses are recommended for students with a history of success in Honors- and AP-level science coursework who intend to pursue 4-year degrees at state universities, especially if they plan to pursue an undergraduate degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). All of these courses require students to devote significant time, energy, and effort to their studies outside of the regular class time.

Strong Algebra skills are recommended for AP Chemistry and AP Physics 1.

Strong Algebra and Pre-Calculus skills are recommended for AP Physics 2.

Strong Calculus skills are recommended for AP Physics C.

Students who pass the AP exams for these courses will earn Science General Education or Elective credit at most participating colleges and universities.

Each of these courses fulfill 1 credit of the High School Graduation Requirement for Equally Rigorous Science Electives (EQ).

These courses contribute to the requirements for the AP Capstone Diploma.