Mathematics

MATHEMATICS COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

ALGEBRA I COLLEGE PREP (Grade 9) (NCAA)

In this course students have the opportunity to develop a solid foundation in Algebra. Students will learn how to utilize and analyze algebraic concepts leading to a deeper understanding of mathematics and stronger critical thinking skills. Topics for this course include Number Sense and Operations, Algebraic Expressions, Linear Functions, Linear Equations and Inequalities, Non-Linear Relationships and Data and Statistical Analysis.

GEOMETRY COLLEGE PREP (Grades 9, 10) (NCAA)

This course is designed to enhance students’ prior knowledge of geometric topics. This course will deepen student understanding of geometric concepts leading to the ability to prove geometric theorems. Topics for this course include: Properties of Geometric Figures, Congruence, Proofs, Constructions, Similarity, Right Triangles and Trigonometry, Circles, Expressing Geometric Properties with Equations, Geometric Measurement and Dimension, and Geometric Modeling. The course is designed to promote inquiry learning in which students have the ability to discover geometric concepts.

GEOMETRY HONORS (Grades 9, 10) (NCAA)

This course is designed to enhance and enrich students’ prior knowledge of geometric topics. This course will deepen student understanding of geometric concepts leading to the ability to prove geometric theorems. Topics for this course include: Properties of Geometric Figures, Congruence, Proofs, Constructions, Similarity, Right Triangles and Trigonometry, Circles, Expressing Geometric Properties with Equations, Geometric Measurement and Dimension, and Geometric Modeling. The course is designed to promote inquiry learning in which students have the ability to discover geometric concepts.

ALGEBRA II COLLEGE PREP (Grades 10, 11, 12) (NCAA)

This course is designed to enhance the concepts developed in Algebra I College Prep and Geometry College Prep. Students will continue to improve their ability to model situations and solve a variety of equations including linear, quadratic, rational and radical. Topics for this course include: Polynomial, Rational and Radical Relationships, Trigonometric Functions, and Conics. Student must provide their own TI NSpire or TI NSpire CAS graphing calculator; these will be an important tool that will routinely be used in instruction.

ALGEBRA II HONORS (Grades 9, 10, 11, 12) (NCAA)

This course is designed to enrich the concepts developed in Honors Algebra I and Honors Geometry. Students will continue to improve their ability to model situations and solve a variety of equations including linear, quadratic, rational and radical. Topics for this course include: Polynomials, Rational and Radical Relationships, Trigonometric Functions, and Conics. Student must provide their own TI NSpire CAS graphing calculator; this will be an important tool that will routinely be used in instruction.

PRE-CALCULUS/TRIGONOMETRY (Grades 10, 11, 12) (NCAA)

This course is designed to enhance students’ preparation for Calculus in high school or college. The course will focus on improving students’ knowledge of trigonometric and other types of functions, including polynomial, rational, exponential and logarithmic functions. Other topics include: Function Operations, Polynomial Functions, Analytic Trigonometry, Applications of Trigonometry, and Sequences and Series. Much of this course involves real-world applications and mathematical modeling. Student must provide their own TI NSpire or TI NSpire CAS graphing calculator; these will be an important tool that will routinely be used in instruction.

PRE-CALCULUS/TRIGONOMETRY HONORS (Grades 10, 11, 12) (NCAA)

This course is designed to enhance students’ preparation for AP Calculus, AP Statistics, AP Computer Science, AP Computer Science Principles or any college-level course. The course will focus on improving students’ knowledge of trigonometric and other types of functions, including polynomial, rational, exponential and logarithmic functions. Other topics include: Analytic Trigonometry, Applications of Trigonometry, Sequences and Series, Conic Sections, Parametric Equations, Polar Coordinates, and Limits. Much of this course involves real-world applications and mathematical modeling. Student must provide their own TI NSpire CAS graphing calculator; these will be an important tool that will routinely be used in instruction.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT CALCULUS AB (Grades 11, 12) (NCAA)

This is a college-level course which follows the College Board’s AP Calculus AB Course Description. Two central concepts are introduced: the Derivative, and the Integral. Through these concepts the course unites and generalizes the student’s prior four years of study Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry. AP Calculus AB is equivalent to a college Calculus I course. Students are required to take the Advanced Placement exam in May to earn course credit. A score of 4 or 5 on the exam will generally earn the student one course of college credit and placement into a college Calculus II course. The course is particularly well-suited for students who wish to study college-level Calculus in high school, but whose expected undergraduate course of study may not require Calculus II. Students must provide their own TI NSpire CAS graphing calculator; these will be an important tool that will routinely be used in instruction. Student must take the AP exam to earn AP course credit.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT CALCULUS BC (Grades 11, 12) (NCAA)

This is a college-level course which follows the College Board’s AP Calculus BC Course Description. Two central concepts are introduced: the Derivative, and the Integral. Additional topics which extend the AP Calculus AB course are also studied. The course unites and generalizes the student’s prior four years of study Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry, and is equivalent to Calculus I and Calculus II in college. Students are required to take the Advanced Placement exam in May to earn course credit. A score of 4 or 5 on the exam will generally earn the student two courses of college credit and placement into a college Calculus III (Multivariate Calculus) course. The course is particularly well-suited for students who wish to study college-level Calculus in high school, and whose expected undergraduate course of study requires Calculus I and Calculus II. Examples of such courses of study are: Engineering, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Biological Sciences. Students must provide their own TI NSpire CAS graphing calculator; these will be an important tool that will routinely be used in instruction. Student must take the AP exam to earn AP course credit.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT STATISTICS (Grades 10, 11, 12) (NCAA)

This course is designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Statistics Exam. This course is for students that have completed Algebra II and possess sufficient mathematical maturity and quantitative reasoning ability. The topics for this course have been organized into four conceptual themes: Exploring Data, Sampling and Experimentation, Anticipating Patterns, and Statistical Inference. Student must provide their own TI NSpire CAS graphing calculator; these will be an important tool that will routinely be used in instruction. Student must take the AP exam to earn AP course credit.

Math Elective Pathway One

TRIGONOMETRY COLLEGE PREP (Grades 11, 12)

This course is designed for students who have completed Algebra II, but are not planning on majoring in a STEM-related field. This course will cover topics in a standard Trigonometry course, the topics covered include trigonometric functions, trigonometric equations, triangle trigonometry, trigonometric identities, trigonometric graphing, and the unit circle. These topics will be put in the context of real world applications. This course is recommended to be taken as a fourth year math elective in conjunction with another semester math elective. Student must provide their own TI NSpire or TI NSpire CAS graphing calculator; these will be an important tool that will routinely be used in instruction.

STATISTICS COLLEGE PREP (Grades 11, 12)

This course is designed to provide instruction in statistical applications and an understanding of the fundamental ideas that underlie decisions that are reached by exploring data, planning a study, producing models and determining their significance. This course is recommended to be taken as a fourth year math elective in conjunction with another semester math elective. Student must provide their own TI NSpire or TI NSpire CAS graphing calculator; these will be an important tool that will routinely be used in instruction.

Math Elective Pathway Two

DISCRETE MATH AND DECISION MAKING COLLEGE PREP (Grades 11, 12) (NCAA)

This course is designed to teach students how to effectively make decisions using non-traditional discrete mathematics topics. These topics will include probability, game strategies, voting/fair decision methods, optimization, and network analysis. Other topics such as cryptology and fractals may be introduced. This course is recommended to be taken as a fourth year math elective in conjunction with another semester math elective. Student must provide their own TI NSpire or TI NSpire CAS graphing calculator; these will be an important tool that will routinely be used in instruction.

STATISTICS COLLEGE PREP (Grades 11, 12)

This course is designed to provide instruction in statistical applications and an understanding of the fundamental ideas that underlie decisions that are reached by exploring data, planning a study, producing models and determining their significance. This course is recommended to be taken as a fourth year math elective in conjunction with another semester math elective. Student must provide their own TI NSpire or TI NSpire CAS graphing calculator; these will be an important tool that will routinely be used in instruction.

Computer Science

ADVANCED PLACEMENT COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES (Grades 9, 10, 11, 12) (NCAA)

Prerequisite: Algebra I

AP Computer Science Principles introduces students to the foundational concepts of computer science and challenges them to explore how computing and technology can impact the world. With a unique focus on creative problem solving and real-world applications, AP Computer Science Principles prepares students for college and career, featuring topics such as Creativity, Abstraction, Data and Information, Algorithms, The Internet, Global Impact and Programming in App Inventor, C, Javascript, HTML, CSS and PHP. The course requires two through-course assessments, one writing and one coding, and a 75 multiple choice test. This course may precede or follow AP Computer Science A. Student must take the AP exam to earn AP course credit.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT COMPUTER SCIENCE A (Grades 10, 11, 12) (NCAA)

Full Year, 5 Credits

Prerequisite: Algebra I

Students will use the Java programming language to learn object-oriented programming with a concentration on problem solving and algorithm development. This course is aligned with the College Board’s Advanced Placement Computer Science A course and examination and is the equivalent of a first-semester college-level course in Computer Science. Students will write, run and debug object-oriented software, develop and select appropriate algorithms and data structures to solve problems, and learn to read and understand large programs consisting of many software components. This course may precede or follow AP Computer Science Principles. Student must take the AP exam to earn AP course credit.

Math Acceleration Pathways