Science
AP Biology
1.0 credit - Grades 10-12
Prerequisite: Completion of Biology. Completion or concurrent enrollment in Chemistry. This class counts as a lab science course and as a math-based science course.
This class is offered every school year.
Advanced Placement Biology is designed to be equivalent to a two-semester college introductory biology course. The class is conducted at the college level and students are expected to work accordingly. AP Biology differs significantly from a traditional high school biology course due to text content, depth of material covered, lab work, and time and effort required to achieve mastery in subject area. This course is designed to be taken by students after successful completion of high school biology. Students will have the opportunity to take the AP Biology exam to earn college credit at the end of the year.
AP Chemistry
1.5 credit (1.0 for Semester 1 and 0.5 for Semester 2) - Grades 11-12
Prerequisite: B- or better in Chemistry. Teacher approval required. This class counts as a lab science course
This class is offered every school year.
Advanced Placement Chemistry is designed to be equivalent to a two semester college introductory chemistry course. Students enrolled in this course will have the option to receive 5 college credits from Lower Columbia Community College (LCC). AP Chemistry differs significantly from a traditional high school chemistry course due to the content, depth of material covered, lab work, and time/effort required to achieve mastery in the subject. Students will also have the opportunity to take the AP Chemistry exam in the spring to earn additional college credit. Due to the lab element of the class, all students and their guardians will be required to sign a safety contract at the beginning of the class to ensure safe lab behavior for all students.
Astronomy
1.5 credits (must take the full year to earn the 1.5 credits) - Grades 10-12
Prerequisite: Completion of biology. This class counts as a lab science course.
This class is offered every school year.
Topics covered include the size of the universe, the history of Astronomy, how to identify constellations in the night sky, the moon and Earth system, seasons, tides, eclipses, and the life cycle of stars. Other topics covered include the formation of the solar system, planets and their moons, Kepler’s laws, space travel, space exploration, the search for alien life, black-holes, and time travel. Students enrolled in this course will have the option to receive 5 college credits from Central Washington University (CWU) as Phys 101. A math placement test is required.
Earth Science
1.0 credit - Grades 10-12
Prerequisite: Completion of biology. This course is a lab science
This class is rotated every other year with Marine Science. It will be offered in the 2024-2025 school year.
Earth science is the study of the earth. It is the study of such things as the transfer of energy in the earth’s atmosphere; the evolution of landforms, patterns of change that cause weathering, and the interactions that occur among the water, atmosphere and land. The topics covered in the first semester will be mineral and rock identification, plate tectonics, volcanoes, earthquakes, and geologic time. Second semester topics will be geologic formations, weathering and deposition, and climate and weather patterns.
Horticulture 1
0.5 credit - Grades 9-12
Fee: $5
Plants provide many practical and recreational benefits, whether it is the food we eat, the parks we enjoy, or the gardens we admire. Horticulture is geared toward students who want to learn about plants and their many uses. This is a “hands-on” class that will provide a strong foundation in growing plants, plant identification, plant propagation, soils, fertilizers, and landscape design. The student will also grow and sell the plants for our annual plant sale. Students will find themselves prepared for a variety of jobs.
Horticulture 2
0.5 credit - Grades 9-12
Prerequisite: Horticulture 1
Fee: $5
This is a “hands-on” class for the student who wishes to continue their study of horticulture. Advanced topics include: landscape design, plant science, pest management, container and vegetable gardening and greenhouse crop production. Students will also grow and sell the plants for our annual plant sale. Students will find themselves prepared for a variety of careers, such as: garden centers, nurseries, greenhouse growers or higher education in the field of horticulture.
Biology
1.0 credit - Grades 9-10
All 9th graders will enroll in biology.
This class is an introduction to science for all incoming Freshmen. It is a prerequisite for all other science classes we offer. Students will learn about all different areas of biology starting with cells and cell processes such as protein synthesis, photosynthesis, and cellular respiration. We then move into genetics, inheritance, genetic variation, natural selection, adaptations, and evolution. We end the year with ecology, and biodiversity.
Chemistry
1.0 credit - Grades 10-12
Prerequisite: Completion of biology. B+ or better in Algebra I and co-enrolled in Geometry OR completion of geometry. This class counts as a lab science course.
This class is offered every school year.
Chemistry is the study of matter and its interactions within the universe. This course is designed to give students a basic understanding of chemical principles. Major topics covered are atomic structure, bonding, reactions, states of matter, and solutions. Since there is an emphasis on both the theoretical and practical aspects of chemistry, students should expect an emphasis on problem solving, critical thinking, and laboratory work. Due to the lab element of the class, all students and their guardians will be required to sign a safety contract at the beginning of the class to ensure safe lab behavior for all students.
Anatomy and Physiology
1.0 credit - Grades 10-12
Prerequisite: Completion of biology. This class counts as a lab science course.
This class is offered every school year.
Anatomy & Physiology is a class for students who are interested in learning in depth about the human body or who are considering careers in the healthcare field. We’ll be dissecting several organs and a fetal pig throughout the year to see the body systems in real life, get experience for college level science classes, and get important lab/dissection skills. There will also be guest speakers throughout the year. Both medical professionals in various fields and patients who have experienced different diseases/conditions will come to speak about their experiences and expertise. Due to the lab element of the class, all students and their guardians will be required to sign a safety contract at the beginning of the class to ensure safe lab behavior for all students.
Marine Science
1.0 credit - Grades 10-12
Prerequisite: Completion of biology. This course is a lab science
This class is rotated every other year with Earth Science. It will be offered in the 2023-2024 school year.
Marine Science will deal with sea life and the physical factors affecting them. Students will study the ocean’s geology, chemistry and water movements to understand how they affect the major marine habitats, our world’s climate, weather, economy, and the marine organisms themselves. The class will also cover marine ecology and a survey of the plants and animals that live in our world’s oceans. The class will involve various labs which will also include dissections of various marine animals.
Medical Science
1.0 credit - Grades 10-12
Prerequisite: Completion of biology.
This course may be offered depending upon student interest
This class is designed to help students prepare for a career in the healthcare field. Students will be exposed to a variety of health care careers and the skills and temperament necessary for those jobs. Students will be learning real life skills and characteristics practiced by health care professionals such as how to take blood pressure, how to prevent spreading infection, and what ethical situations health professionals deal with. Students will have the opportunity to listen to a variety of guest speakers who work in the health care field as well as participate in field trips related to jobs and education in health care.
Physics
2.0 credit (1.0 credit each semester) Grades 10-12
Prerequisite: Completion of Algebra 2 (C or better) and biology. This course counts as a lab science class and as a math-based science course.
This class is offered every school year.
Physics is the study of mathematical laws that describe the behavior and structure of matter, energy, and time. Topics covered in the first semester are motion, forces, and projectiles. Second semester focuses on rotational motion, momentum and energy. This class is specifically designed for students who have a strong interest in science Non-programmable, non-graphing scientific calculator and spiral notebook required. Students enrolled in this course will have the option to receive up to 10 college credits from Central Washington University (CWU) as Phys 111 and Phys 112. A math placement test is required.
Environment Science
1.0 credit - Grades 10-12
Prerequisite: Completion of biology.
This class is offered every school year.
This project based learning class will focus on the current state of our environments and ecosystems worldwide. Students will read articles, evaluate human impact (environmental impacts on humans and human impacts on ecosystems), and design solutions to solve our current issues. Students will also formulate their own opinions and participate in debates using evidence from relevant sources to back up their claims.