Science
AP Biology
Upper level, yearlong course that builds upon foundations of Biology 1 by exploring content to greater depth and wider extent of cellular processes, biochemistry, technology and population ecology. Emphasis on analysis, writing and mathematical applications.
AP Chemistry
This course provides students with a college-level foundation to support future advanced coursework in chemistry. Students cultivate their understanding of chemistry through inquiry-based investigations, as they explore topics such as: atomic structure, inter-molecular forces and bonding, chemical reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium.
LABORATORY REQUIREMENT This course requires that 25 percent of the instructional time provides students with opportunities to engage in laboratory investigations. This includes a minimum of 16 hands-on labs, at least six of which are inquiry based.
AP Physics
The AP Physics 1 Course has been designed by the College Board as a course equivalent to the algebra-based college-level physics class. At the end of the course, students will take the AP Physics 1 exam, which will test their knowledge of both the concepts taught in the classroom and their use of the correct formulas.
Astronomy
Astronomy is the study of the universe outside of Earth. The Astronomy class will be broken up into the following sections: History of Astronomy, The Sun cycle, Our Solar System, and if there is time; Star cycles. We will look at the basics of how people started to study the night sky, what we know about our Sun, what we know about our solar system, and if possible, what we know about distant stars.
Biology
Biology is a laboratory science course in which students investigate a wide range of topics including cells, cell transport and reproduction, genetics, DNA, evolution, and ecology. Students will have an opportunity to participate in various laboratory activities and dissections throughout the course.
Career & College
Fine Arts
Liberal Arts
STEM
Chemistry
Chemistry is a laboratory science course in which students investigate the composition of matter and the physical and chemical changes it undergoes. Guided and open-ended laboratory investigations will form a large component of the course.
Conceptual Physics
In Conceptual Physics students investigate the interaction of matter and energy in a variety of methods, focusing on the concepts, rather than the math, involved with these interactions. The course begins with an introduction to the scientific method and Newtonian mechanics. It then follows with thermodynamics and proceeds to electromagnetism. At the end, the students have a choice of a variety of topics including modern physics, a more intense look at mechanics focusing on rotational motion, or optics.
Earth Science
Environmental Sustainability
Horticulture
This course is designed to introduce and explore plant science, soil science and landscape design. Students will become familiarized with plant identification, structures and functions and learn various methods of plant propagation. Instruction will largely consist of hands-on activities, labs and development of our school garden.
Microbiology
This course is an in-depth look at biology on the cellular level with an emphasis on microorganisms and biotechnology applications. Topics include microbial cell structure and function, microbial genetics, and the role of microorganisms in disease, immunity and their impact on the environment. Students will become familiar with a wide range of laboratory procedures and analysis.
Philosophy
Philosophy is an investigation of Western thought presented as two separate courses which are alternated each year. The first course is over Plato, Descartes, Hume and Kant, where the focus is on deep reading of the material. The second is over the major topics of philosophy, namely logic, epistemology, ethics, metaphysics, and linguistics/aesthetics.
Physics - Engineering
Physics - Engineering is a project-based class, focusing on the mechanical aspects of physics, and how they can be applied to various physical tasks. The students will complete a series of projects illustrating Newton's 3 Laws of Motion, as well as integrating other aspects of traditional physics as they explore how to take direct action in the world around them.