Upper School Summer Course Catalog - Stanza Academy

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Upper School

Summer Course Catalog

Upper School (9-12)

  • English 9 or English 1
    • Transcript Category: English
    • CA A-G Approval: B
    • NCAA Approved: Yes
    • Length: Full year or 2 semesters
    • English 9 introduces students to informational and literary genres. Students investigate the elements of nonfiction and literature through the critical analysis of texts that range from essays, speeches, articles and historical documents to a novel, a play, poetry and short stories. As they develop writing skills and respond to theses, students learn to formulate arguments and use textual evidence to support their position. Throughout the course, students learn to engage with a variety of media types through which they process and synthesize information, discuss material, create presentations, and share their work.
  • English 10 or English 2
    • Transcript Category: English
    • CA A-G Approval: B
    • NCAA Approved: Yes
    • Length: Full year or 2 semesters
    • The focus of the English 10 course is the writing process. Three writing applications guide the curriculum: persuasive, expository, and narrative writing. Each lesson culminates in a written assignment that lets students demonstrate their developing skill in one of these applications. English 10 follows the model of English 9 by including at least one anchor text per lesson, but the essays, articles, stories, poems, and speeches are often presented as models for students to emulate as they practice their own writing. So that these readings may serve as proper examples for students, a high proportion of texts for this course are original pieces. English 10 also continues to develop students' reading, listening, and speaking skills. Readings include poems, stories, speeches, plays, and a graphic novel, as well as a variety of informational texts. The readings represent a wide variety of purposes and cultural perspectives, ranging from the Indian epic The Ramayana to accounts of Hurricane Katrina told through different media. Audio and video presentations enhance students' awareness and command of rhetorical techniques and increase their understanding of writing for different audiences.
  • English 11 or English III
    • Transcript Category: English
    • CA A-G Approval: B
    • NCAA Approved: Yes
    • Length: Full year or 2 semesters
    • In the English 11 course, students examine the belief systems, events, and literature that have shaped the United States. They begin by studying the language of independence and the system of government developed by Thomas Jefferson and other enlightened thinkers. Next, they explore how the Romantics and Transcendentalists emphasized the power and responsibility of the individual in both supporting and questioning the government. Students consider whether the American Dream is still achievable and examine the Modernists’ disillusionment with the idea that America is a “land of opportunity. ”Reading the words of Frederick Douglass and the text of the Civil Rights Act, students look carefully at the experience of African Americans and their struggle to achieve equal rights. Students explore how individuals cope with the influence of war and cultural tensions while trying to build and secure their own personal identity. Finally, students examine how technology is affecting our contemporary experience of freedom: Will we eventually change our beliefs about what it means to be an independent human being?In this course, students analyze a wide range of literature, both fiction and nonfiction. They build writing skills by composing analytical essays, persuasive essays, personal narratives, and research papers. In order to develop speaking and listening skills, students participate in discussions and prepare speeches. Overall, students gain an understanding of the way American literature represents the array of voices contributing to our multicultural identity.
  • English 12 or English 4
    • Transcript Category: English
    • CA A-G Approval: B
    • NCAA Approved: Yes
    • Length: Full year or 2 semesters
    • The English 12 course asks students to closely analyze world literature and consider how we humans define and interact with the unknown, the monstrous, and the heroic. In the epic poems The Odyssey, Beowulf, and The Inferno, in Shakespeare’s Tempest, in the satire of Swift, and in the rhetoric of World War II, students examine how the ideas of “heroic” and “monstrous” have been defined across cultures and time periods and how the treatment of the “other” can make monsters or heroes of us all.Reading Frankenstein and works from those who experienced the imperialism of the British Empire, students explore the notion of inner monstrosity and consider how the dominant culture can be seen as monstrous in its ostensibly heroic goal of enlightening the world.Throughout this course, students analyze a wide range of literature, both fiction and nonfiction. They build writing skills by composing analytical essays, persuasive essays, personal narratives, and research papers. In order to develop speaking and listening skills, students participate in discussions and prepare speeches. Overall, students gain an understanding of the way world literature represents the array of voices that contribute to our global identity.

English Electives

  • Personal Communication
    • Transcript Category: English
    • CA A-G Approval: B
    • NCAA Approved: No
    • Length: Half year or 1 semester
    • Personal Communication is a one semester course that teaches students how to become effective at verbal and nonverbal expression. In a rapidly changing world filled with constantly evolving technology, social media, and social networking, students need skills to send clear verbal and nonverbal messages and adapt those messages to multiple contexts. Students need to prepare to identify, analyze, develop, and evaluate communication skills in personal, academic, and professional interactions.Major topics in Personal Communication include intrapersonal and interpersonal interaction, informal communication and interviewing, and preparing and delivering informal, informational, and persuasive addresses. Students also engage in recognizing bias, elements of ethical communication, conflict resolution, evaluating media messages, group dynamics, and participate in peer review.
  • Creative Writing
    • Transcript Category: English
    • CA A-G Approval: B
    • NCAA Approved: Yes
    • Length: Half year or 1 semester
    • Creative Writing is an English elective course that focuses on the exploration of short fiction and poetry, culminating in a written portfolio that includes one revised short story and three to five polished poems. Students draft, revise, and polish fiction and poetry through writing exercises, developing familiarity with literary terms and facility with the writing process as they study elements of creative writing.Elements of fiction writing explored in this course include attention to specific detail, observation, character development, setting, plot, and point of view. In the poetry units, students learn about the use of sensory details and imagery, figurative language, and sound devices including rhyme, rhythm and alliteration. They also explore poetic forms ranging from found poems and slam poetry to traditional sonnets and villanelles.In addition to applying literary craft elements in guided creative writing exercises, students engage in critical reading activities designed to emphasize the writing craft of a diverse group of authors. Students study short stories by authors such as Bharati Mukherjee and Edgar Allan Poe, learning how to create believable characters and develop setting and plot. Likewise, students read poetry by canonical greats such as W. B. Yeats and Emily Dickinson as well as contemporary writers such as Pablo Neruda, Sherman Alexie, and Alice Notley. Studying the writing technique of a range of authors provides students with models and inspiration as they develop their own voices and refine their understanding of the literary craft. By taking a Creative Writing course, students find new approaches to reading and writing that can affect them on a personal level, as the skills they gain in each lesson directly benefit their own creative goals. Students who are already actively engaged writers and readers learn additional tools and insight into the craft of writing to help them further hone their skills and encourage their creative as well as academic growth.
  • Media Literacy
    • Transcript Category: Elective
    • CA A-G Approval: G
    • NCAA Approved: No
    • Length: Half year or 1 semester
    • Media Literacy teaches students how to build the critical thinking, writing, and reading skills required in a media-rich and increasingly techno-centric world. In a world saturated with media messages, digital environments, and social networking, concepts of literacy must expand to include all forms of media. Today's students need to be able to read, comprehend, analyze, and respond to non-traditional media with the same skill level they engage with traditional print sources.A major topic in Media Literacy is non-traditional media reading skills, including how to approach, analyze, and respond to advertisements, blogs, websites, social media, news media, and wikis. Students also engage in a variety of writing activities in non-traditional media genres, such as blogging and podcast scripting.Students consider their own positions as consumers of media and explore ways to use non-traditional media to become more active and thoughtful citizens. Students learn how to ask critical questions about the intended audience and underlying purpose of media messages, and study factors which can contribute to bias and affect credibility.
  • Reading Skills and Strategies
    • Transcript Category: Elective
    • CA A-G Approval: No
    • NCAA Approved: No
    • Length: Half year or 1 semester
    • Reading is a course is designed to help the struggling reader develop mastery in the areas of reading comprehension, vocabulary building, study skills, and media literacy, which are the course's primary content strands. Using these strands, the course guides the student through the skills necessary to be successful in the academic world and beyond. The reading comprehension strand focuses on introducing the student to the varied purposes of reading (e.g., for entertainment, for information, to complete a task, or to analyze). In the vocabulary strand, the student learns specific strategies for understanding and remembering new vocabulary. In the study skills strand, the student learns effective study and test-taking strategies. In the media literacy strand, the student learns to recognize and evaluate persuasive techniques, purposes, design choices, and effects of media. The course encourages personal enjoyment in reading with 10 interviews featuring the book choices and reading adventures of students and members of the community.
  • Writing Skills and Strategies
    • Transcript Category: Elective
    • CA A-G Approval: No
    • NCAA Approved: No
    • Length: Half year or 1 semester
    • Writing Skills and Strategies develops key language arts skills necessary for high school graduation and success on high stakes exams through a semester of interactive instruction and guided practice in composition fundamentals. The course is divided into ten mini-units of study. The first two are designed to build early success and confidence, orienting students to the writing process and to sentence and paragraph essentials through a series of low-stress, high-interest hook activities. In subsequent units, students review, practice, compose and submit one piece of writing. Four key learning strands are integrated throughout: composition practice, grammar skill building, diction and style awareness, and media and technology exploration. Guided studies emphasize the structure of essential forms of writing encountered in school, in life, and in the work place. Practice in these forms is scaffolded to accommodate learners at different skill levels.

Life Science

  • Biology
    • Transcript Category: Life Science
    • CA A-G Approval: D
    • NCAA Approved: Yes
    • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

    • Biology focuses on the mastery of basic biological concepts and models while building scientific inquiry skills and exploring the connections between living things and their environment.The course begins with an introduction to the nature of science and biology, including the major themes of structure and function, matter and energy flow, systems, and the interconnectedness of life. Students then apply those themes to the structure and function of the cell, cellular metabolism, and biogeochemical cycles. Building on this foundation, students explore the connections and interactions between living things by studying genetics, ecosystems and natural selection, and evolution. The course ends with an applied look at human biology.
      Scientific inquiry skills are embedded in the direct instruction, wherein students learn to ask scientific questions, form and test hypotheses, and use logic and evidence to draw conclusions about the concepts.
      Lab activities reinforce critical thinking, writing, and communication skills and help students develop a deeper understanding of the nature of science.


    • The Living Earth
      • Transcript Category: Life Science or Elective
      • CA A-G Approval: D
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • The Living Earth integrates biology with Earth and space science. Throughout the course, students apply fundamental biological concepts to better understand how living systems and Earth's systems are interrelated and interdependent.Course topics include structure and function of living organisms, heredity, genetic variation, natural selection, evolution, the biosphere, types of ecosystems and biomes, the ecology of populations and communities, the effects of change on the biosphere and its parts, the relationship of humans with the environment, and explorations of challenges humans face and sustainable solutions for the future health of Earth and its inhabitants.
        Students discover new concepts through guided instruction and confirm their understanding in an interactive, feedback-rich environment. Scientific inquiry skills are embedded in the direct instruction, wherein students learn to ask scientific questions, form and test hypotheses, and use logic and evidence to draw conclusions about the concepts.
        A variety of activities encourage students to think scientifically. Lab and Project activities reinforce critical thinking, writing, and communication skills and help students develop a deeper understanding of the nature of science and engineering. Virtual Lab activities enable students to engage in investigations that require long periods of observation at remote locations and to explore simulations that allow scientists to test predictions. In Discussions, students compare their lab or project results and exchange ideas about their investigations. Journal, Checkup, and Practice activities provide additional opportunities for students to practice their writing and scientific reasoning skills and apply learned concepts.


    Physical Science

    • Earth Science
      • Transcript Category: Physical Science
      • CA A-G Approval: D
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Earth Science offers a focused curriculum that explores Earth's composition, structure, processes, and history; its atmosphere, freshwater, and oceans; and its environment in space.Course topics include an exploration of the major cycles that affect every aspect of life, including weather, climate, air movement, tectonics, volcanic eruptions, rocks, minerals, geologic history, Earth's environment, sustainability, and energy resources. Optional teacher-scored labs and projects encourage students to apply the scientific method.


    • Environmental Science
      • Transcript Category: Physical Science
      • CA A-G Approval: D
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Environmental Science explores the biological, physical, and sociological principles related to the environment in which organisms live on Earth, the biosphere. Course topics include natural systems on Earth, biogeochemical cycles, the nature of matter and energy, the flow of matter and energy through living systems, populations, communities, ecosystems, ecological pyramids, renewable and non-renewable natural resources, land use, biodiversity, pollution, conservation, sustainability, and human impacts on the environment.The course provides students with opportunities to learn and practice scientific skills within the context of relevant scientific questions. Scientific inquiry skills are embedded in the direct instruction, wherein students learn to ask scientific questions, deconstruct claims, form and test hypotheses, and use logic and evidence to draw conclusions about the concepts. Case studies of current environmental challenges introduce each content lesson and acquaint students with real-life environmental issues, debates, and solutions. Lab activities reinforce critical thinking, writing, and communication skills and help students develop a deeper understanding of the nature of science. Virtual Lab activities enable students to engage in investigations that require long periods of observation at remote locations and to explore simulations that enable environmental scientists to test predictions. Throughout this course, students are given an opportunity to understand how biology, earth science, and physical science are applied to the study of the environment and how technology and engineering are contributing solutions for studying and creating a sustainable biosphere.


     
    • Physical Science
      • Transcript Category: Physical Science
      • CA A-G Approval: D
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Physical Science offers a focused curriculum designed around the understanding of foundational physical science concepts, including the nature of matter, energy, and forces, as well as the application of scientific and engineering practices.Course topics include energy, forces, electromagnetism, waves, matter, chemical reactions, and nuclear reactions. Teacher-scored labs encourage students to apply the scientific method.
        Students discover new concepts through guided instruction and confirm their understanding in an interactive, feedback-rich environment. Scientific inquiry skills are embedded in the direct instruction, wherein students learn to ask scientific questions, form and test hypotheses, and use logic and evidence to draw conclusions about the concepts.
        A variety of activities encourage students to think scientifically. Lab and Project activities reinforce critical thinking, writing, and communication skills and help students develop a deeper understanding of the nature of science and engineering. Virtual Lab activities allow students to engage in investigations that require long periods of observation at remote locations and to explore simulations that scientists use to test predictions. In Discussions, students compare their lab results and exchange ideas about their investigations. Practice and Explore activities provide additional opportunities for students to apply learned concepts and practice their writing and scientific reasoning skills.


    • Physics
      • Transcript Category: Physical Science
      • CA A-G Approval: D
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Physics offers a curriculum that emphasizes students' understanding of fundamental physics concepts while helping them acquire tools to be conversant in a society highly influenced by science and technology.The course provides students with opportunities to learn and practice critical scientific skills within the context of relevant scientific questions.  Topics include the nature of science, math for physics, energy, kinematics, force and motion, momentum, gravitation, chemistry for physics, thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, waves, nuclear physics, quantum physics, and cosmology.
        Scientific inquiry skills are embedded in the direct instruction, wherein students learn to ask scientific questions, form and test hypotheses, and use logic and evidence to draw conclusions about the concepts.  Lab activities reinforce critical thinking, writing, and communication skills and help students develop a deeper understanding of the nature of science.
        Throughout this course, students are given an opportunity to understand how physics concepts are applied in technology and engineering.  Journal and Practice activities provide additional opportunities for students to apply learned concepts and practice their writing skills.


     
    • Physics of the Universe
      • Transcript Category: Physical Science
      • CA A-G Approval: D
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Physics of the Universe integrates physics with Earth and space science. Throughout the course, students apply fundamental physics concepts to better understand the impact of human activities on Earth's systems and how forces, energy, and matter interact throughout the universe.Course topics include electricity and magnetism, energy consumption and resources, dynamics, momentum and gravitation, waves, cosmology, and an exploration of Earth's physical systems.
        Students discover new concepts through guided instruction and confirm their understanding in an interactive, feedback-rich environment. Scientific inquiry skills are embedded in the direct instruction, wherein students learn to ask scientific questions, form and test hypotheses, and use logic and evidence to draw conclusions about the concepts.
        A variety of activities encourage students to think scientifically. Lab and Project activities reinforce critical thinking, writing, and communication skills and help students develop a deeper understanding of the nature of science and engineering. Virtual Lab activities enable students to engage in investigations that require long periods of observation at remote locations and to explore simulations that allow scientists to test predictions. In Discussions, students compare their lab or project results and exchange ideas about their investigations. Checkup and Practice activities provide additional opportunities for students to apply learned concepts and practice their writing and scientific reasoning skills.


    • Chemistry
      • Transcript Category: Physical Science
      • CA A-G Approval: D
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Chemistry offers a curriculum that emphasizes students' understanding of fundamental chemistry concepts while helping them acquire tools to be conversant in a society highly influenced by science and technology.The course provides students with opportunities to learn and practice critical scientific skills within the context of relevant scientific questions. Topics include the nature of science, the importance of chemistry to society, atomic structure, bonding in matter, chemical reactions, redox reactions, electrochemistry, phases of matter, equilibrium and kinetics, acids and bases, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, nuclear reactions, organic chemistry, and alternative energy.
        Scientific inquiry skills are embedded in the direct instruction, wherein students learn to ask scientific questions, form and test hypotheses, and use logic and evidence to draw conclusions about concepts. Lab activities reinforce critical thinking, writing, and communication skills and help students develop a deeper understanding of the nature of science.
        Throughout this course, students are given an opportunity to understand how chemistry concepts are applied in technology and engineering. Journal and Practice activities provide additional opportunities for students to apply learned concepts and practice their writing skills.


     
    • Chemistry in the Earth System
      • Transcript Category: Physical Science
      • CA A-G Approval: D
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Chemistry in the Earth System integrates chemistry with biology and Earth science. Throughout the course, students apply fundamental chemistry concepts to better understand how matter and energy interact in the natural and designed world, how human activities impact Earth's systems, and how science can be used to develop new technologies and engineering solutions.Course topics include the nature of matter, forces and energy, atomic structure, bonding in matter, chemical reactions, equilibrium and kinetics, thermodynamics, matter and energy in Earth's physical and living systems, energy and resource consumption, and environmental challenges.
        Students discover new concepts through guided instruction and confirm their understanding in an interactive, feedback-rich environment. Scientific inquiry skills are embedded in the direct instruction, wherein students learn to ask scientific questions, form and test hypotheses, and use logic and evidence to draw conclusions about the concepts.
        A variety of activities encourage students to think scientifically. Lab and Project activities reinforce critical thinking, writing, and communication skills and help students develop a deeper understanding of the nature of science and engineering. Virtual Lab activities enable students to engage in investigations that require long periods of observation at remote locations and to explore simulations that allow scientists to test predictions. In Discussions, students compare their lab or project results and exchange ideas about their investigations. Journal, Checkup, and Practice activities provide additional opportunities for students to apply learned concepts and practice their writing and scientific reasoning skills.


     

    Algebra

    • Algebra 1 or Algebra I
      • Transcript Category: Mathematics
      • CA A-G Approval: C
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Algebra I builds students' command of linear, quadratic, and exponential relationships. Students learn through discovery and application, developing the skills they need to break down complex challenges and demonstrate their knowledge in new situations.Course topics include problem-solving with basic equations and formulas; an introduction to functions and problem solving; linear equations and systems of linear equations; exponents and exponential functions; sequences and functions; descriptive statistics; polynomials and factoring; quadratic equations and functions; and function transformations and inverses.
        This course supports students as they develop computational fluency, deepen conceptual understanding, and apply mathematical knowledge. Students discover new concepts through guided instruction and confirm their understanding in an interactive, feedback-rich environment.
        A variety of activities allow for students to think mathematically in a variety of scenarios and tasks. In Discussions, students exchange and explain their mathematical ideas. Modeling activities ask them to analyze real-world scenarios and mathematical concepts. Journaling activities have students reason abstractly and quantitatively, construct arguments, critique reasoning, and communicate precisely. And in Performance Tasks, students synthesize their knowledge in novel, real-world scenarios, make sense of multifaceted problems, and persevere in solving them.


     
    • Algebra 2 or Algebra II
      • Transcript Category: Mathematics
      • CA A-G Approval: C
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Algebra II introduces students to advanced functions, with a focus on developing a strong conceptual grasp of the expressions that define those functions. Students learn through discovery and application, developing the skills they need to break down complex challenges and demonstrate their knowledge in new situations.Course topics include quadratic equations and functions; polynomial functions; rational expressions and functions; radical expressions and functions; exponential and logarithmic functions; trigonometric functions; modeling with functions; probability and inferential statistics; probability distributions; and sampling distributions and confidence intervals.This course supports all students as they develop computational fluency and deepen conceptual understanding. Students begin each lesson by discovering new concepts through guided instruction, then confirm their understanding in an interactive, feedback-rich environment. Modeling activities equip students with tools for analyzing a variety of real-world scenarios and mathematical ideas. Journaling activities allow students to reason abstractly and quantitatively, construct arguments, critique reasoning, and communicate precisely. Performance tasks prepare students to synthesize their knowledge in novel, real-world scenarios and require that they make sense of multifaceted problems and persevere in solving them.


    Geometry

    • Geometry
      • Transcript Category: Mathematics
      • CA A-G Approval: C
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Geometry builds upon students' command of geometric relationships and formulating mathematical arguments. Students learn through discovery and application, developing the skills they need to break down complex challenges and demonstrate their knowledge in new situations.Course topics include reasoning, proof, and the creation of sound mathematical arguments; points, lines, and angles; triangles and trigonometry; quadrilaterals and other polygons; circles; congruence, similarity, transformations, and constructions; coordinate geometry; three-dimensional solids; and applications of probability.
        This course supports all students as they develop computational fluency and deepen conceptual understanding. Students begin each lesson by discovering new concepts through guided instruction, and then confirm their understanding in an interactive, feedback-rich environment. Modeling activities equip students with tools for analyzing a variety of real-world scenarios and mathematical ideas. Journaling activities allow students to reason abstractly and quantitatively, construct arguments, critique reasoning, and communicate precisely. Performance tasks prepare students to synthesize their knowledge in novel, real-world scenarios and require that they make sense of multifaceted problems and persevere in solving them.


    Integrated Math

    • Integrated Mathematics 1 or Integrated Mathematics I or Mathematics I
      • Transcript Category: Mathematics
      • CA A-G Approval: C
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Mathematics I builds students' command of geometric knowledge and linear and exponential relationships. Students learn through discovery and application, developing the skills they need to break down complex challenges and demonstrate their knowledge in new situations.Course topics include relationships between quantities; linear and exponential relationships; reasoning with equations; descriptive statistics; congruence, proof, and constructions; and connecting algebra and geometry through coordinates.This course supports all students as they develop computational fluency and deepen conceptual understanding. Students begin each lesson by discovering new concepts through guided instruction, and then confirm their understanding in an interactive, feedback-rich environment. Modeling activities equip students with tools for analyzing a variety of real-world scenarios and mathematical ideas. Journaling activities allow students to reason abstractly and quantitatively, construct arguments, critique reasoning, and communicate precisely. Performance tasks prepare students to synthesize their knowledge in novel, real-world scenarios and require that they make sense of multifaceted problems and persevere in solving them.


    • Integrated Mathematics 2 or Integrated Mathematics II or Mathematics II
      • Transcript Category: Mathematics
      • CA A-G Approval: C
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Mathematics II extends students' geometric knowledge and introduces them to quadratic expressions, equations, and functions, exploring the relationship between these and their linear and exponential counterparts. Students learn through discovery and application, developing the skills they need to break down complex challenges and demonstrate their knowledge in new situations.Course topics include extending the number system; quadratic functions and modeling; expressions and equations; applications of probability; similarity, right-triangle trigonometry, and proof; and circles with and without coordinates.This course supports all students as they develop computational fluency and deepen conceptual understanding. Students begin each lesson by discovering new concepts through guided instruction, and then confirm their understanding in an interactive, feedback-rich environment. Modeling activities equip students with tools for analyzing a variety of real-world scenarios and mathematical ideas. Journaling activities allow students to reason abstractly and quantitatively, construct arguments, critique reasoning, and communicate precisely. Performance tasks prepare students to synthesize their knowledge in novel, real-world scenarios and require that they make sense of multifaceted problems and persevere in solving them.


     
    • Integrated Mathematics 3 or Integrated Mathematics III or Mathematics III
      • Transcript Category: Mathematics
      • CA A-G Approval: C
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Mathematics III incorporates advanced functions, trigonometry, and probability and statistics as students synthesize prior knowledge and solve increasingly challenging problems. Students learn through discovery and application, developing the skills they need to break down complex challenges and demonstrate their knowledge in new situations.Course topics include formulating inferences and conclusions from data; polynomial, rational, and radical relationships; trigonometry of general triangles and trigonometric functions; and mathematical modeling.This course supports all students as they simultaneously develop computational fluency, deepen conceptual understanding, and apply mathematical practice skills. Students begin each lesson by discovering new concepts through guided instruction, and then confirm their understanding in an interactive, feedback-rich environment. Modeling activities equip students with tools for analyzing a variety of real-world scenarios and mathematical ideas. Journaling activities allow students to reason abstractly and quantitatively, construct arguments, critique reasoning, and communicate precisely. Performance tasks prepare students to synthesize their knowledge in novel, real-world scenarios and require that they make sense of multifaceted problems and persevere in solving them. Throughout the course students are evaluated through a diversity of assessments specifically designed to prepare them for the content, form, and depth of state assessments.
    • United States History
      • Transcript Category: US History
      • CA A-G Approval: A
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters
      • U.S. History traces the nation's history from the pre-colonial period to the present. Students learn about the Native American, European, and African people who lived in America before it became the United States. They examine the beliefs and philosophies that informed the American Revolution and the subsequent formation of the government and political system. Students investigate the economic, cultural, and social motives for the nation's expansion, as well as the conflicting notions of liberty that eventually resulted in civil war. The course describes the emergence of the United States as an industrial nation and then focuses on its role in modern world affairs.
        Moving into the 20th and 21st centuries, students probe the economic and diplomatic interactions between the United States and other world players while investigating how the world wars, the Cold War, and the “information revolution” affected the lives of ordinary Americans. Woven through this chronological sequence is a strong focus on the changing conditions of women, African Americans, and other minority groups.
        The course emphasizes the development of historical analysis skills such as comparing and contrasting, differentiating between facts and interpretations, considering multiple perspectives, and analyzing cause-and-effect relationships. These skills are applied to text interpretation and in written assignments that guide learners step-by-step through problem-solving activities.
     
    Modern World History from 1600 In Modern World History from 1600, students study the major turning points that shaped the modern world including the Enlightenment, industrialization, imperialism, nationalism, political revolutions, the world wars, the Cold War, decolonization, and globalization. By presenting content from multiple perspectives and through diverse primary and secondary source materials, this course provides students with a solid foundation in the history of the modern era and prepares students to be active and informed citizens of the world. Through critical reading activities, feedback-rich instruction, and application-oriented assignments, students develop their capacity to conduct research, analyze sources, make arguments, and take informed action. In written assignments, students address critical questions about the history of the modern era. In discussion activities, students respond to diverse opinions, take positions, and defend their own claims. Formative and summative assessments provide students — and teachers — with ample opportunities to check in, review, and evaluate students' progress in the course.
    U.S. History to the Civil War This course traces the nation's history from the pre-colonial period to the end of the American Civil War. It emphasizes the colonial period and the creation of a new nation and examines the beliefs and philosophies that informed the American Revolution and the subsequent formation of the government and political system. Students first explore the earliest points of contact between individuals from Europe, Africa, and North America. They then probe the economic, cultural, and social motives for the nation's expansion, as well as the conflicting notions of liberty that eventually resulted in the Civil War. Woven throughout this narrative history is a strong focus on the changing conditions of women, African Americans, and other minority groups. The ways in which Americans lived, ate, dressed, and interacted are also highlighted. The course emphasizes the development of historical analysis skills such as comparing and contrasting, differentiating between facts and interpretations, considering multiple perspectives, and analyzing cause-and-effect relationships. These skills are applied to text interpretation and in written assignments that guide learners step-by-step through problem-solving activities. This course is built to state standards and informed by the National Council for History Education, the National Center for History in the Schools, and the National Council for Social Studies.
    U.S. History since the Civil War This course traces the nation's history from the end of the Civil War to the present. It describes the emergence of the United States as an industrial nation, highlighting social policy as well as its role in modern world affairs. Students evaluate the attempts to bind the nation together during Reconstruction while also exploring the growth of an industrial economy. Moving into the 20th and 21st centuries, students probe the economic and diplomatic interactions between the United States and other world players while investigating how the world wars, the Cold War, and the "information revolution" affected the lives of ordinary Americans. Woven through this chronological sequence is a strong focus on the changing conditions of women, African Americans, and other minority groups. The course emphasizes the development of historical analysis skills such as comparing and contrasting, differentiating between facts and interpretations, considering multiple perspectives, and analyzing cause-and-effect relationships. These skills are applied to text interpretation and in written assignments that guide learners step-by-step through problem-solving activities. This course is built to state standards and informed by the National Council for History Education, the National Center for History in the Schools, and the National Council for Social Studies.
    • World History
      • Transcript Category: Social Science
      • CA A-G Approval: A
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters
      • In World History, students learn to see the world today as a product of a process that began thousands of years ago when humans became a speaking, travelling, and trading species.  Through historical analysis grounded in primary sources, case studies, and research, students investigate the continuity and change of human culture, governments, economic systems, and social structures. Students build and practice historical thinking skills, learning to connect specific people, places, events and ideas to the larger trends of world history. In critical reading activities, feedback-rich instruction, and application-oriented assignments, students develop their capacity to reason chronologically, interpret and synthesize sources, identify connections between ideas, and develop well-supported historical arguments.  Students write throughout the course, responding to primary sources and historical narratives through journal entries, essays and visual presentations of social studies content.  In discussion activities, students respond to the position of others while staking and defending their own claim.  The course's rigorous instruction is supported with relevant materials and active learning opportunities to ensure students at all levels can master the key historical thinking skills.
    Modern World History from 1600 In Modern World History from 1600, students study the major turning points that shaped the modern world including the Enlightenment, industrialization, imperialism, nationalism, political revolutions, the world wars, the Cold War, decolonization, and globalization. By presenting content from multiple perspectives and through diverse primary and secondary source materials, this course provides students with a solid foundation in the history of the modern era and prepares students to be active and informed citizens of the world. Through critical reading activities, feedback-rich instruction, and application-oriented assignments, students develop their capacity to conduct research, analyze sources, make arguments, and take informed action. In written assignments, students address critical questions about the history of the modern era. In discussion activities, students respond to diverse opinions, take positions, and defend their own claims. Formative and summative assessments provide students — and teachers — with ample opportunities to check in, review, and evaluate students' progress in the course.

    College and Career Preparation

    College and Career Preparation I
    • Transcript Category: Elective
    • CA A-G Approval: G
    • NCAA Approved: N/A
    • Length: Half year or 1 semester

      • In College and Career Preparation I, students obtain a deeper understanding of what it means to be ready for college. Students are informed about the importance of high school performance in college admissions and how to prepare for college testing. They know the types of schools and degrees they may choose to pursue after high school and gain wide exposure to the financial resources available that make college attainable.
      Career readiness is also a focus. Students connect the link between interests, college majors, and future careers by analyzing career clusters. Students come away from this course understanding how smart preparation and skill development in high school can lead into expansive career opportunities after they have completed their education and are ready for the working world.
      Students who complete College and Career Preparation I have the basic skills and foundation of knowledge to progress into College and Career Preparation II, the capstone course that provides hands-on information about the transition from high school to college and career.

    College and Career Preparation II
    • Transcript Category: Elective
    • CA A-G Approval: G
    • NCAA Approved: N/A
    • Length: Half year or 1 semester

      • College and Career Preparation II builds on the lessons and skills in College and Career Preparation I. The course provides a step-by-step guide to choosing a college. It walks students through the process of filling out an application, including opportunities to practice, and takes an in-depth look at the various college-admission tests and assessments, as well financial aid options.
      College and Career Preparation II also instructs students in interviewing techniques and provides career guidance. Students explore valuable opportunities such as job shadowing and internships when preparing for a career.
      Students who complete this course obtain a deeper understanding of college and career readiness through informative, interactive critical thinking and analysis activities while sharpening their time management, organization, and learning skills that they learned in College and Career Preparation I.
      College and Career Preparation II prepares students with the knowledge and skills to be successful in college and beyond.

    Art & Music

      Art Appreciation
    • Transcript Category: Fine Art or Elective
    • CA A-G Approval: F
    • NCAA Approved: N/A
    • Length: Half year or 1 semester

      • Art Appreciation is a survey of the history of Western visual arts, with a primary focus on painting. Students begin with an introduction to the basic principles of painting and learn how to critique and compare works of art. Students then explore prehistoric and early Greek and Roman art before they move on to the Middle Ages. Emphasis is placed on the Renaissance and the principles and masters that emerged in Italy and northern Europe. Students continue their art tour with the United States during the 20th century, a time of great innovation as abstract art took center stage. While Western art is the course's primary focus, students will finish the course by studying artistic traditions from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas.
      Coverage of each artistic movement highlights historical context and introduces students to key artists that represent a variety of geographic locations. Throughout the course, students apply what they have learned about art critique to analyze and evaluate both individual artists and individual works of art.

    Music Appreciation
    • Transcript Category: Fine Art or Elective
    • CA A-G Approval: F
    • NCAA Approved: N/A
    • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Music Appreciation introduces students to the history, theory, and genres of music, from the most primitive surviving examples through the classical to the most contemporary in the world at large. The course is offered in a two-semester format. The first semester covers primitive musical forms and classical music. The second semester presents the rich modern traditions, including American jazz, gospel, folk, soul, blues, Latin rhythms, rock and roll, and hip-hop.
      The course explores the interface of music and social movements and examines how the emergent global society and the Internet bring musical forms together in new ways from all around the world.

    Health & Physical Education

    Health
    • Transcript Category: Elective
    • CA A-G Approval: G
    • NCAA Approved: N/A
    • Length: Half year or 1 semester
      • Health is a valuable, skills-based health education course designed for general education in grades 9 through 12. Health helps students develop knowledge, attitudes, and essential skills in a variety of health-related subjects, including mental and emotional health, social health, nutrition, physical fitness, substance use and abuse, disease prevention and treatment, and injury prevention and safety.
      Through use of accessible information and project-based learning, students apply the skills they need to stay healthy. These skills include identifying and accessing valid health information, practicing self-management, identifying internal and external influences, communicating effectively, making healthy decisions, setting goals, and advocating. Students who complete Health build the skills they need to protect, enhance, and promote their own health and the health of others.

      Health A & B
      • Transcript Category: Elective
      • CA A-G Approval: G
      • NCAA Approved: N/A
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters
        • Semester A
        In this course, students acquire the knowledge and skills they need to lead a healthy life. Semester A focuses on the impact of personal decisions on the student’s own health. Students learn how to find, evaluate, and use reliable information related to a variety of health topics. They also study the basic science behind nutrition, exercise, stress, and psychology, and examine how these factors affect a person’s overall health. Each lesson in the course guides students in applying what they have learned in the lesson to their own lives and choices—and gives them a chance to discuss the topic with peers and instructors.

        Semester B
        Semester B focuses on the developmental aspects of being human and healthy. Students learn about some of the more dramatic changes that the human body experiences from birth to death. They explore topics related to aging and sexuality and identify ways to remain healthy and safe throughout life’s major events and challenges. As in Semester A, this part of the course emphasizes what students can do to improve or maintain their own health and encourages them to be a positive influence on family and friends. Each lesson helps identify ways that students might use what they have learned in the lesson in their own lives. As in semester A, students discuss lesson topics with peers and/or an instructor.
    Physical Education
    • Transcript Category: Elective
    • CA A-G Approval: N/A
    • NCAA Approved: N/A
    • Length: Half year or 1 semester
      • Physical Education combines the best of online instruction with actual student participation in weekly cardiovascular, aerobic, and muscle toning activities. The course promotes a keen understanding of the value of physical fitness and aims to motivate students to participate in physical activities throughout their lives.
      Specific areas of study include: Cardiovascular exercise and care, safe exercising, building muscle strength and endurance, injury prevention, fitness skills and FITT benchmarks, goal setting, nutrition and diet (vitamins and minerals, food labels, evaluation product claims), and stress management. The course requires routine participation in adult-supervised physical activities. Successful completion of this course will require parent/legal guardian sign-off on student-selected physical activities and on weekly participation reports to verify the student is meeting his or her requirements and responsibilities.

    Computer Science

    • Computer Science Essentials
      • Transcript Category: Elective
      • CA A-G Approval: G
      • NCAA Approved: No
      • Length: 2 Semesters or Full Year
      • Computer Science Essentials offers a focused curriculum designed around foundational computer science concepts, including computer systems, programming, networks, and data management. The course also introduces students to foundational computer science skills such as coding, troubleshooting, and being a responsible digital citizen.
        Course topics include the history and impact of computers; careers in computer science; computing laws and ethics; bias and equity issues in computing; algorithms and coding; data storage, organization, and analysis; hardware and software; robotics; networks and the internet; cybersecurity and online safety; website design; and the use of abstraction in computing. Students discover new concepts through guided instruction and confirm their understanding in an interactive, feedback-rich environment.
        A variety of activities encourage students to explore different aspects of computer science. Lab activities guide students through coding their own programs. Project and Explore activities reinforce critical thinking, research, writing, and communication skills. In addition, Project activities guide students through the development of different types of computer artifacts. In Discussions, students conduct research on current computing topics and then exchange ideas with their peers. Practice activities provide additional opportunities for students to apply learned concepts and practice their writing, reasoning, and computer literacy skills.
    Accounting I
    • Transcript Category: Elective
    • CA A-G Approval: G
    • NCAA Approved: N/A
    • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Accounting I examines how to make decisions about planning, organizing, and allocating resources using accounting procedures. Throughout the course, students focus on double-entry accounting; methods and principles of recording business transactions; the preparation of various documents used in recording revenues, expenses, assets, and liabilities; and the preparation of financial statements.
      This course allows students to explore careers in accounting while learning skills applicable to any professional setting. Students will engage in project-based activities such as analyzing financial statements; implementing the accounts payable and accounts receivable process; and determining payroll expenses and taxes. Active learning ensures that students continually focus on the technical and interpersonal skills necessary to prepare them for workplace. In addition, students will evaluate the roles and qualifications required for specific accounting careers so they can identify opportunities of interest to them.
      Accounting I is a full-year intermediate Career and Technical Education course applicable to programs of study in the Finance or Business Management and Administration career clusters. This course is built to state and national CTE standards. Students who successfully complete the course will be prepared to pursue certifications such as Associate in Regulation and Compliance, Certified Management Accountant, or Certified Quality Auditor.

    Accounting II
    • Transcript Category: Elective
    • CA A-G Approval: G
    • NCAA Approved: N/A
    • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Accounting II builds on the foundation acquired in Accounting I, allowing students to extend their skills and knowledge in the subject. The course focuses on various managerial, financial, and operational accounting activities that require the formulation, interpretation, and communication of financial information for use in management decision making. Students will use equations, graphical representations, accounting tools, spreadsheet software, and accounting systems in real-world situations to maintain, monitor, control, and plan the use of financial resources.
      This course allows students to explore careers in accounting while learning financial skills applicable to any professional setting. Students engage in project-based activities such as analyzing financial statements, implementing the accounts payable and accounts receivable process, and determining payroll expenses and taxes. Active learning ensures that students continually focus on the technical and interpersonal skills necessary to prepare them for workplace. In addition, students evaluate the roles and qualifications required for specific accounting careers, so they can identify opportunities that interest them. Accounting II is a full-year advanced Career and Technical Education course applicable to programs of study in the Finance or Business Management and Administration career clusters. This course is built to state and national CTE standards. Students who successfully complete the course will be prepared to pursue certifications such as Associate in Regulation and Compliance, Certified Management Accountant, or Certified Quality Auditor.

    Business Applications
    • Transcript Category: Elective
    • CA A-G Approval: G
    • NCAA Approved: N/A
    • Length: Half year or 1 semester

      • Business Applications prepares students to succeed in the workplace. Students begin by establishing an awareness of the roles essential to an organization's success, and then work to develop an understanding of professional communications and leadership skills. In doing so, students gain proficiency with word processing, email, and presentation management software.
      This course allows students to explore careers in business while learning skills applicable to any professional setting. Through a series of hands-on activities, students will create, analyze, and critique reports, letters, project plans, presentations, and other professional communications. Regular engagement in active learning ensures students can continually refine the skills necessary to prepare them for work. In addition, students will evaluate the qualifications required for specific careers so they can identify opportunities that are of interest to them.
      Business Applications is an introductory level Career and Technical Education course applicable to programs of study in business, management, and administration; information technology; and other career clusters. This course is built to state and national standards. Students who successfully complete the course can go on to obtain the Microsoft® Office Specialist: Microsoft® Office Word certification. (Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.)

    Computer Applications
    • Transcript Category: Elective
    • CA A-G Approval: G
    • NCAA Approved: N/A
    • Length: Half year or 1 semester

      • Computer Applications provides an introduction to software applications that prepares students to succeed in the workplace and beyond. Students will develop an understanding of professional communications and leadership skills while gaining proficiency with word processing, email, and presentation management software. Students will also be able to demonstrate digital literacy through basic study web publishing and design, spreadsheets and database software.
      This course allows students to explore careers in the fields of business and information technology while learning skills applicable to any professional setting. Through a series of hands-on activities, students will create, analyze, and critique reports, letters, project plans, presentations, and other professional communications. Regular engagement in active learning ensures students can continually refine the skills necessary to prepare them for work. In addition, students will evaluate the qualifications required for specific careers so they can identify opportunities that are of interest to them.
      Computer Applications is an introductory level Career and Technical Education course applicable to programs of study in Business Management and Administration, Information Technology, and other career clusters. This course is built to state and national standards.

    Human Resources Principles
    • Transcript Category: Elective
    • CA A-G Approval: G
    • NCAA Approved: N/A
    • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Human Resources Principles examines the main functions of human resources management, including planning, recruitment, selection, training, development, compensation, and evaluation. In so doing, the course provides students with the tools to hire, manage, and fire employees. Students will also explore the unique role of human resources in the larger organization.
      This course allows students to explore careers in business while learning skills applicable to any professional setting. Through a series of hands-on activities, students will create a recruiting plan, develop a strategy to promote a positive organizational culture, and analyze the impact of globalization on the human resources. Regular engagement in active learning ensures students can continually refine the skills necessary to prepare them for work. In addition, students will evaluate the qualifications required for specific careers so they can identify opportunities of interest to them.
      Human Resources Principles is a full-year intermediate or capstone Career and Technical Education course applicable to programs of study in the Business, Management and Administration career cluster. This course is built to state and national standards. Students who successfully complete the course will be prepared to pursue certifications such as Associate Professional in Human ResourcesTM, Certified Administrative Manager, or Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®.

    Information Technology Applications
    • Transcript Category: Elective
    • CA A-G Approval: G
    • NCAA Approved: N/A
    • Length: Half year or 1 semester

      • Information Technology Applications prepares students to work in the field of Information Technology. Students will be able to demonstrate digital literacy through basic study of computer hardware, operating systems, networking, the Internet, web publishing, spreadsheets and database software. Through a series of hand-on activities, students will learn what to expect in the field of Information Technology and begin exploring career options in the field.
      Information Technology Applications is an introductory level Career and Technical Education course applicable to programs of study in information technology as well as other career clusters. This course is built to state and national standards. Students who successfully complete the course will be prepared to pursue the Microsoft® Office Specialist certifications in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access, as well as IC3 certification.

    Introduction to Business and Technology
    • Transcript Category: Elective
    • CA A-G Approval: G
    • NCAA Approved: N/A
    • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Introduction to Business and Technology provides the foundational knowledge and skills students need for careers in business and technology. Throughout the course, students gain a knowledge of business principles and communication skills, an understanding of the impact of financial and marketing decisions, and proficiency in the technologies required by business. Students will also learn the essentials of working in a business environment, managing a business, and owning a business.
      This course allows students to explore careers in business and information technology while learning skills applicable to any professional setting. Through a variety of hands-on activities, students will engage with word processing, presentation, and spreadsheet software and explore operating systems, networking, and the Internet. Regular engagement in active learning ensures students can continually refine the skills necessary to prepare them for work. In addition, students will evaluate the qualifications required for specific careers so they can identify opportunities of interest to them.
      Introduction to Business and Technology is a full-year introductory Career and Technical Education course applicable to programs of study in the Business, Management and Administration and Information Technology career clusters, as well as other career clusters. This course is built to state and national standards. Students who successfully complete the course will be prepared to pursue certifications such as Microsoft® Office Specialist certifications in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access, as well as IC3 certification.

    b> Legal Environment of Business
    • Transcript Category: Elective
    • CA A-G Approval: G
    • NCAA Approved: N/A
    • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Legal Environment of Business examines the role of the law on all aspects of business ownership and management. Throughout the course, students focus on legal ethics, court procedures, torts, contracts, consumer law, property law, employment law, environmental law, and international law. Students also explore the impact of laws, regulations, and judicial decisions on society at large.
      This course allows students to explore careers in business while learning skills applicable to any professional setting. Through a series of hands-on activities, students will prepare legal documents, create a compliance plan, and research consumer protection issues. Regular engagement in active learning ensures students can continually refine the skills necessary to prepare them for work. In addition, students will evaluate the qualifications required for specific careers so they can identify opportunities of interest to them.
      Legal Environment of Business is a full-year intermediate or capstone Career and Technical Education course applicable to programs of study in the Business, Management and Administration career cluster. This course is built to state and national standards. Students who successfully complete the course will be prepared to pursue certifications such as Accredited Legal Professional, Certified Administrative Manager, or Certified Associate in Project Management®.

    Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance
    • Transcript Category: Elective
    • CA A-G Approval: G
    • NCAA Approved: N/A
    • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance provides the knowledge and skills students need for careers in business and marketing. Students begin exploring roles and functions that business and marketing play in a global society, develop an understanding of the market place, as well as understanding product placement and promotion.
      Students analyze the impact of government, legal systems, and organized labor on business; develop an understanding of business communications and management; and explore legal, ethical, and financial issues in business and marketing. Furthermore, students delve into basic economic concepts including personal finance, economic systems, cost-profit relationships, and economic indicators and trends.
      Using hands-on activities, students reinforce, apply and transfer academic knowledge and skills to a variety of interesting and relevant real-world inspired scenarios. This course focuses on developing knowledge and skills around marketing, pricing, distribution and management, while also focusing on economics and interpersonal skills. This course also addresses exploring career options in business and marketing as well as securing and keeping a job.

    Principles of Health Science
    • Transcript Category: Elective
    • CA A-G Approval: G
    • NCAA Approved: N/A
    • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Principles of Health Science provides knowledge and skills students need for careers in health care. Students explore the services, structure, and professions of the health care system and get guidance on choosing a specific career path in health services, including career paths in emergency medicine, nutrition, and alternative medicine.
      Students focus on day-to-day skills and expectations for health professionals, which include promoting wellness, maintaining a safe environment, creating medical records, and practicing good communication, collaboration, and leadership. In addition, students will expand their understanding of health and safety systems, how to address emergency situations, and deal with infection control issues. Students will also explore topics in medical science, terminology, procedures, and regulations - including an overview of physiology and medical measurements.
      Using real-life scenarios and application-driven activities, students learn the responsibilities and challenges of being health care professionals and deepen their knowledge of various career options. In addition to building their understanding of technical concepts and skills, students evaluate the qualifications required for specific careers and develop personal career plans to pursue work in the health care industry and extend their knowledge of oral and written communication in health science.

    Principles of Information Technology
    • Transcript Category: Elective
    • CA A-G Approval: G
    • NCAA Approved: N/A
    • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • Principles of Information Technology prepares students to succeed in the workplace. Students begin by establishing an awareness of the roles essential to an organization's success, and then work to develop an understanding of professional communications and leadership skills. In doing so, students gain proficiency with word processing, email, and presentation management software. Students will also be able to demonstrate digital literacy through basic study of computer hardware, operating systems, networking, the Internet, web publishing, spreadsheets and database software.
      This course allows students to explore careers in information technology and business while learning skills applicable to any professional setting. Through a series of hands-on activities, students will create, analyze, and critique reports, letters, project plans, presentations, and other professional communications. Students will learn what to expect in the field of Information Technology and begin exploring career options in the field. Regular engagement in active learning ensures students can continually refine the skills necessary to prepare them for work. In addition, students will evaluate the qualifications required for specific careers so they can identify opportunities that are of interest to them.
      Principles of Information Technology is a full-year introductory Career and Technical Education course applicable to programs of study in business, management, and administration; information technology; and other career clusters. This course is built to state and national standards. Students who successfully complete the course will be prepared to pursue the Microsoft® Office Specialist certifications in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access*, as well as IC3 certification.
      *Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

    • AP Biology
      • Transcript Category: Life Science
      • CA A-G Approval: D
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • AP Biology builds students' understanding of biology on both the micro and macro scales. After studying cell biology, students move on to understand how evolution drives the diversity and unity of life. Students will examine how living systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information and how organisms utilize free energy. The equivalent of an introductory college-level biology course, AP Biology prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in science, health sciences, or engineering.The AP Biology course provides a learning experience focused on allowing students to develop their critical thinking skills and cognitive strategies. Frequent no- and low-stakes assessments allow students to measure their comprehension and improve their performance as they progress through each activity. Students regularly engage with primary sources, allowing them to practice the critical reading and analysis skills that they will need in order to pass the AP exam and succeed in a college biology course. Students perform hands-on labs that give them insight into the nature of science and help them understand biological concepts, as well as how evidence can be obtained to support those concepts. Students also complete several virtual lab studies in which they form hypotheses; collect, analyze, and manipulate data; and report their findings and conclusions.  During both virtual and traditional lab investigations and research opportunities, students summarize their findings and analyze others' findings in summaries, using statistical and mathematical calculations when appropriate. Summative tests are offered at the end of each unit as well as at the end of each semester, and contain objective and constructed response items. Robust scaffolding, rigorous instruction, relevant material and regular active learning opportunities ensure that students can achieve mastery of the skills necessary to excel on the AP exam.


     
    • AP Chemistry
      • Transcript Category: Physical Science
      • CA A-G Approval: D
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • AP Chemistry builds students' understanding of the nature and reactivity of matter. After studying chemical reactions and electrochemistry, students move on to understand how the chemical and physical properties of materials can be explained by the structure and arrangements of the molecules and the forces between those molecules. Students will examine the laws of thermodynamics, molecular collisions, and the reorganization of matter in order to understand how changes in matter take place. Finally, students will explore chemical equilibria, including acid-base equilibria. The equivalent of an introductory college-level chemistry course, AP Chemistry prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in science, health sciences, or engineering.The AP Chemistry course provides a learning experience focused on allowing students to develop their critical thinking skills and cognitive strategies. Frequent no- and low-stakes assessments allow students to measure their comprehension and improve their performance as they progress through each activity. Students regularly engage with primary source materials, allowing them to practice the critical reading and analysis skills that they will need in order to pass the AP exam and succeed in a college chemistry course. Students perform hands-on labs that give them insight into the nature of science and help them understand chemical concepts, as well as how evidence can be obtained to support those concepts. Students also complete several virtual lab studies in which they form hypotheses; collect, analyze, and manipulate data; and report their findings and conclusions. During both virtual and traditional lab investigations and research opportunities, students summarize their findings and analyze others' findings in summaries, using statistical and mathematical calculations when appropriate. Summative tests are offered at the end of each unit as well as at the end of each semester, and contain objective and constructed response items. Robust scaffolding, rigorous instruction, relevant material, and regular active learning opportunities ensure that students can achieve mastery of the skills necessary to excel on the AP exam.


     
    • AP Environmental Science
      • Transcript Category: Life and Physical Science
      • CA A-G Approval: D
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • AP* Environmental Science provides students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world. The course draws upon various disciplines, including geology, biology, environmental studies, environmental science, chemistry, and geography in order to explore a variety of environmental topics. Topics explored include natural systems on Earth; biogeochemical cycles; the nature of matter and energy; the flow of matter and energy through living systems; populations; communities; ecosystems; ecological pyramids; renewable and nonrenewable resources; land use; biodiversity; pollution; conservation; sustainability; and human impacts on the environment. The equivalent of an introductory college-level science course, AP Environmental Science prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in science, health sciences, or engineering.The AP Environmental Science course provides a learning experience focused on allowing students to develop their critical thinking skills and cognitive strategies. Scientific inquiry skills are embedded in the direct instruction, wherein students learn to ask scientific questions, deconstruct claims, form and test hypotheses, and use logic and evidence to draw conclusions about the concepts. Frequent no- and low-stakes assessments allow students to measure their comprehension and improve their performance as they progress through each activity.
        Students perform hands-on labs and projects that give them insight into the nature of science and help them understand environmental concepts, as well as how evidence can be obtained to support those concepts. Virtual lab activities enable students to engage in investigations that would otherwise require long periods of observation at remote locations and to explore simulations that enable environmental scientists to test predictions. During both hands-on and virtual labs, students form hypotheses; collect, analyze, and manipulate data; and report their findings and conclusions. Throughout this course, students are given an opportunity to understand how biology, earth science, and physical science are applied to the study of the environment and how technology and engineering are contributing solutions for studying and creating a sustainable biosphere.
        Summative tests are offered at the end of each unit as well as at the end of each semester, and contain objective and constructed response items. Robust scaffolding, rigorous instruction, relevant material, and regular active learning opportunities ensure that students can achieve mastery of the skills necessary to excel on the AP exam.
    • AP Calculus AB
      • Transcript Category: Mathematics
      • CA A-G Approval: C
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • In AP Calculus AB, students learn to understand change geometrically and visually (by studying graphs of curves), analytically (by studying and working with mathematical formulas), numerically (by seeing patterns in sets of numbers), and verbally. Instead of simply getting the right answer, students learn to evaluate the soundness of proposed solutions and to apply mathematical reasoning to real-world models. Calculus helps scientists, engineers, and financial analysts understand the complex relationships behind real-world phenomena. The equivalent of an introductory college-level calculus course, AP Calculus AB prepares students for the AP exam and further studies in science, engineering, and mathematics.


    • AP Statistics
      • Transcript Category: Mathematics
      • CA A-G Approval: C
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      • AP Statistics gives students hands-on experience collecting, analyzing, graphing, and interpreting real-world data. They will learn to effectively design and analyze research studies by reviewing and evaluating real research examples taken from daily life. The next time they hear the results of a poll or study, they will know whether the results are valid. As the art of drawing conclusions from imperfect data and the science of real-world uncertainties, statistics plays an important role in many fields. The equivalent of an introductory college-level course, AP Statistics prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in science, sociology, medicine, engineering, political science, geography, and business.


    • AP English Language and Composition
      • Transcript Category: English
      • CA A-G Approval: B
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters
      • In AP English Language and Composition, students investigate rhetoric and its impact on culture through analysis of notable fiction and nonfiction texts, from pamphlets to speeches to personal essays. The equivalent of an introductory college-level survey class, this course prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in communications, creative writing, journalism, literature, and composition.Students explore a variety of textual forms, styles, and genres. By examining all texts through a rhetorical lens, students become skilled readers and analytical thinkers. Focusing specifically on language, purpose, and audience gives them a broad view of the effect of text and its cultural role. Students write expository and narrative texts to hone the effectiveness of their own use of language, and they develop varied, informed arguments through research. Throughout the course, students are evaluated with assessments specifically designed to prepare them for the content, form, and depth of the AP Exam.AP English Language and Composition is recommended for 11th and 12th grade students. This course fulfills 11th grade requirements.This course has been authorized by the College Board® to use the AP designation.
     
    • AP English Literature and Composition
      • Transcript Category: English
      • CA A-G Approval: B
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters
      • AP English Literature and Composition immerses students in novels, plays, poems, and short stories from various periods. Students will read and write daily, using a variety of multimedia and interactive activities, interpretive writing assignments, and class discussions to assess and improve their skills and knowledge. The course places special emphasis on reading comprehension, structural and critical analysis of written works, literary vocabulary, and recognizing and understanding literary devices. The equivalent of an introductory college-level survey class, this course prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in creative writing, communications, journalism, literature, and composition.This course has been authorized by the College Board® to use the AP designation.
  • AP Government and Politics
    • Transcript Category: Social Science
    • CA A-G Approval: A
    • NCAA Approved: Yes
    • Length: Half year or 1 semester

    AP U.S. Government and Politics studies the operations and structure of the U.S. government and the behavior of the electorate and politicians. Students will gain the analytic perspective necessary to critically evaluate political data, hypotheses, concepts, opinions, and processes. Along the way, they'll learn how to gather data about political behavior and develop their own theoretical analysis of American politics. They'll also build the skills they need to examine general propositions about government and politics, and to analyze the specific relationships between political, social, and economic institutions. The equivalent of an introductory college-level course, AP U.S. Government and Politics prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in political science, law, education, business, and history.


    • AP Macroeconomics
      • Transcript Category: Social Science or Elective
      • CA A-G Approval: G
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Half year or 1 semester

      AP Macroeconomics students learn why and how the world economy can change from month to month, how to identify trends in our economy, and how to use those trends to develop performance measures and predictors of economic growth or decline. They'll also examine how individuals, institutions, and influences affect people, and how those factors can impact everyone's life through employment rates, government spending, inflation, taxes, and production. The equivalent of a 100-level college-level class, this course prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in business, political science and history.

    • AP Microeconomics
      • Transcript Category: Social Science or Elective
      • CA A-G Approval: G
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Half year or 1 semester

      AP Microeconomics studies the behavior of individuals and businesses as they exchange goods and services in the marketplace. Students will learn why the same product costs different amounts at different stores, in different cities, at different times. They'll also learn to spot patterns in economic behavior and how to use those patterns to explain buyer and seller behavior under various conditions. Microeconomics studies the economic way of thinking, understanding the nature and function of markets, the role of scarcity and competition, the influence of factors such as interest rates on business decisions, and the role of government in promoting a healthy economy. The equivalent of a 100-level college course, AP Microeconomics prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in business, history, and political science.

    • AP Psychology
      • Transcript Category: Social Science or Elective
      • CA A-G Approval: G
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Half year or 1 semester

      AP Psychology provides an overview of current psychological research methods and theories. Students will explore the therapies used by professional counselors and clinical psychologists and examine the reasons for normal human reactions: how people learn and think, the process of human development and human aggression, altruism, intimacy, and self-reflection. They will study core psychological concepts, such as the brain and sense functions, and learn to gauge human reactions, gather information, and form meaningful syntheses. Along the way, students will also investigate relevant concepts like study skills and information retention. The equivalent of an introductory college-level survey course, AP Psychology prepares students for the AP exam and for further studies in psychology or life sciences.

    • AP United States History
      • Transcript Category: Social Science
      • CA A-G Approval: A
      • NCAA Approved: Yes
      • Length: Full year or 2 semesters

      In AP U.S. History, students investigate the development of American economics, politics, and culture through historical analysis grounded in primary sources, research, and writing. The equivalent of an introductory college-level course, AP U.S. History prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in history, political science, economics, sociology, and law.

      Through the examination of historical themes and the application of historical thinking skills, students learn to connect specific people, places, events, and ideas to the larger trends of U.S. history. Critical-reading activities, feedback-rich instruction, and application-oriented assignments hone students' ability to reason chronologically, to interpret historical sources, and to construct well-supported historical arguments. Students write throughout the course, responding to primary and secondary sources through journal entries, essays, and visual presentations of historical content. In discussion activities, students respond to the positions of others while staking and defending claims of their own. Robust scaffolding, rigorous instruction, relevant material, and regular opportunities for active learning ensure that students can achieve mastery of the skills necessary to excel on the AP exam.


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