Language Arts 9 (H)

This freshman-year English course engages students in literary analysis and inferential evaluation of great texts both classic and contemporary. While critically reading fiction, poetry, drama, and literary nonfiction, students will master comprehension and literary-analysis strategies. Interwoven in the lessons across two semesters are activities that encourage students to strengthen their oral language skills and produce clear, coherent writing.

Students will read a range of classic texts including Homer’s The Odyssey, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game.” They will also study short but complex texts, including influential speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan. Contemporary texts by Richard Preston, Julia Alvarez, and Maya Angelou round out the course.

Language Arts 10 (H)

Focused on application, this sophomore English course reinforces literary analysis and twenty-first century skills with superb pieces of literature and literary nonfiction, application e-resources, and educational interactives. Each thematic unit focuses on specific literary analysis skills and allows students to apply them to a range of genres and text structures. As these units meld modeling and application, they also expand on training in media literacy, twenty-first century career skills, and the essentials of grammar and vocabulary.

Under the guidance of the writing software, students also compose descriptive, persuasive, expository, literary analysis, research, narrative, and compare-contrast essays.

Language Arts 11 (H)

This junior-year English course invites students to delve into American literature from early Indigenous voices through contemporary works. Students engage in literary analysis and inferential evaluation of great texts as the centerpieces of this course. While critically reading fiction, poetry, drama, and expository nonfiction, students master comprehension and literary analysis strategies. Interwoven in the lessons across two semesters are tasks that encourage students to strengthen their oral language skills and produce creative, coherent writing.

Students read a range of short but complex texts, including works by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Emily Dickinson, Herman Melville, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Martin Luther King, Jr., F. Scott Fitzgerald, Sandra Cisneros, Amy Tan, and Dave Eggers.

Language Arts 12 (H)

This senior-level English course offers fascinating insight into British literary traditions spanning from Anglo-Saxon writing to the modern period. With interactive introductions and historical contexts, this full-year course connects philosophical, political, religious, ethical, and social influences of each time period to the works of many notable authors, including Chaucer, William Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and Virginia Woolf. Adding an extra dimension to the British literary experience, this course also exposes students to world literature, including works from India, Europe, China, and Spain.

Key:
* One-semester course
H - Available for Honors
° Limited availability - there may be a wait
AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the College Board.

Algebra I (H)

This full-year course focuses on five critical areas: relationships between quantities and reasoning with equations, linear and exponential relationships, descriptive statistics, expressions and equations, and quadratic functions and modeling. This course builds on the foundation set in middle grades by deepening students’ understanding of linear and exponential functions and developing fluency in writing and solving one-variable equations and inequalities. Students will interpret, analyze, compare, and contrast functions that are represented numerically, tabularly, graphically, and algebraically. Quantitative reasoning is a common thread throughout the course as students use algebra to represent quantities and the relationships among those quantities in a variety of ways. Standards of mathematical practice and process are embedded throughout the course, as students make sense of problem situations, solve novel problems, reason abstractly, and think critically.

Geometry (H)

This course formalizes what students learned about geometry in the middle grades with a focus on reasoning and making mathematical arguments. Mathematical reasoning is introduced with a study of triangle congruency, including exposure to formal proofs and geometric constructions. Then students extend what they have learned to other essential triangle concepts, including similarity, right-triangle trigonometry, and the laws of sines and cosines. Moving on to other shapes, students justify and derive various formulas for circumference, area, and volume, as well as cross-sections of solids and rotations of two-dimensional objects. Students then make important connections between geometry and algebra, including special triangles, slopes of parallel and perpendicular lines, and parabolas in the coordinate plane, before delving into an in-depth investigation of the geometry of circles. The course closes with a study of set theory and probability, as students apply theoretical and experimental approaches.

Algebra II (H)

This course focuses on functions, polynomials, periodic phenomena, and collecting and analyzing data. The course begins with a review of linear and quadratic functions to solidify a foundation for learning these new functions. Students make connections between verbal, numeric, algebraic, and graphical representations of functions and apply this knowledge as they create equations and inequalities that can be used to model and solve mathematical and real-world problems. As students refine and expand their algebraic skills, they will draw analogies among the operations and field properties of real numbers and those of complex numbers and algebraic expressions. Mathematical practices and habits of mind are embedded throughout the course, as students solve novel problems, reason abstractly, and think critically.

Precalculus (H)

With an emphasis on function families and their representations, Precalculus is a thoughtful introduction to advanced studies leading to calculus. The course briefly reviews linear equations, inequalities, and systems and moves purposefully into the study of functions. Students then discover the nature of graphs and deepen their understanding of polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions. Scaffolding rigorous content with clear instruction, the course leads students through an advanced study of trigonometric functions, matrices, and vectors. The course concludes with a short study of probability and statistics.

Mathematics I

The first in an integrated math series for high school, this course formalizes and extends middle school mathematics, deepening students’ understanding of linear relationships. The course begins with a review of relationships between quantities, building from unit conversion to a study of expressions, equations, and inequalities. Students contrast linear and exponential relationships, including a study of sequences, as well as applications such as growth and decay. Students review one-, two-, and multi-step equations, formally reasoning about each step using properties of equality. Students extend this reasoning to systems of linear equations. Students use descriptive statistics to analyze data before turning their attention to transformations and the relationship between algebra and geometry on the coordinate plane.

Mathematics II

This course begins with a brief exploration of radicals and polynomials before delving into quadratic expressions, equations, and functions, including a derivation of the quadratic formula. Students then embark on a deep study of the applications of probability and develop advanced reasoning skills with a study of similarity, congruence, and proofs of mathematical theorems. Students explore right triangles with an introduction to right-triangle trigonometry before turning their attention into the geometry of circles and making informal arguments to derive formulas for the volumes of various solids.

Mathematics III

This course synthesizes previous mathematical learning in four focused areas of instruction. First, students relate visual displays and summary statistics to various types of data and to probability distributions with a focus on drawing conclusions from the data. Then, students embark on an in-depth study of polynomial, rational, and radical functions, drawing on concepts of integers and number properties to understand polynomial operations and the combination of functions through operations. This section of instruction builds to the fundamental theorem of algebra. Students then expand the study of right-triangle trigonometry they began in Mathematics II to include non-right triangles and developing the laws of sines and cosines. Finally, students model an array of real-world situations with all the types of functions they have studied, including work with logarithms to solve exponential equations. As they synthesize and generalize what they have learned about a variety of function families, students appreciate the usefulness and relevance of mathematics in the real world.

Mathematical models with applications

Broadening and extending the mathematical knowledge and skills acquired in Algebra I, the primary purpose of this course is to use mathematics as a tool to model real-world phenomena students may encounter daily, such as finance and exponential models. Engaging lessons cover financial topics, including growth, smart money, saving, and installment-loan models. Prior mathematical knowledge is expanded and new knowledge and techniques are developed through real-world application of useful mathematical concepts.

Financial math

Connecting practical mathematical concepts to personal and business settings, this course offers informative and highly useful lessons that challenge students to gain a deeper understanding of financial math. Relevant, project-based learning activities cover stimulating topics such as personal financial planning, budgeting and wise spending, banking, paying taxes, the importance of insurance, long term investing, buying a house, consumer loans, economic principles, traveling abroad, starting a business, and analyzing business data. Offered as a two-semester course for high school students, this course encourages mastery of math skill sets, including percentages, proportions, data analysis, linear systems, and exponential functions.

Trigonometry*

In this one-semester course, students use their geometry and algebra skills to begin their study of trigonometry. Students will be required to express understanding using qualitative, quantitative, algebraic, and graphing skills. This course begins with a quick overview of right-triangle relationships before introducing trigonometric functions and their applications. Students explore angles and radian measures, circular trigonometry, and the unit circle. Students extend their understanding to trigonometric graphs, including the effects of translations and the inverses of trigonometric functions. This leads to the laws of sines and cosines, followed by an in-depth exploration of trigonometric identities and applications. This course ends with an introduction to the polar coordinate system, complex numbers, and DeMoivre’s theorem.

Statistics

This fourth-year high school math option provides a comprehensive introduction to data analysis and statistics. Students begin by reviewing familiar data displays through a more sophisticated lens before diving into an in-depth study of the normal curve. They then study and apply simple linear regression and explore sampling and experimentation. Next, students review probability concepts and begin a study of random variables. Later topics also include sampling distributions, estimating and testing claims about proportions and means, and inferences and confidence intervals.

Concepts in probability and statistics

This full-year high school course provides an alternative math credit for students who may not wish to pursue more advanced mathematics courses such as Algebra II and Pre-Calculus. The first half of the course begins with an in-depth study of probability and an exploration of sampling and comparing populations and closes with units on data distributions and data analysis. In the second half of the course, students create and analyze scatter plots and study two-way tables and normal distributions. Finally, students apply probability to topics such as conditional probability, combinations and permutations, and sets.

Key:
* One-semester course
H - Available for Honors
° Limited availability - there may be a wait
AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the College Board.

Environmental science

Environmental science is a captivating and rapidly expanding field, and this two-semester course offers compelling lessons that cover many aspects of the field: ecology, the biosphere, land, forests and soil, water, energy and resources, and societies and policy. Through unique activities and material, high school students connect scientific theory and concepts to current, real-world dilemmas, providing them with opportunities for mastery in each of the segments throughout the semester.

Biology (H)

This compelling two-semester course engages students in the study of life and living organisms and examines biology and biochemistry in the real world. This is a yearlong course that encompasses traditional concepts in biology and encourages exploration of new discoveries in this field of science. The components include biochemistry, cell biology, cell processes, heredity and reproduction, the evolution of life, taxonomy, human body systems, and ecology.

Chemistry (H)

This rigorous, full-year course engages students in the study of the composition, properties, changes, and interactions of matter. The course covers the basic concepts of chemistry and includes eighteen virtual laboratory experiments that encourage higher-order thinking applications. The components of this course include chemistry and its methods, the composition and properties of matter, changes and interactions of matter, factors affecting the interactions of matter, electrochemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, nuclear chemistry, mathematical applications, and applications of chemistry in the real world.

Physics (H)

This full-year course acquaints students with topics in classical and modern physics. The course emphasizes conceptual understanding of basic physics principles, including Newtonian mechanics, energy, thermodynamics, waves, electricity, magnetism, and nuclear and modern physics. Throughout the course, students solve mathematical problems, reason abstractly, and learn to think critically about the physical world, in which students ask questions and create hypotheses.

Astronomy 1A* and 1B*: Exploring the Universe

Why do stars twinkle? Is it possible to fall into a black hole? Will the sun ever stop shining? Since the first glimpse of the night sky, humans have been fascinated with the stars, planets, and universe that surround us. This course will introduce students to the study of astronomy, including its history and development, basic scientific laws of motion and gravity, the concepts of modern astronomy, and the methods used by astronomers to learn more about the universe. Additional topics include the solar system, the Milky Way and other galaxies, and the sun and stars. Using online tools, students will examine the life cycle of stars, the properties of planets, and the exploration of space.

Biotechnology 1A: Introduction*

Biotechnology is a cutting-edge, high-demand field that encompasses everything from plant and animal breeding to genetics. Discover how biotechnology has changed the world around us, from food to genetics. Explore historical applications with modern discoveries. Understand how regulations and ethics govern the course of biotechnology and learn of its importance to the field of medicine.

Biotechnology 1B: Unlocking nature's secrets*

Learn how and why biotechnology is so important to the agricultural, pharmaceutical, and genetic fields of study. You’ll learn about mapping the human genome, the role of antibiotics, how medicine is created to combat diseases, and the future of the biotechnology field.

Forensic Science 1: Secrets of the dead*

Fingerprints. Blood spatter. DNA analysis. The world of law enforcement is increasingly making use of the techniques and knowledge from the sciences to better understand the crimes that are committed and to catch those individuals responsible for the crimes. Forensic science applies scientific knowledge to the criminal justice system. This course focuses on some of the techniques and practices used by forensic scientists during a crime scene investigation (CSI). Starting with how clues and data are recorded and preserved, the student will follow evidence trails until the CSI goes to trial, examining how various elements of the crime scene are analyzed and processed.

Forensic Science 2: More secrets of the dead*

Although the crime scene represents the first step in solving crimes through forensic science, the crime laboratory plays a critical role in the analysis of evidence. This course focuses on the analysis of evidence and testing that takes place within this setting. We will examine some of the basic scientific principles and knowledge that guide forensic laboratory processes, such as testing DNA, toxicology, and material analysis. Techniques such as microscopy, chromatography, odontology, entomology, mineralogy, and spectroscopy will be examined.

Marine science 1A* and 1B*:Secrets of the deep blue

Have you wondered about the secrets of the deep and how the creatures below the ocean’s surface live and thrive? Understand more about the aquatic cycles, structures, and processes that generate and sustain life in the sea.

Key:
* One-semester course
H - Available for Honors
° Limited availability - there may be a wait
AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the College Board.

Survey of World History (H)

This yearlong course examines the major events and turning points of world history from ancient times to the present. Students investigate the development of classical civilizations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia, and they explore the economic, political, and social revolutions that have transformed human history. At the end of the course, students conduct a rigorous study of modern history, allowing them to draw connections between past events and contemporary issues. The use of recurring themes, such as social history, democratic government, and the relationship between history and the arts, allows students to draw connections between the past and the present, among cultures, and among multiple perspectives. Throughout the course, students use a variety of primary and secondary sources, including legal documents, essays, historical writings, and political cartoons to evaluate the reliability of historical evidence and to draw conclusions about historical events.

U.S. History I (H)

U.S. History I is a yearlong course that dynamically explores the people, places, and events that shaped early United States history. This course stretches from the Era of Exploration through the Industrial Revolution, leading students through careful examination of the defining moments that shaped the nation of today. Students begin by exploring the colonization of the New World and examining the foundations of colonial society. As they study the early history of the United States, students will learn critical-thinking skills by examining the constitutional foundations of the U.S. government. Recurring themes such as territorial expansion, the rise of industrialization, and the significance of slavery will be examined in the context of how these issues contributed to the Civil War and Reconstruction.

U.S. History II (H)

U.S. History II is a yearlong course that examines the major events and turning points of U.S. history from the Industrial Revolution through the modern age. The course leads students toward a clearer understanding of the patterns, processes, and people that have shaped U.S. history. As students progress through each era of modern U.S. history, they will study the impact of dynamic leadership and economic and political change on our country’s rise to global prominence. Students will also examine the influence of social and political movements on societal change and the importance of modern cultural and political developments. Recurring themes lead students to draw connections between the past and the present, between cultures, and among multiple perspectives.

Survey of U.S. History (H)

This one-year high school course presents a cohesive and comprehensive overview of the history of the United States, surveying the major events and turning points of U. S. history as it moves from the Era of Exploration through modern times. As students examine each era of history, they will analyze primary sources and carefully research events to gain a clearer understanding of the factors that have shaped U. S. history. In early units, students will assess the foundations of U. S. democracy while examining crucial documents. In later units, students will examine the effects of territorial expansion, the Civil War, and the rise of industrialization. They will also assess the outcomes of economic trends and the connections between culture and government. As the course draws to a close, students will focus their studies on the causes of cultural and political change in the modern age. Throughout the course, students will learn the importance of cultural diversity while examining history from different perspectives.

U.S. Government* (H)

This semester-long course provides students with a practical understanding of the principles and procedures of government. The course begins by establishing the origins and founding principles of American government. After a rigorous review of the Constitution and its amendments, students investigate the development and extension of civil rights and liberties.

Lessons also introduce influential Supreme Court decisions to demonstrate the impact and importance of constitutional rights. The course builds on this foundation by guiding students through the function of government today and the role of citizens in the civic process and culminates in an examination of public policy and the roles of citizens and organizations in promoting policy changes.

Throughout the course, students examine primary and secondary sources, including political cartoons, essays, and judicial opinions. Students also sharpen their writing skills in shorter tasks and assignments and practice outlining and drafting skills by writing full informative and argumentative essays.

Economics* (H)

This one-semester course invites students to broaden their understanding of how economic concepts apply to their everyday lives, including microeconomic and macroeconomic theory and the characteristics of mixed-market economies, the role of government in a free-enterprise system and the global economy, and personal finance strategies.

Throughout the course, students apply critical-thinking skills while making practical economic choices. Students also master literacy skills through rigorous reading and writing activities.

Students analyze data displays and write routinely and responsively in tasks and assignments that are based on scenarios, texts, activities, and examples. In more extensive, process-based writing lessons, students write full-length essays in informative and argumentative formats.

Key
* One-semester course
° Limited availability - there may be a wait

AP® Calculus AB

This college-level, year-long course prepares students for the Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus AB Exam. Major topics of study in this full-year course include a review of pre-calculus, limits, derivatives, definite integrals, mathematical modeling of differential equations, and the applications of these concepts. Emphasis is placed on the use of technology to solve problems and draw conclusions. The course utilizes a multi-representative approach to calculus with concepts and problems expressed numerically, graphically, verbally, and analytically.

AP® English language & Composition

In this introductory college-level course designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement exam, students advance their understanding of rhetoric and writing through the reading, analyzing, and writing of rhetorical texts. Throughout the course, students explore the basic tenets of writing and argumentation, such as rhetorical situation, claims and evidence, reasoning and organization, and style.

Students will read and analyze a variety of nonfiction genres, including essays, journalism articles, political writings, science writings, nature writings, autobiographies, biographies, diaries, speeches, history writings, and criticisms from multiple perspectives and backgrounds. The primary focus is on writing evidence-based analytical, synthesis, and argumentative essays and analyzing the rhetorical choices of a wide range of nonfiction. In addition to explicit instruction and a variety of independent and collaborative learning opportunities, the course offers specific exam preparation lessons and practice.

AP® English Literature & Composition

In this introductory college-level course designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement exam, students develop the fundamentals of literary analysis and introductory college compositions. The course focuses on analyzing, evaluating, and interpreting literary fiction, poetry, and drama from a range of literary periods, authors, and perspectives. The diverse canon allows students to explore the function of character, setting, structure, narrator, and figurative language. Through a wide range of instruction and collaborative writing activities, students articulate their interpretation of literature through writing. The course includes exam preparation and practice that anticipates common student misconceptions.

AP® Environmental Science

This is a laboratory- and field-based course designed to provide students with the content and skills needed to understand the various interrelationships in the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems, and to propose and examine solutions to these problems. Since this is an online course, the laboratory- and field-based activities will be completed virtually and via experiments that students can easily perform at home with common materials. The course is intended to be the equivalent of a one-semester, college-level ecology course, which is taught over a full year in high school. The course encompasses human population dynamics, interrelationships in nature, energy flow, resources, environmental quality, human impact on environmental systems, and environmental law.

AP® Human Geography

The goal of the course is to provide students with a geographic perspective through which to view the world. Through a combination of direct instruction, documentary videos, and online readings, students will explore geographic concepts, theories, and models; human-environment interactions; and interactions among human systems. Topics covered include population, culture, political organization of space, agricultural land use, industrialization, and urban land use. Students will demonstrate their understanding and acquisition of skills through essays, document-based questions, student collaborative activities, and practice AP exams.

AP® Psychology

AP Psychology will introduce students to the systematic study of the behavior and mental processes of human means and animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with the major fields within psychology. Students also learn about the methods psychologists use in their science and practice. The major aim of this course is to provide each student with a learning experience equivalent to that obtained in most introductory college psychology courses. In addition, this course has been designed to help students successfully achieve a passing score on the AP Psychology exam.

AP® Statistics

This yearlong, college-level course is designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement (AP) Statistics exam. Major topics of study include exploring one- and two-variable data, sampling, experimentation, probability, sampling distributions, and statistical inference. These topics are organized into three big ideas: variation and distribution, patterns and uncertainty, data-based predictions, decisions, and conclusions.

AP® U.S. History

This course surveys the history of the United States from the settlement of the New World to modern times and prepares students for the AP United States History Exam. The course emphasizes themes such as national identity, economic transformation, immigration, politics, international relations, geography, and social and cultural change. Students learn to assess historical materials, weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarships, and analyze and express historical understanding in writing.

AP® U.S. Government and Politics*

This one-semester college-level course is designed to prepare students for the AP United States Government and Politics exam. Students will study the Constitutional underpinnings and structure of the United States government, issues of politics and political parties, and topics in civil rights and public policy, demonstrating their understanding and acquisition of skills through written work, project-based activities, and practice exams.

AP® World History: Modern

This advanced study of world history explores historical themes common to societies around the world and across time periods, from 1200 to the present day. Emphasis is placed on document analysis, historical thinking skills, reasoning processes, and essay writing. Students will demonstrate their understanding and acquisition of skills through written work, document-based questions, project-based activities, and practice exams.

Key:
* One-semester course
H - Available for Honors
° Limited availability - there may be a wait
AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the College Board.

Spanish I

Students begin their introduction to high school Spanish with fundamental building blocks in four key areas of foreign language study: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Each unit consists of an ongoing adventure story, a new vocabulary theme and grammar concept, numerous interactive games reinforcing vocabulary and grammar, reading and listening comprehension activities, speaking and writing activities, and multimedia cultural presentations covering major Spanish-speaking areas in Europe and the Americas.

Spanish II

High school students continue their introduction to Spanish with fundamental building blocks in four key areas of foreign language study: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Each unit consists of an ongoing adventure story, a new vocabulary theme and grammar concept, numerous interactive games reinforcing vocabulary and grammar, reading and listening comprehension activities, speaking and writing activities, cultural presentations covering major Spanish-speaking areas in Europe and the Americas, and assessments.

Spanish III

In this expanding engagement with Spanish, high school students deepen their focus on four key skills in foreign language acquisition: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. In addition, students read significant works of literature in Spanish and respond orally or in writing to these works. Continuing the pattern and building on what students encountered in the first two years, each unit consists of a new vocabulary theme and grammar concept, numerous interactive games reinforcing vocabulary and grammar, reading and listening comprehension activities, speaking and writing activities, and multimedia cultural presentations covering major Spanish-speaking areas in Europe and the Americas.

French I

Students in high school begin their introduction to French with fundamental building blocks in four key areas of foreign language study: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Each unit consists of an ongoing adventure story, a new vocabulary theme and grammar concept, numerous interactive games reinforcing vocabulary and grammar, reading and listening comprehension activities, speaking and writing activities, and multimedia cultural presentations covering major French-speaking areas in Europe and across the globe.

French II

Students continue their introduction to French in this second-year, high school language course with review of fundamental building blocks in four key areas of foreign language study: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Each unit consists of an ongoing adventure story, a new vocabulary theme and grammar concept, numerous interactive games reinforcing vocabulary and grammar, reading and listening comprehension activities, speaking and writing activities, cultural presentations covering major French-speaking areas across the globe, and assessments.

French III

In this expanding engagement with French, high school students deepen their focus on four key skills in foreign language acquisition: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. In addition, students read significant works of literature in French and respond orally or in writing to these works. Continuing the pattern and building on what students encountered in the first two years, each unit consists of a new vocabulary theme and grammar concept, numerous interactive games reinforcing vocabulary and grammar, reading and listening comprehension activities, speaking and writing activities, and multimedia cultural presentations covering major French-speaking areas in Europe and the Americas.

German I°

High school students begin their introduction to German with fundamental building blocks in four key areas of foreign language study: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Each unit consists of an ongoing adventure story, a new vocabulary theme and grammar concept, numerous interactive games reinforcing vocabulary and grammar, reading and listening comprehension activities, speaking and writing activities, and cultural presentations covering major German-speaking areas in Europe.

German II°

Students continue their introduction to high school German in this second-year course with review of fundamental building blocks in four key areas of foreign language study: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Each unit consists of an ongoing adventure story, a new vocabulary theme and grammar concept, numerous interactive games reinforcing vocabulary and grammar, reading and listening comprehension activities, speaking and writing activities, and cultural presentations covering major German-speaking areas in Europe.

Chinese I°

High school students begin their introduction to Chinese with fundamental building blocks in four key areas of foreign language study: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Each unit consists of an ongoing adventure story, a new vocabulary theme and grammar concept, numerous interactive games reinforcing vocabulary and grammar, reading and listening comprehension activities, speaking and writing activities, and multimedia cultural presentations covering major Chinese-speaking countries.

Chinese II°

Students in high school continue their introduction to Chinese in this second-year course with review of fundamental building blocks in four key areas of foreign language study: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Each unit consists of an ongoing adventure story, a new vocabulary theme and grammar concept, numerous interactive games reinforcing vocabulary and grammar, reading and listening comprehension activities, speaking and writing activities, and multimedia cultural presentations covering major Chinese-speaking countries.

Latin I°

High school students begin their introduction to Latin with fundamental building blocks in four key areas of foreign language study: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Each unit consists of a new vocabulary theme and grammar concept, numerous interactive games reinforcing vocabulary and grammar, reading and listening comprehension activities, speaking and writing activities, cultural presentations covering significant aspects of Roman culture or their modern-day manifestations, and assessments.

Latin II°

Students continue their introduction to high school Latin by continuing to cover the fundamental building blocks in four key areas of foreign language study: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Each unit consists of a new vocabulary theme and grammar concept, a notable ancient myth in Latin, numerous interactive games reinforcing vocabulary and grammar, reading and listening comprehension activities, speaking and writing activities, cultural presentations covering significant aspects of Roman culture or their modern-day manifestations, and assessments.

American sign language 1a° and 1b°**

This beginning of this full-year course will introduce you to vocabulary and simple sentences, so that you can start communicating right away. Importantly, you will explore Deaf culture: social beliefs, traditions, history, values and communities influenced by deafness. The second semester will introduce you to more of this language and its grammatical structures.

Middle School Health Quest*

This middle school Health course introduces students to the concepts of what good health is, why good health is important, and what students should do in order to achieve good health.

By the end of this course, students will be able to demonstrate an awareness of health as it applies to their bodies, minds, and environment; identify the components of a healthy lifestyle; set reasonable wellness goals; and apply health concepts across multiple contexts.

Middle School Fitness Basics 1* & 2*

This course is designed to provide students with the basic skills and information needed to begin a personalized exercise program and maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.

Students participate in pre- and post-fitness assessments in which they measure and analyze their own levels of fitness based on the five components of physical fitness: muscular strength, endurance, cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, and body composition.

In this course, students research the benefits of physical activity, as well as the techniques, principles, and guidelines of exercise to keep them safe and healthy.

Throughout this course, students participate in a weekly fitness program involving elements of cardio, strength, and flexibility.

Middle School Health *

This comprehensive health course is designed for middle school students. It covers basic information about body systems, disease, and hygiene.

Students explore the various realms of health, including mental, social, and emotional health. In addition, students learn important life skills such as decision-making and refusal skills.

Middle School Intro to Group Sports 1* & 2*

This course provides students with an overview of group sports. Students learn about a variety of sports, with an in-depth study of soccer or basketball in Intro to Group Sports 1, and baseball/softball and volleyball in Intro to Group Sports 2.

Students learn the history, rules, and guidelines of each sport, as well as game strategy and the benefits of sports. In addition, students study elements of personal fitness, goal setting, sport safety, and sports nutrition.

Students conduct a pre- and post-fitness assessment, as well as participate in regular weekly physical activity as they practice skills related to group sports.

Middle School Into to Individual Sports 1* & 2*

This course provides students with an overview of individual sports. Students learn about a variety of sports, yet do an in-depth study of running, walking, strength training, yoga, dance, biking, swimming, and cross-training.

Students learn not only the history, rules, and guidelines of each sport, but also practice flexibility.

Family & Consumer Sciences *

This course prepares students with a variety of skills for independent or family living. Topics covered include child care, home maintenance, food preparation, money management, medical management, clothing care, and more.

The course also focuses on household, personal, and consumer health and safety. In addition, students learn goal-setting and decision-making skills, as well as explore possible career options.

Family Living *

In this course, students examine the family unit and characteristics of healthy and unhealthy relationships at different phases of life—including information on self-discovery, family, friendships, dating and abstinence, marriage, pregnancy, and parenthood.

Students learn about the life cycle and the different stages of development, from infancy to adulthood. The course also focuses on a variety of skills to improve relationships and family living, including coping skills, communication skills, refusal skills, babysitting, parenting, and healthy living and disease prevention habits.

Life Skills *

This course allows students to explore their personality type and interests, as well as refine important skills that will benefit them throughout their lives, including personal nutrition and fitness skills, time and stress management, communication and healthy relationships, goal setting, study skills, leadership and service, environmental and consumer health, and personal finances.

In addition, students explore possible colleges and careers that match their needs, interests, and talents.

Key
* One-semester course
° Limited availability - there may be a wait

Middle School Digital Literacy*°
Middle School Keyboarding and
Applications *
Middle School Computer Science °
Middle School Online Learning and Digital
Citizenship *
Middle School Career Explorations I *
Middle School Career Explorations II *
Middle School Career Explorations III *

Middle School 2D Studio Art 1A *
Middle School 2D Studio Art 1B *
Middle School Digital Art & Design 1A *
Middle School Digital Art & Design 1B *
Middle School Exploring Music 1A *

Middle School Exploring Music 1B *
Middle School Journalism 1A *
Middle School Journalism 1B *
Middle School Photography 1A *
Middle School Photography 1B *

Key
* One-semester course
° Limited availability - there may be a wait

Middle School Digital Literacy*°

This semester-long elective provides a foundation to understanding key applications, computing fundamentals, and online living.

This course focuses on describing technology basics including finger placement on the keyboard and the differences between hardware and software. Students describe the functions of operating systems and their utilities, identify computer networks, how they work, and computer and internet safety.

Students identify different communications industries and how to use email, Microsoft Word®, PowerPoint®, and Outlook®; describe how to create spreadsheets, enter data, create graphs, and use formulas and shortcuts in spreadsheets.

Additionally, students will identify the functions of PowerPoint®, digital media, intellectual property law, workplace crimes, privacy concerns, digital citizenship, and how to stay safe on social media.

Required materials: Students must have access to MS Office or Office 365, including Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word.

Keyboarding and Applications*

Keyboarding and Applications is a semester-long course that teaches students keyboarding skills, technical skills, effective communication skills, and productive work habits. Students learn proper keyboarding techniques. Once students have been introduced to keyboarding skills, lessons include daily practice of those skills.

Students gain an understanding of computer hardware, operating systems, file management, and the Internet. In addition, students apply their keyboarding skills and create a variety of business documents, including word processing documents and electronic presentations.

Required Materials:

• Word-processing software (e.g., MS Word)
• Presentation software (e.g., MS PowerPoint)
  

Middle School Computer Science °

Middle School Computer Science is a full-year course designed to introduce students in grades 6-8 to computer science as a vehicle for problem solving, communication, and personal expression. This course focuses on the visible aspects of computing and computer science, centering on the immediately observable and personally applicable elements of computer science while also asking students to look outward and explore the impact of computer science on society.

Students will explore the design process with creative, hands-on learning opportunities to create programs and collaborate with peers while learning specific aspects of computer science including problem solving, programming, physical computing, user-centered design, and data.

Required Materials:

• Access to the Microsoft Office suite or similar product line
• Python and Scratch

Middle School Online Learning and Digital
Citizenship*

This one-semester course provides students with a comprehensive introduction to online learning, including how to work independently, stay safe, and develop effective study habits in virtual learning environments.

Featuring direct-instruction videos, interactive tasks, authentic projects, and rigorous assessments, the course prepares students for high school by providing in-depth instruction and practice in important study skills such as time management, effective note-taking, test preparation, and collaborating effectively online.

By the end of the course, students will understand what it takes to be successful online learners and responsible digital citizens.

Middle School Career Explorations I*

Career Explorations I is a semester-long course designed to give middle school students an opportunity to explore various CTE subjects. Specifically, students learn about careers involving human-related services. Each of the five units introduces one particular field and explains its past, present, and future. These units include: Career Management, Introduction to Careers in Health Sciences, Hospitality and Tourism Systems, Human Services, and Consumer Services.

The goal is to whet students’ appetites for these careers. Students can then explore that career in more detail as high school students.

Middle School Career Explorations II*

Career Explorations II is a semester-long course designed to give middle school students an opportunity to explore various CTE subjects. Specifically, students learn about careers involving various technical fields from computers to agriculture. Each of the five units introduces one particular field and explains its past, present, and future. These units include: Information Technology, Introduction to Information Support and Services, Introduction to Network Systems, Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources, and Introduction to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

The goal is to whet students’ appetites for these careers. Students can then explore that career in more detail as a high school student.

Middle School Career Explorations III*

Career Explorations III is a semester-long course designed to give middle school students an opportunity to explore various CTE subjects. Specifically, students learn about careers from business to hands-on career paths. Each of the five units introduces one particular field and explains its past, present, and future. These units include: Introduction to Business and Finance, Introduction to Manufacturing, Introduction to Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics, Introduction to Architecture and Construction, and Introduction to Marketing.

The goal is to whet students’ appetites for these careers. Students can then explore that career in more detail as a high school student.

Middle School 2D Studio Art 1A* and 1B*

Journey inside the art studio and learn to bring your 2D art visions to life. Whatever medium you prefer, painting or drawing, this course will help you hone your 2D art skills. Learn the elements and principles needed to logistically create art; explore your artistic inspirations; view art from different ages and cultures; gain insight about the art of critiquing.

Middle School Digital Art & Design 1A* and 1B*

Digital art and design involves everything from advertising to animation to photography and more. In this course, you’ll learn about the evolution of art; the basic principles of art and design; the role of art in politics and society; and how to create digital art and make it come alive.

Middle School Exploring Music 1A* and 1B*

Learn about how we hear music, its history and culture, and how it affects our lives. Explore the elements of music, such as rhythm, pitch, and harmony, while discovering more about musical genres, singing and your voice, instruments, and musical composition. Tune up your understanding and appreciation for all things musical.

Middle School Journalism 1A* and 1B*

TELL YOUR STORY
Who? What? When? Where? Journalism provides us with the answers to these questions for the events that affect our lives. In this course, students will learn how to gather information, organize ideas, format stories for different forms of news media, and edit their stories for publication. The course will also examine the historical development of journalism and the role of journalism in society.

Middle School Photography 1A*

Photographs are all around us, and each helps to tell a story. Now it’s time for you to create your story through photos you learn how to take in this course. Learn the basics of using a camera, lighting, and how to choose great subjects to create magazine-worthy photos and amaze your friends and family with your skills.

Middle School Photography 1B*

Do you have vacation photos or pics of your pet that need a little editing? How about getting ready to add that new selfie you took to your social media platform? Taking photos is an art, and editing photos is a skill that many photographers seek to master. Explore how to manipulate angles and lighting, the purpose for different types of photo files, how to use different software to edit photos, and safe places you can store them. You’ll be well on your way to being an editing guru when you’re done with this course.

Key
* One-semester course
° Limited availability - there may be a wait