In high school Science courses, students focus on interconnected ideas and principles, such as change, diversity and energy. They develop scientific knowledge through collecting, analyzing and interpreting experimental evidence. In science courses, students make connections among science, technology and society, and continue to develop a sense of wonder about the natural world.

Scientific skill development will include:

• planning and initiating lab procedures
• collecting, organizing, and graphing scientific data
• analyzing and evaluating results

Students will have multiple opportunities to work in a laboratory setting, working with equipment, materials, and chemicals related to their course of study.

Students may choose to take more than one discipline of Science throughout high school.  Courses should be chosen in relation to personal goals and further study after high school, taking into consideration teacher recommendations at the end of each course.

Science Course Sequences (Each course is 5 credits

Advanced Placement (AP) Course Sequences

Every student must complete a 20 level Science course to satisfy graduation criteria. Students should enroll in the course level that best suits a student’s learning needs and post-secondary goals.

10-level Courses

Science 10 – An in-depth study of chemical nomenclature and equations, biological systems in plants, and kinetics and dynamics of objects.  Students should have strong mathematical skills, and Math 10-C is a recommended co-requisite course.

Science 14 – A general study household chemicals and safety, biology of plants and human systems, and energy transfer in every-day machines.

Science 10-4 – Please see Knowledge and Employability section.

20-level Courses

Biology 20 – Study of ecosystems and populations, energy and matter cycles in the biosphere, photosynthesis and cellular respiration, and some human systems (excretory, circulatory, nervous, digestive, respiratory).

Chemistry 20 – Students will study the bonding and properties of different types of compounds, how matter behaves as gases and solutions, and stoichiometric amounts of materials in reactions.

Physics 20 – Students study various types of motion, including kinematics and circular motion, energy and work, waves, and forces in dynamics.

Science 20 – Students focus on changes in the natural world, including changes in chemical system, motion, the Earth through time, and living systems.

Science 20-4 – Please see Knowledge and Employability section.

30-level Courses

Biology 30 – Students continue to study the human systems (nervous and endocrine), reproduction and development, genetics and molecular biology, and population dynamics.

Chemistry 30 – Various types of reactions are studied, including electrochemical, equilibrium, and organic, along with energy changes and transfers.

Physics 30 – Energy becomes the focus of study, including forces and fields, electromagnetic radiation, momentum and impulse of moving objects, and atomic physics.

Science 30 – Students look more closely at the environment through living systems (human systems and genetics), chemicals and their reactions in nature, electromagnetic radiation in our world, and renewable and non-renewable energy use around the globe.

Advanced Placement Science Courses

Students taking individual discipline courses (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics) have the opportunity to study AP content throughout Grade 10, 11 and 12.  It is highly recommended that students begin in Grade 10, taking Science 10 Pre-AP if they plan to take AP courses through Grades 11 and 12.  Students may choose to take more than one AP Science course.