Science

Anatomy & Physiology of Human Systems

Anatomy and Physiology of Human Systems includes laboratory investigation and fieldwork using appropriate scientific inquiry.  This hands-on course is a survey of the structures and functions of the human body and homeostasis within body systems.  In this course the student will investigate the body's maintenance of homeostasis, body coordination, transport systems, energy processes, and continuation of the species.

Things to consider:

• Interest in a medical field
• Interest in human systems
• if a student has taken or is currently enrolled in Health Science, much of the material will be repeated.​​​​​

Astronomy

Astronomy is the study of the universe and celestial objects. Topics covered in this course will include impact of civilizations; motion of objects in the universe; humans' place in space; interactions of the sun, Earth, & moon; planetary seasons; use of astronomical tools; stellar activity and the life cycle of stars; structure of the universe; cosmology; and human impact & learning. Student investigations emphasize asking questions and identifying problems, gathering and analyzing data, developing and communicating models & conclusions, and making informed decisions using critical thinking and scientific problem solving

Chemistry

Chemistry is the study of the structure, composition, and behavior of matter. The course of study emphasizes the investigation of matter, its interactions, and the factors affecting the interactions. Chemistry is a laboratory-oriented course that stresses the observation of matter and its behavior, classification of matter, communication of data, measurement of chemical quantities, prediction of chemical phenomena, and manipulation of chemical investigations.

Earth Systems Science (ESS)

Earth Systems Science

Earth Systems is based on themes of the Earth, solid Earth and fluid Earth. In each theme are included the strands of systems, energy and relevance. Natural and human events and their effect on Earth's systems will be studied within the context of these themes and strands.

Things to consider

• Students that struggled with Biology should consider Earth Systems.
• Greater depth and breadth of middle school earth science topics

Topics studied include:

• Earth's History
• Geology
• Oceanography
• Climate

Environmental Systems

Environmental Systems will focus on the study of the environment with emphasis on ecology and natural resources. The current energy situation will be studied, and recycling of natural resources will be evaluated. Emphasis on people and society, including cultural perspectives and pollution problems will be made. Laboratory experiences, group discussions, and other special activities will be planned.

Things to consider:

• The least mathematical on-level science class.
• Focuses on science literacy.

Topics studied include:

• Human population growth & impact
• Food production
• Water use & pollution
• Energy use focusing on renewable sources and applications for the future
• Air pollution & climate change/global warming

Physics

Physics is the study of matter and energy and their interaction. Student investigations emphasize accurate observations, collection of data, analysis of data, and safe manipulation of laboratory materials.

Topics of Study

• One and Two Dimensional Motion
• Newton's Laws
• Work and Energy
• Gravity and Circular Motion
• Impulse and Momentum
• Mechanical and Electromagnetic Waves
• Electrostatics
• Circuits
• Magnetism
• Modern

AP Biology

The course is based on four Big Ideas, which encompass core scientific principles, theories, and processes that cut across traditional boundaries and provide a broad way of thinking about living organisms and biological systems. The following are Big Ideas:

• The process of evolution explains the diversity and unity of life. 
• Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, to reproduce, and to maintain dynamic homeostasis. 
• Living systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information essential to life processes. 
• Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties.

AP Chemistry

The key concepts and related content that define the AP Chemistry course and exam are organized around underlying principles called the Big Ideas. They encompass core scientific principles, theories, and processes that cut across traditional boundaries and provide a broad way of thinking about the particulate nature of matter underlying the observations students make about the physical world. The following are Big Ideas:

• The chemical elements are the building blocks of matter, which can be understood in terms of the arrangements of atoms.
• Chemical and physical properties of materials can be explained by the structure and the arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules and the forces between them.
• Changes in matter involve the rearrangement and/or reorganization of atoms and/or the transfer of electrons.
• Rates of chemical reactions are determined by details of the molecular collisions.
• The laws of thermodynamics describe the essential role of energy and explain and predict the direction of changes in matter.
• Bonds or attractions that can be formed can be broken. These two processes are in constant competition, sensitive to initial conditions and external forces or changes.

AP Environmental Science

Environmental science is interdisciplinary; it embraces a wide variety of topics from different areas of study. There are several unifying big ideas that cut across topics. The Big Ideas are:

• Science is a process.
• Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes.
• The Earth itself is one interconnected system.
• Humans alter natural systems.
• Environmental problems have a cultural and social context.
• Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems.

AP Physics 1

AP Physics 2

• Thermodynamics
• Electric Force, Field, and Potential
• Electric Circuits
• Magnetism and Electromagnetism
• Geometric Optics
• Waves, Sound, and Physical Optics
• Modern Physics

AP Physics C