Course Offerings
***Students in Honors Biology in 9th Grade MIGHT HAVE the option in 10th grade to concurrently take Honors Chemistry and either AP Biology, AP Environmental, or AP Physics I through a teacher recommendation process. Recommendations are based on mastery of science and engineering practices, science course average, and math placement and course average during 9th grade. If you have additional questions regarding placement options, please contact the high school’s science department chair.
**ALL placement is based on seat availability.
Biology
The Biology curriculum is designed to continue student investigations of the life sciences that began in grades K-8 and provide students with the necessary skills to be proficient in biology. This curriculum includes more abstract concepts, such as the interdependence of organisms, the relationship of matter, energy, and organization in living systems, the behavior of organisms, and biological evolution. Students investigate biological concepts through experience in laboratories and field work using the processes of inquiry.
*The state-mandated Georgia Milestones End of Course Assessment is required and counts as 10% of a student’s overall course average.
Prerequisites: A strong K-8 science background, the ability to plan/carry out an investigation, and analyze/interpret data.
Honors Biology
The Biology curriculum is designed to continue student investigations of the life sciences that began in grades K-8 and provide students with the necessary skills to be proficient in biology. This curriculum includes more abstract concepts, such as the interdependence of organisms, the relationship of matter, energy, and organization in living systems, the behavior of organisms, and biological evolution. Students investigate biological concepts through experience in laboratories and field work using the processes of inquiry. Other topics and instructional methods specific to preparing students for the rigors of future honors science courses, Advanced Placement, and IB science courses are also included.
*Georgia Milestones End of Course Assessment is required and counts as 10% of a student’s overall course average.
Prerequisites: A strong K-8 science background, the ability to plan/carry out an investigation, analyze/interpret data, think independently, and write. Advanced middle school courses are recommended for student success.
AP Biology
AP Biology is an introductory college-level biology course. Students cultivate their understanding of biology through inquiry-based investigations as they explore the following topics: evolution, cellular processes—energy and communication, genetics, information transfer, ecology, and interactions. Students are expected to take the AP Biology exam in May. This course conforms to College Board topics for preparation for the Advanced Placement Biology Examination. This course requires a rigorous college-level lab component and utilizes a college text. The prerequisites for this course as indicated by the College Board are successful completion of Biology and Chemistry.
Prerequisites: Biology and Chemistry. Honors are HIGHLY recommended for student success. Honors courses are AP prep courses.
IB Biology
The Biology HL course will provide students with higher-order investigative experiences and activities to promote a deeper understanding of critical concepts in Biology. Such concepts will include basic biochemistry, cell structure and function, genetic patterns of inheritance, plant form and function, evolution, ecology, animal physiology and the international nature of science. It emphasizes the development of inquiry skills and higher-order thinking via experiential learning. Students will be required to demonstrate knowledge in experimental methodology, data collection, and the interpretation of experimental data. The curriculum stimulates student understanding and open-mindedness by providing application to Theory of Knowledge (TOK) concepts and global connections will be discussed and integrated throughout the course.
IB Biology includes an internal assessment project that requires students to conduct an investigation in the field of biology research. It will also include a Group 4 collaborative project and an externally assessed IB exam at the end of the course.
Prerequisites: *By application only.
Chemistry
The Chemistry curriculum is designed to continue student investigations of the physical sciences that began in grades K-8 and provide students with the necessary skills to be proficient in chemistry. This curriculum includes more abstract concepts such as the structure of atoms, the structure and properties of matter, and the conservation and interaction of energy and matter. Students investigate chemistry concepts through experience in laboratories and fieldwork using the processes of inquiry.
Prerequisites: Biology and Algebra: Concepts and Connections. Geometry: Concepts and Connections co-requisite.
Honors Chemistry
The Chemistry curriculum is designed to continue student investigations of the physical sciences that began in grades K-8 and provide students with the necessary skills to be proficient in chemistry. This curriculum includes more abstract concepts such as the structure of atoms, the structure and properties of matter, and the conservation and interaction of energy and matter. Students investigate chemistry concepts through experience in laboratories and field work using the processes of inquiry. Other topics specific to preparing students for the rigors of an Advanced Placement course will be integrated throughout the course. The rigor and instructional techniques will model the Advanced Placement course requirements as much as possible.
Prerequisites: Biology (honors highly recommended for student success) and Algebra: Concepts and Connections. Geometry: Concepts and Connections co-requisite.
AP Chemistry
AP Chemistry is an introductory college-level chemistry course. Students cultivate their understanding of chemistry through inquiry-based lab investigations as they explore the four Big Ideas: scale, proportion, and quantity; structure and properties of substances; transformations; and energy. Students are expected to take the AP Chemistry exam in May. This course conforms to College Board topics for the Advanced Placement Chemistry Examination. This course requires a rigorous college-level lab component and utilizes a college text. The prerequisite for this course as indicated by the College Board is successful completion of Chemistry.
Prerequisites: Chemistry and Advanced Algebra: Concepts and Connections. Honors/Accelerated HIGHLY recommended for student success. Honors courses are AP/IB prep courses.
IB Chemistry
The IB Chemistry SL course is a year-long, second-year chemistry course. This is a rigorous experimental science that combines academic study with the acquisition of practical and investigational skills, similar to a college-level introductory chemistry course. In-depth topics of study include models of the particulate nature of matter, models of bonding and structure, classification of matter, factors that drive chemical reactions, factors that determine the rate and extent of a chemical reaction, and mechanisms of chemical change.
Students are expected to take the IB Chemistry SL exam at the completion of this course.
Prerequisites: *By application only.
Earth Systems
Earth Systems Science is designed to continue student investigations that began in K-8 Earth Science and Life Science curricula and investigate the connections between Earth’s systems through Earth history. These systems – the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere – interact through time to produce the Earth’s landscapes, ecology, and resources. This course develops the explanations of phenomena fundamental to the sciences of geology and physical geography, including the early history of the Earth, plate tectonics, landform evolution, the Earth’s geologic record, weather and climate, and the history of life on Earth.
Prerequisites: A strong K-8 science background, the ability to plan/carry out an investigation, and analyze/interpret data.
Environmental Science
The Environmental Science curriculum is designed to extend student investigations that began in grades K-8. It integrates the study of many components of our environment, including the human impact on our planet. The concepts integrated into this course include: the flow of energy and the cycle of matter, interconnection of all life, stability and change in an ecosystem, conservation and resource allocation, and evaluation of human activity and technology.
Prerequisites: A strong K-8 science background, the ability to plan/carry out an investigation, and analyze/interpret data.
AP Environmental Science
This course conforms to College Board topics for the Advanced Placement Environmental Science Examination. The major themes for this course as indicated by the AP Environmental Science course guide include Earth systems and resources, the living world, populations, land and water use, energy resources and consumption, pollution, and global change. Students are expected to take the AP Environmental Science exam in May. This course conforms to College Board topics for the Advanced Placement Environmental Science Examination. This course requires a rigorous college-level lab component and utilizes a college text. The prerequisites for this course as indicated by the College Board are successful completion of 2 science lab courses, specifically Biology and Chemistry.
Prerequisites: Biology, Chemistry and Algebra: Concepts and Connections. Honors HIGHLY recommended for student success. Honors courses are AP prep courses.
IB Environmental and Societies
Environmental Systems and Societies is an interdisciplinary course firmly grounded in both a scientific exploration of environmental systems in their structure and function, and in the exploration of cultural, economic, ethical, political and social interactions of societies with the environment. As a result of studying this course, students will become equipped with the ability to recognize and evaluate the impact of our complex system of societies on the natural world. The interdisciplinary nature of the course requires a broad skill set from students, including the ability to perform research and investigations, participation in philosophical discussion and problem-solving. The course requires a systems approach to environmental understanding and promotes holistic thinking about environmental issues. Teachers explicitly teach thinking and research skills such as comprehension, text analysis, knowledge transfer and use of primary sources. They encourage students to develop solutions at the personal, community and global levels. Students have the option to participate in a collaborative group project where students from different subjects, within or between schools, work together. It allows for concepts and perceptions from across disciplines to be shared while appreciating the environmental, social and ethical implications of science and technology. It can be practically or theoretically based and aims to develop an understanding of the relationships between scientific disciplines and their influence on other areas of knowledge. The emphasis is on interdisciplinary cooperation and the scientific processes.
Prerequisites: *By application only.
Epidemiology
The Epidemiology Georgia Standards of Excellence are designed to extend student
investigations that began in biology. This curriculum is performance-based. It integrates
scientific investigations using real-world situations to find patterns and determine the causation of pathological conditions. Instruction should focus on the design, implementation, and evaluation of studies to increase students’ media literacy and their understanding of public health.
Prerequisites: Biology, Chemistry, and Human Anatomy & Physiology or AP Biology or Healthcare Pathway.
Forensics
The Forensic Science Georgia Standards of Excellence are designed to build upon science concepts from previous courses and apply science to the investigation of crime scenes. Students will learn the scientific protocols for analyzing a crime scene, chemical and physical separation methods to isolate and identify materials, how to analyze biological evidence, and the criminal use of tools, including impressions from firearms, tool marks, arson, and explosive evidence.
Prerequisites: Biology. Chemistry is HIGHLY recommended for student success.
Human Anatomy & Physiology
The Human Anatomy and Physiology curriculum is designed to continue student investigations that began in high school biology and chemistry. Areas of study include organization of the body; protection, support and movement; providing internal coordination and regulation; processing and transporting; and reproduction, growth and development. The course integrates lab work with opportunities for dissection as well as exploration of careers related to medicine, research, health-care and modern medical technology while utilizing case studies concerning diseases, disorders and ailments.
*Students that successfully complete the Essentials of Healthcare course will also earn credit for Human Anatomy and Physiology as an embedded credit. Biology II may be scheduled for students interested in continuing advanced curriculum and dissections.
Prerequisites: Biology (honors level highly recommended for student success) and Chemistry.
Physical Science
This course is designed as a survey course in chemistry and physics. This curriculum includes abstract concepts, such as the conceptualization of the structure of atoms, motion and forces, and the conservation of energy and matter, the action/reaction principle, and wave behavior. Students investigate physical science concepts through experience in laboratories and field work using the processes of inquiry.
*No EOC if taken in High School.
Prerequisites: A strong K-7 science background, the ability to plan/carry out an investigation, and analyze/interpret data.
Physics
The Physics curriculum is designed to continue student investigations of the physical sciences that began in grades K-8 and provide students with the necessary skills to be proficient in physics. This curriculum includes more abstract concepts such as interactions of matter and energy, velocity, acceleration, force, energy, momentum, and charge. Students investigate physics concepts through experience in laboratories and fieldwork using the processes of inquiry.
Prerequisites : Geometry: Concepts and Connections and Algebra: Concepts and Connections. Have taken or concurrently taking Advanced Algebra: Concepts and Connections.
AP Physics 1
AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through classroom study, in-class activity, and hands-on, inquiry-based laboratory work as they explore concepts like systems, fields, force interactions, change, conservation, and waves. Students are expected to take the AP Physics 1 exam in May. This course conforms to College Board topics for the Advanced Placement Physics 1 Examination. This course requires a rigorous college-level lab component and utilizes a college text.
Prerequisites : Geometry: Concepts and Connections and Algebra: Concepts and Connections and Biology (honors highly recommended for student success). Have taken or concurrently taking Advanced Algebra: Concepts and Connections.
AP Physics 2
AP Physics 2 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through classroom study, in-class activity, and hands-on, inquiry-based laboratory work as they explore concepts like systems, fields, force interactions, change, conservation, waves, and probability. Students are expected to take the AP Physics 2 exam in May. This course conforms to College Board topics for the Advanced Placement Physics 2 Examination. This course requires a rigorous college-level lab component and utilizes a college text.
Prerequisites: AP Physics 1. Should have taken or be concurrently taking Pre-Calculus.
AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is a one-semester, calculus-based, college-level physics course, especially appropriate for students planning to specialize or major in one of the physical sciences or engineering. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through classroom study and activities as well as hands-on laboratory work as they explore concepts like change, force interactions, fields, and conservation. Students are expected to take the AP Physics C: E & M exam in May. This course conforms to College Board topics for the Advanced Placement Physics C: E & M Examination. This course requires a rigorous college-level lab component and utilizes a college text.
Prerequisites: Calculus and AP Physics C - Mechanics. Physics or AP Physics 1 is HIGHLY recommended for student success.
AP Physics C: Mechanics
AP Physics C: Mechanics is a one-semester, calculus-based, college-level physics course, especially appropriate for students planning to specialize or major in one of the physical sciences or engineering. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through classroom study and activities as well as hands-on laboratory work as they explore concepts like change, force interactions, fields, and conservation. Students are expected to take the AP Physics C: Mechanics exam in May. This course conforms to College Board topics for the Advanced Placement Physics C Examination. This course requires a rigorous college-level lab component and utilizes a college text.
Prerequisites: Should have taken or be concurrently taking Calculus. Physics or AP Physics 1 is HIGHLY recommended for student success.
IB Physics
IB Physics is concerned with an attempt to understand the natural world; from determining the nature of the atom to finding patterns in the structure of the universe. It is the search for answers from how the universe exploded into life to the nature of time itself. Observations are essential to the very core of the subject. Models are developed to try to understand observations, and these themselves can become theories that attempt to explain the observations. Besides leading to a better understanding of the natural world, physics gives us the ability to alter our environments. IB Physics enables students to constructively engage with topical scientific issues. Students examine scientific knowledge claims in a real-world context, fostering interest and curiosity. By exploring the subject, they develop understandings, skills and techniques that can be applied across their studies and beyond. Integral to the student experience of the IB Physics course is the learning that takes place through scientific inquiry both in the classroom and the laboratory. As students progress through the course, they become familiar with traditional experimentation techniques, as well as the application of technology. These opportunities help them to develop their investigative skills and evaluate the impact of error and uncertainty in scientific inquiry. The scientific investigation then places a specific emphasis on inquiry-based skills and the formal communication of scientific knowledge. Finally, the collaborative sciences project extends the development of scientific communication in a collaborative and interdisciplinary context, allowing students to work together beyond the confines of physics. The mandatory external assessment of physics consists of three written papers.
Prerequisites: *By application only.