AP Biology is open to Eleventh Grade students who have had biology and chemistry, and is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester college introductory biology course.  Course content is centered around evolution, energy, communication, and interaction.  Topics studied include cell and molecular biology, ecology, evolution, genetics, and organisms. Students solve open-ended problems in lab, design experiments, and develop critical thinking skills.  Students are admitted based on interest, work ethic, and past academic performance.

AP content in this survey course centers around seven topics:  earth systems and resources, the living world, populations, land and water use, energy resources and use, pollution, and global change. The course is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory science course with lab. Prerequisites include algebra, biology, and chemistry. Students will solve open-ended problems in lab, design experiments, and develop critical thinking skills.

AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. Students cultivate their understanding of physics by developing models of physical phenomena through inquiry-based investigations. Students build their understanding of physical models as they explore and solve problems in these content areas: Kinematics, Forces and Translational, Dynamics, Work, Energy, and Power, Linear Momentum, Torque and Rotational Dynamics, Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems, Oscillations, and Fluids.

This course requires that 25 percent of instructional time be spent in hands-on laboratory work, with an emphasis on inquiry-based investigations that provide students with opportunities to demonstrate the foundational physics principles and apply the science practices. 

Open to students as a first year science course in the Upper School, Biology is intended to spark the student’s interest in the living world.  The course integrates textbook, online, and lab activities as students explore cell and molecular biology, genetics, human biology, and evolution. Lab activities acquaint students with proper lab techniques, illustrate principles discussed in lecture, and provide open-ended problems for innovative student solutions.

Open to students as a first year science course in the Upper School, Honors Biology is intended to spark the student’s interest in the living world.  The course integrates textbook, online, and lab activities as students explore cell and molecular biology, genetics, human biology, and evolution. Lab activities acquaint students with proper lab techniques, illustrate principles discussed in lecture, and provide open-ended problems for innovative student solutions. This course will study these concepts at an accelerated pace and more complex level than the Biology course and will prepare students for Honors Chemistry and AP Biology in subsequent years.

Chemistry involves the study of the structures, properties, interactions, and changes of matter. Learning experiences in this course include formal lecture, problem solving, using laboratory equipment to collect data, and classroom demonstrations. Students learn how to describe matter, use the periodic table, explain chemical bonding, name chemicals, calculate chemical quantities, and predict outcomes of chemical reactions.

Chemistry involves the study of the structures, properties, interactions, and changes of matter. Learning experiences in this course include formal lecture, problem solving, using laboratory equipment to collect data, and classroom demonstrations. Students learn how to describe matter, use the periodic table, explain chemical bonding, name chemicals, calculate chemical quantities, and predict outcomes of chemical reactions. This course will study these concepts at an accelerated pace and more complex level than the Chemistry course and will prepare students for AP Biology or AP Environmental Science the subsequent year.

Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary study, encompassing the fields of earth science, chemistry, physics, biology, ethics, and economics.  Learning experiences in this course include formal lecture, group collaboration and discussion, and laboratory experiments to study the natural world. Students learn about matter and energy cycles, resource uses, pollution resulting from resource use, and solutions leading to sustainability.

Marine Biology is an upper level course for seniors who wish to learn about the sea. This course covers three areas: the marine environment, the biology of marine organisms, and the ecology of six marine ecosystems. Marine geography is included and dissections may include the squid, sea urchin, clam and fish. 

Physics students explore the relationship between matter, energy, and motion. Learning experiences in this course include formal lecture, problem solving, using traditional and advanced technology to collect data in the laboratory, group collaboration, and open-ended inquiry labs.  Students learn about Newtonian mechanics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, waves, and electricity.