Science

Weston High School Science Course Selection

The Science Department offers College Placement (CP) and Honors (H) level courses in grades 9, 10 & 11.  Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered only in the 11^th and 12^th grades.  All Science courses offered at WHS involve considerable lab work, analytical thinking and scientific writing.

Please refer to the course map on the back of this document and the written descriptions of courses in the Program of Studies for a more detailed understanding of the options for you next year.  Below are some important expectations to understand if you are interested in taking an Honors or Advanced Placement course in any grade.  Feel free to share this document with your parents as you make these decisions for your course selections next year.

Honors Physics

Requirements: Consistently produce A range work in Grade 8 science* (specifically on assessments and labs), high marks on the Physics Placement Exam, A range work in Grade 8 Math course*, and current science teacher recommendation.

Students in this course have a solid grasp of Algebra 1 skills, are independent learners (they tackle problems they don’t understand in many different ways before approaching the teacher for help) have a genuine interest in Physics and its applications, have a growing understanding of scientific writing and the scientific method/engineering design.

Honors Biology

Requirements: Recommendation from their 9^th grade science teacher.  There is summer work.

Students in this course consistently produce A range work (specifically on assessments and labs) in a CP class*, or A-/B+ work in an Honors class*, have demonstrated resiliency and independent learning to their 9^th grade Science teacher, have a genuine interest in Biology and its applications in life and the environment, have demonstrated a solid grasp on scientific writing and the scientific method/engineering design.

Honors Chemistry

Requirements:  Completion of either CP or H Biology, recommendation from their 10^th grade science teacher. There is summer work.

Students in this course consistently produce A range work (specifically on assessments and labs) in a CP class*, or A-/B+ work in an Honors class* in BOTH their Physics and Biology courses, have consistently high marks in their 10^th grade Math class, have a genuine interest in the connections between Chemistry and its applications in the world around us, have demonstrated resiliency and independent learning to their 10^th grade Science teacher, have demonstrated the ability to decode and analyze complex data independently, are comfortable with abstract reasoning and problem solving and have demonstrated a clear skill in scientific writing and the scientific method/engineering design.

Advanced Placement Courses:

Requirements:  All AP courses require the CP or H subject to be taken prior to enrollment in the AP course.  AP Biology also requires the completion of or concurrent enrollment in Chemistry, and current science teacher recommendation.  There is summer work.  Important note for Juniors: Placement in an AP course is also dependent upon available space, as seniors take priority.

Students in these courses are expected to take the AP exam for their subject and are intensely lab and data analysis focused per the AP curriculum.  The content is fast-paced and students are expected to do a considerable amount of review/preview on their own, in order to use class time for lab activities.

Click to download  the course offerings flow chart in pdf.