High School

Secondary: G9 -G12

The Secondary high school curriculum builds upon the middle school curriculum in further developing our students’ knowledge of the core subjects and further developing their critical thinking skills. The math textbooks are Algebra 2 by Glencoe, Advanced Mathematics (Pre-Calc) by Glencoe, Statistics by Cengage, Calculus by McDougal-Littell and Business Math by McGraw-Hill. Science classes are based on lessons in Biology by Glencoe, Chemistry by Glencoe, Principles of Physics by Thompson Books and Global (Environmental) Science by Kendall Hunt. Aside from grammar exercises and research papers, the English classes for G9-G12 students emphasize higher level reading comprehension by using the textbooks Literature by Glencoe, as well as various novels.

G10-G12 students may also apply for enrollment into advanced placement classes, depending on their transcripts and teacher recommendation. Our current College Board Advanced Placement (AP) courses available are as follows:

Grade	Course Subject(s)
G10	AP Biology
G11	AP Chemistry
G12	AP Calculus AB & BC AP Physics 1 AP English Literature & Composition

In Secondary school during the high school years at ICSN, students will have a range of courses available to them within the core subjects. No matter what track they take, all high school students develop and master certain skills or practices as summarized below.

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Areas of Focus

English Language Arts

Notice when a text (like an article or speech) is not coherent.
Read important texts from history, analyzing how they affected the people and societies around them, and how those people and societies affected them.
Revise writing to get rid of unnecessary words and phrases (ex: change “I went together with my family” to “I went with my family.)
In class discussions, take action when necessary to make sure that everyone can participate and all perspectives are heard.
Use literary criticism (texts that analyze literature) to help understand literature.
Analyze texts with complex characters, structures, and messages.
Understand ways in which authors and speakers try to influence readers and listeners.
Use a variety of credible sources when doing research. Avoid relying too much on one source of information.
Use grammar marks correctly and effectively.
Understand that the English language changes over time and that even experts can disagree about grammar and spelling.

Mathematics

Number and Quantity: understand complex numbers and numbers with rational exponents. For example, use vectors and matrices to model and solve real-world problems.
Algebra: applicable to tasks like calculating mortgage payments and comparing the costs of phone plans. Create and interpret linear and quadratic equations, use polynomials, solve systems of inequalities, and more.
Functions: describe situations where one quantity depends on another. Use function notation, build functions, create quadratic and trigonometric models, and more.
Modeling: choose and use appropriate methods to understand situations in the world and make good decisions about them. For example, create a model to predict how much food and drinking water a city will need after a flood.
Geometry: apply to tasks like making patterns and creating computer animations. Work with concepts like congruence, similarity, and symmetry; explore geometric proofs and connections between algebra and geometry.
Statistics and Probability: apply to tasks like tracking student success over time or how disease spreads in a community. Conduct experiments using random samples, calculate the probability of events, use probability to make good decisions, etc.

Science

Analyze and compare solutions to global problems, like strategies for using less fossil fuel.
Design and do an experiment, like to find out how photosynthesis turns light energy into stored chemical energy.
Design, build, and improve devices that change energy from one form to another.
Use the periodic table as a tool to predict how elements will behave in different situations.
Use models (including mathematical and computer-generated models) to explain, predict, or analyze. For example, to explain the carbon cycle or illustrate forces and changes in energy between magnetically or electrically charged objects.
Explain how different factors affect populations and species within an ecosystem.
Use evidence to explain relationships between natural resources, human populations, and biodiversity.
Research and communicate evidence to demonstrate biological changes.
Use evidence to explain how the structure of DNA determines the structure of proteins which carry out the function of specialized cells.
Develop models and investigate examples of interacting biological systems at different scales of life.
Explain how genetic information is passed from one generation to the next.
Communicate about why the chemical structure of a molecule is important in the functioning of designed materials.

DOWNLOAD ICSN COURSE CATALOG (2023-2024)

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