Eleventh Grade Academic Program (2023-24) – Required Courses

All juniors are required to take four years of English. Students may opt to take an additional course as an elective. Teacher recommendation and administrative approval are required for AP courses.

Foundations and Development of Literature – 11th grade

In this course, 11th grade students trace the roots of American Literature from the 16th century to the present. A major project involves them in putting a noteworthy but somewhat controversial literary work “on trial.” Public performances by the winning teams are viewed by the entire school and invited guests. Academic research is extended to secondary sources.  Students also read and write about news articles on current events that connect to curriculum as well as poetry that connects to texts. Vocabulary is culled from works studied and incorporated into writing. Supplementary poetry, short fiction  and non-fiction essays are also addressed. In this year, students are encouraged both to explore special interests in reading and writing and to address any deficits in their English language skills. An accelerated section will highlight rhetorical strategies and stylistic techniques that authors use in order to create their messages. Students who choose to do so will be prepared to take the AP English Language and Composition exam in May. A skills section will also be available to those students who will benefit from assistance with writing tasks and reading comprehension. Placement will be based on department approval with input from administration.

All juniors are required to take U.S. History. Teacher recommendation and administrative approval are required for the AP course. Students may opt to take an additional course as an elective.

Advanced Placement: United States History

A course in United States History is required for all juniors. Students may take Advanced Placement United States History. The Advanced Placement Program is designed to allow high school students the opportunity to pursue college-level studies while attending high school. While the course covers the same periods of history as the regular U.S. history course, emphasis will be placed on reading original sources and analyzing differing interpretations of historical events.

United States History

All eleventh grade students who do not take AP U.S. History are required to take this course.  It covers the political, economic, and social conditions in the United States from the beginning of our history to present times. The Constitution and the historical setting in which it was written will be studied. Students will understand the great historical developments that led to the U.S. becoming the democratic super-power of the world today. They will read textbooks, original sources, and current affairs articles in order to learn how to draw conclusions and become informed citizens and voters. Based on teacher and administrative input, students may be placed in sections that are specialized in order to address their needs for enrichment and/or remediation.

Students are required to take one math course in their junior year. Placements are determined by the mathematics department.

Pre-Calculus BC

This course is given to eleventh grade students who have completed Algebra II with Trigonometry. Students further develop the algebraic and trigonometric skills that are necessary for success in AP Calculus BC. Students study linear and quadratic functions, polynomial functions, inequalities, functions, exponents and logarithms, analytic geometry and conic sections, trigonometric functions, trigonometric equations, triangle trigonometry, trigonometric addition formulas, polar coordinates and complex numbers, vectors and determinants, sequences and series, matrices, limits, continuity, techniques of differentiation, and related rates. Teacher recommendation and administrative approval are required.

Pre-Calculus AB

This course is given to eleventh grade students who have completed Algebra II with Trigonometry.  Students further develop the algebraic and trigonometric skills that are necessary for success in AP Calculus AB. Students study linear and quadratic functions, polynomial functions, inequalities, functions, exponents and logarithms, analytic geometry and conic sections, trigonometric functions, trigonometric equations, triangle trigonometry, trigonometric addition formulas, and introduction to limits.

Algebra II with Trigonometry

Students enhance their algebraic skills and develop an understanding and mastery of trigonometric concepts. Students extend their study of real numbers, equations and inequalities, functions, systems of equations, polynomials, rational expressions, complex numbers, quadratic equations, transformations, second degree equations, polynomial functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, an in depth study of trigonometric functions, graphs, identities, and equations, probability, and statistics. Teacher recommendation and administrative approval are required.

Intermediate Algebra II

Students enhance their algebraic skills and develop an understanding and mastery of a variety of topics in Algebra, Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus.  Topics include polynomials, set theory, trigonometry, matrices and linear algebra, functions, conic sections and game theory. Students are encouraged to develop skills and work habits that will last throughout their academic and future careers.

Students are required to take one science course in the junior year. Physics as a third year of science is strongly recommended. Placement is determined by the department in consultation with the administration. Teacher recommendation and administrative approval are required for enrollment in an AP course.

AP Physics I

AP Physics I is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. The course focuses on Newtonian mechanics and dynamics; Circular motion and Gravitation; Work, Power and Energy; Linear Momentum, Simple Harmonic Motion; and Torque and Rotational motion. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through classroom study, demonstrations, in-class activity, and hands-on, inquiry-based laboratory work as they explore concepts like systems, fields, force interactions, change, conservation, and waves. AP Physics 1 students will keep and are encouraged to retain their physics laboratory notebooks, reports, and other materials as colleges may require students to present their laboratory materials from the course before granting college credit for the laboratory component.

Physics

Introductory Physics considers topics related to energy and matter, the principles that govern motion of particles and waves, and the interaction of particles.  The use of mathematics as a "language" for describing physical phenomena and solving problems is emphasized throughout the course. For this reason, we delay enrollment into the course until eleventh grade when students have achieved a high level of skills in mathematics (algebra and trigonometry). The laboratory is used to derive and illustrate major concepts of physics. Students need to become skilled at performing laboratories and at analyzing data and formulating broad principles that account for the physical phenomena being studied. Students will be taught how to use spreadsheets to organize and graph data and to use sensors to record data electronically.  The major topics covered in this course include mechanics, work energy theory, spring systems, wave phenomena and electricity and magnetism.

Foundational Physics

Foundational Physics considers topics related to energy and matter, and the principles that govern the motion of particles and waves.  Mathematics is introduced as a "language" for describing physical phenomena and students are encouraged to solve problems using mathematics throughout the course. For students who struggle with math, this course shows them real world applications without the complexity of multi-step equations.  The laboratory is used to teach the concepts of physics and make connections to basic math. In this way, students will experience physics in a way that is meaningful and directly applicable to their lives.  The topics covered in this course include mechanics, work-energy theory, spring systems, optics, electricity and magnetism.

AP Biology

AP Biology is offered as an introductory college-level biology course spanning the breadth of the life sciences offered to highly motivated students of strong academic quality.  The curriculum which has undergone recent redesigning and College Board approval now stresses critical thinking and application of biological concepts in the context of 4 ‘big ideas.’  The thematic approach makes study areas more meaningful as students make connections across the syllabus.  Ultimately, students will develop a conceptual understanding of modern biology emphasizing applications of biological knowledge, scientific methodology, techniques, and critical thinking.  These tools will help students understand themselves and the living world around them and better prepare them for the scientific, environmental, and social changes that will be a prominent part of their future.  It is important to note that the conceptual framework of this course is based on the current ideals of evolution as the underlying foundation for all biological principles.  AP Biology includes rewritten crucial laboratory exercises suggested by the College Board as well as several other labs deemed both important and helpful. After-school laboratory and classroom sessions are often scheduled to meet course requirements.  In addition to work using the assigned textbook, students are required to study and master many forms of text supplementation, including on-line sources and current scientific literature.  All students are expected to take the AP Biology Exam. Teacher recommendation and administrative approval are required for enrollment.

AP Chemistry

AP Chemistry is designed to offer a rigorous and challenging course that covers the chemical principles typical of college and university general chemistry courses and is offered to highly motivated students of strong academic quality. AP Chemistry students will be expected to reinforce classroom-taught principles through consistent regular review, practice assignments and on-line activities. All are expected to take the AP Chemistry Exam and maintain a laboratory notebook. The topic areas covered in this course are atomic structure and properties, molecular and ionic bonding, intermolecular forces, reactions and stoichiometry, kinetics and equilibria, solution chemistry, acid-base theories and redox and electrochemistry.  These topics have been reworked to emphasize the major themes and concepts of advanced chemistry in compliance with the redesign mandated by the College Board.  There are several required laboratories, several of which are inquiry-based, and students must submit detailed, college-level reports for each. After-school laboratory and classroom sessions are often a required part of the course. Teacher recommendation and administrative approval are required for enrollment.

Environmental Science

Environmental Science is an elective science course intended to cover the principles and methodologies used to study the interrelationships between organisms and their physical surroundings and the impact of humans on the natural world. This course is necessarily interdisciplinary and depends on the successful integration of science with political, sociological, and economic issues. The underlying themes developed in the course are: energy conversions are involved in all ecological processes, matter must be recycled in ecological systems, ecological systems are all interconnected, humans alter ecological systems, ecological problems occur in a political, cultural, and economic context, and human survival depends on developing practices that allow for sustainable ecosystems. This course includes a laboratory component that allows students to apply and reinforce course concepts as well as an engaging field component centering upon environmental monitoring. Field trips to local nature centers and municipal utilities are also integral to the curriculum. Teacher recommendation and administrative approval are required for enrollment.

Four years of Hebrew language and literature is a requirement. Students in the ninth grade are initially placed by ability level measured by personal interviews and formal placement tests. Once placed, students may advance according to the following standard sequence: Mechina (Preparatory) Level; Intermediate Level; Grade Level; Advanced Level.

A student may begin his or her Hebrew Language study in the beginner’s level and proceed to the intermediate level during the course of the ninth grade. In every grade there are class sections to accommodate the varying needs of each student. Students are placed in homogeneous classes with their peers at the precise level that will ensure they will be challenged to improve their language skills.

All eleventh graders are required to take physical education.

Students are encouraged to meet their physical, emotional, and competitive needs through games, teams, and sports. Instruction will include units covering physical fitness, health, nutrition, flag football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, softball, and team handball.