In high school, all students are required to take Biology which has an end of course STAAR exam. Other science requirements for students depend on specific graduation plans and endorsements. Students are able to explore and pursue their interests by taking more specialized science courses. Some courses have a career focus, while others allow students to earn college credit. Lab and field investigations comprise 40% of instructional time in all high school science courses.
Biology
This course is required for all students, and a STAAR exam at the end of the course will assess what they have learned.
Concepts and activities include:
- Examining cell structure and function
- Discussing the mechanisms of genetics, including the role of nucleic acids
- Investigating biological evolution and classification
- Exploring biological processes and systems
- Analyzing interdependence and interactions within environmental systems
Chemistry
In this course, students explore the underlying processes governing the composition, structure, properties, and changes of all matter. The study of chemistry touches on principles from many branches of science such as physics and biology.
Concepts and activities include:
- Discussing the characteristics of matter and how they are reflected in the
Periodic Table - Understanding the atomic structure and theory
- Explaining and quantifying chemical bonds and reactions
- Understanding the principles of ideal gases and the energy changes that occur
in chemical reactions - Examining the chemical behavior of solutions
Physics
This course examines what matter is, how it moves through space and time, and how it is affected by energy and force.
Concepts and activities include:
- Applying laws governing force and motion, and analyzing the results
- Examining the nature of gravitational, electrical, magnetic and nuclear forces
- Applying laws of conservation of energy and momentum
- Understanding the characteristics and behavior of waves
- Describing examples of nuclear, atomic and quantum phenomena
Additional Science Courses
Additional science courses are offered, as well as several Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Advanced Placement (AP) courses.