Upper School Curriculum

Grades: 9, 10, 11
Full-Year

PREREQ: Successful completion of eighth-grade Geometry with approval by the Math Department OR an A or better in each semester of Algebra 1 and Geometry. (For students who earned an A or better in each semester of Algebra 1, Honors Algebra 2 may be taken concurrently with Geometry with permission of the Math Department.)

The language of functions is the centerpiece of this course, building on the foundations set in Algebra 1. This course includes reinforcement and application of algebraic skills as well as a thorough analysis of polynomials, exponential, logarithmic, inverse, rational and radical functions. Additional topics may include: linear and nonlinear systems of equations, conic sections, sequences and series, probability, matrices and data analysis. Technology is incorporated throughout the course, especially through the use of spreadsheets, simulations, curve fitting and other real-world applications. Students will prepare for honors-level precalculus analysis by focusing on verbal explanations, improving and expanding their graphing skills and incorporating more strategic thinking into their problem-solving process. Concepts are covered in more depth and at a quicker pace than in the Algebra 2 course.