9th Grade Course Selection

FRESHMAN ENGLISH – 011123: This course is aligned to the Maryland College and Career Readiness Standards (MCCRS) for grade 9, and students are exposed to a wide range of literary genres as well as expository works of nonfiction.

FRESHMAN ENGLISH (HONORS/PRE-AP) – 011143: This course is designed to provide a pathway to AP English Composition and Literature courses for 9th-grade students who have demonstrated advanced ability in reading and writing and are motivated to complete above-grade level work in English. 

CORE ALGEBRA 1 – 031143: The Standards for Mathematical Practice are embedded into the curriculum and, together with the content standards, prescribe that students experience mathematics as a coherent, useful, and logical subject that makes use of their ability to make sense of problem situations. 

ALGEBRA 1 SEMINAR – 031173: Algebra 1 Seminar is an elective course for students concurrently enrolled in Core Algebra 1. The course provides students with additional instructional time to master content, engage in applications-based problem-solving tasks, and develop behaviors as defined by the Standards for Mathematical Practice. PREREQUISITES: Concurrent enrollment in Core Algebra 1 only. 

ALGEBRA 1 COMPREHENSIVE – 031163: This course follows the same scope and sequence of Core Algebra 1, but provides additional processing time to acquire skills. This course meets for a 90-minute period and students earn one mathematics credit and one elective credit. 

GEOMETRY (HONORS) – 032243: Students will demonstrate the ability to interpret, use, and apply the properties of geometric figures by using inductive and deductive reasoning, definitions, postulates, and the proofs of theorems. This study includes parallel and perpendicular lines, angle relationships, and triangle congruencies and similarities. Additional topics include the development of transformational, Euclidean, and coordinate geometry with extensive real-world application. Course requirements are rigorous with an emphasis on mathematical reasoning and communication. 

ALGEBRA 2 (HONORS) – 032143: Students will demonstrate the ability to interpret, use, and apply polynomial expressions and equations, graph linear and quadratic equations, linear inequalities, and linear systems. They will be introduced to the conic sections and polar coordinates. They will also factor algebraic expressions; calculate with rational, radical, absolute value, and exponential expressions; and will solve quadratic equations by a variety of methods. 

STEM ALGEBRA 2 (HONORS) – 032163: This course is for ninth-grade students who are enrolled in the STEM academy and have completed Algebra 1 and Geometry. This is a rigorous course, which incorporates topics in a hands-on, real-world discovery approach. The STEM Algebra 2 course exposes students to the ideas and applications of mathematical modeling, completes acquisition of basic skills in algebraic manipulation, and introduces a shift in perspective which is characteristic of the study of higher mathematics. This is a half-weighted course. 

UNITED STATES HISTORY – 023323: This course presents a comprehensive study of United States History from 1877 to the present. Students will learn skills and content that will help prepare them for future coursework in secondary social studies. Furthermore, this course embeds student service learning into the course. This course fulfills the United States History graduation requirement.

UNITED STATES HISTORY (Honors) – 023333: This course presents a comprehensive study of United States History from 1877 to the present. Students will learn skills and content that will help prepare them for future coursework in secondary social studies, especially AP-level coursework. Furthermore, this course embeds student service learning into the course. This course fulfills the United States History graduation requirement. PREREQUISITE: Demonstration of advanced ability on coursework and assessments in previous Social Studies and English courses, and/or recommendation of the Social Studies teacher. 

EARTH/SPACE SCIENCE – 041123: This course is aligned to the new Maryland State Science Standards and has 3 primary areas of study: Earth’s Place in the Universe; Earth’s Systems; and Human Activity on Earth. 

BIOLOGY 1 (HONORS) – 042243: This course is designed to challenge the highly able student in the area of science. Students learn how living organisms interact with living and nonliving components of the environment.
PREREQUISITE: Recommendation from 8th grade science teacher for course placement if entering the 9th grade.

CHINESE 1 – 055123 (LHS): Students begin to speak and understand Mandarin Chinese through repetition and variation, stressing proper pronunciation and intonation. Chinese culture is introduced through simple reading selections. 

CHINESE 2 – 055233 (LHS): Students improve fluency and comprehension of the Mandarin Chinese language and increase knowledge of proper pronunciation and intonation.  PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of prior level and/or recommendation of the teacher.

FRENCH 1 – 050123 (GMHS; LHS): In this course, students begin to speak and understand French through repetition and variation, stressing proper French pronunciation and intonation. The vocabulary acquired deals with realistic, lifelike situations. As conversational skills are strengthened and increased, grammatical structures are introduced and emphasized. Students learn more about France and its people. 

FRENCH 2 – 050133 (GMHS; LHS): Students improve fluency and comprehension, learn solid grammatical structures, and learn to read more coherently and intelligently in French. PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of prior level and/or recommendation of the teacher.

GERMAN 1 – 053123 (CHS; LHS): In this course, students begin to speak and understand German through repetition and variation, stressing proper pronunciation and intonation 

LATIN 1 – 052123 (LHS): Students are introduced to the basic grammar and vocabulary of the language of ancient Rome. Students are also taught how to find the Latin roots of English derivatives and different Latin phrases that can be used in modern life. 

SPANISH 1 – 051123 (CHS; GMHS; LHS): Students begin to speak and understand Spanish, with simple and practical conversation as a goal. There is an introduction to pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammatical structures. Cultural and geographical points of interest of Spanish-speaking areas of the world are highlighted through various short articles incorporated as a part of the instructional program. 

SPANISH 2 – 051133 (CHS; GMHS; LHS): Students improve their fluency and comprehension through practice in conversation. They master new vocabulary and grammatical structures. PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of prior level and/or recommendation of the teacher.

SPANISH 3 – 051233 (CHS; GMHS; LHS): Students continue with more advanced work on grammar and structure. Authentic text and videos will be used to facilitate higher proficiency levels in Spanish. PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of prior level and/or recommendation of the teacher.

BAND 1 - 087123; MARCHING BAND – 088113; BAND 2 (ADVANCED - BY AUDITION ONLY) - 088123; JAZZ BAND (ADVANCED - BY AUDITION ONLY) – 089133; 

STRING ORCHESTRA – 088133; CHAMBER ORCHESTRA (ADVANCED - BY AUDITION ONLY) – 088333; 

CHORUS 1 – 085103; CHORUS 2– 086123; TENOR/BASS CHOIR – 083103; TREBLE CHOIR – 084103; CHAMBER SINGERS (ADVANCED - BY AUDITION ONLY)– 086233; CLASS VOICE – 089433;

MUSIC APPRECIATION – 080203; PIANO CLASS – 082103; SOLO AND ENSEMBLE CLASS – 088503; THEORY 1 – 081123 

THEATRE ARTS 1 – 017523: This course consists of a basic introduction to the performance, technical, and academic aspects of drama. This includes a survey of major plays and theatre history. It develops students’ appreciation of the theatre through a variety of projects, performances, and activities. 

ADVANCED STUDIES IN TECHNICAL THEATRE - 017503: Students are instructed in the theoretical base and the practical application of the various areas of theatre technology. PREREQUISITE: Participation in middle school theatre program and permission of the instructor. 

VISUAL ARTS 1 – 061103: This course is designed to enable students to acquire and use the basic elements and principles of art. Through the use of various media, students will work with line, color, texture, shape, and form. Students will also learn to create unity, movement, variety, proportion, balance, rhythm, and emphasis. 

MIXED MEDIA DESIGN 1 – 066203: Students will discover the importance of the Elements of Art and Principles of Design through a variety of media. Each Element of Art and Principle of Design will be emphasized through mixed media design problems. Students will be introduced to art and design history, challenged to solve open-ended problems, engage in the creative process, and understand aesthetic qualities. 

DIGITAL ART 1 - 065203: This is an advanced course in the study of commercial art careers, such as advertising design, commercial illustration, publication design, and graphic design. 

HEALTH EDUCATION – 070301, 070302: This course integrates physical education and health education concepts with an emphasis being placed on the decision-making process. This course satisfies 0.5 of the required 1.0 credits needed for graduation in health education. If you take this course, you must also take Physical Education. The remaining 0.5 credits needed toward graduation will be satisfied in a separate course during the student’s junior year.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION – 070101, 070102: This is the only course that satisfies the physical education requirement for graduation (0.5 credit total). It is recommended that students complete this course in grade 9. If you take this course, you must also take Health Education. 

ADVANCED PLACEMENT COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES - 172063: This course incorporates active, inquiry-based learning with a focus on computational thinking practices (connected computing, abstracting, analyzing problems, communication, and collaborating). This course satisfies the technology education credit required for graduation. 

COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES - 172083: This course incorporates active, inquiry-based learning with a focus on computational thinking practices (connected computing, abstracting, analyzing problems, communication, and collaborating). This course satisfies the technology education credit required for graduation. 

AIR FORCE JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS 1 – 179903 (CHS): Students are introduced to the value of citizenship, leadership, service to the community, personal responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment while instilling in them self-esteem, teamwork, and self-discipline. With a focus on aerospace science studies the heritage of flight. 

NAVY JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS 1 – 178903 (GMHS): Students are introduced to the meaning of citizenship, the elements of leadership, and the historically significant role of sea power in the United States. 

PRINCIPLES OF BUSINESS, ADMINISTRATION, AND MANAGEMENT – 171113: The Principles of Business, Administration, and Management course provides students with knowledge of the types of businesses, as well as various applications, laws, and theories of business. 

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN FINANCIAL AND DATA MANAGEMENT – 172133: Students will use MS Office software to develop application skills in spreadsheets, databases, presentations, and electronic communications and to prepare financial documents. 

FINANCIAL LITERACY – 171153: The role of the student as a citizen, consumer, and active participant in the business world will be the focus. 

PRINCIPLES OF BUSINESS, ADMINISTRATION, AND MANAGEMENT – 171113: The Principles of Business, Administration, and Management course provides students with knowledge of the types of businesses, as well as various applications, laws, and theories of business. 

SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING - 073003: This course explores the Sports and Entertainment industries, dissects their dual nature, and helps students discover what it takes to pitch, promote, and deliver on these services. 

DIGITAL AUDIO AND PODCAST PRODUCTION – 178223:  This course introduces students to the production of podcasts, Internet radio and audio theater. Students will experience hands-on learning in announcing, scriptwriting, voice acting, sound recording and audio editing. A variety of industry-standard programs and equipment will be used to create projects. No prior experience is required. This course may be taken for one or both semesters.