New science class progression and more for next year’s ninth graders

Incoming freshman forecasting for next year’s classes faced a very different curriculum guide than ever before. With an altered science pathway, a changed structure for honors English, a different advanced math system, and a new general course requirement, there have been many changes in class offerings for the coming year.

One major change is taking place in the science class progression. Beginning next school year, all South freshmen will take physics as their first science class. As sophomores they will take biology, and as juniors, will take chemistry. Senior year will provide flexibility for an additional science class, including AP options.

“Everyone in biology will have the same background,” South chemistry teacher Sarah Hocken said. She explained how everyone taking physics will lead to more consistency with what students have learned. This creates more balance in students’ knowledge for biology their sophomore year.

Currently, the South science program is robust, with a lot of enthusiasm toward the classes. Some students elect to take multiple science classes, often doubling their junior or senior years. If South had the funding to hire an additional science teacher, Hocken explained, students would take the classes. 

“The demand is there,” she stated. For some students, she added, doubling in science may become necessary.

Hocken explained how students in IHS planning to take both years of IB physics may need to double in science classes in 10th grade. Depending on what IB sciences end up being offered in future years, doubling in chemistry and biology may be necessary in order to meet Oregon science requirements and obtain their IB diploma.

The current IB physics is mostly taken by upperclassmen and is an algebra two based class. Freshman will be taking “algebra one based physics,” Hocken said.

With physics for freshmen based around algebra one, Hocken said teachers have “talked about coordinating” between the classes next year. The specifics of math offerings for freshmen are changing next year as well to follow a more linear path that aligns with their science courses.

Unlike past years, the initial course offerings for freshmen math classes are more concrete.

“Almost all students coming into high school will be taking the normal algebra course,” South math teacher Krin Hunt said. 

Pierce explained that students who took accelerated math in middle school will be able to take advanced math at South, but will be assessed at the beginning of the year to ensure proper placement.

Currently South is on a “two plus one” curriculum, meaning freshmen take algebra and sophomores take geometry and statistics. After that, only one more credit of math is needed to graduate and there is more flexibility in the classes available. Junior and senior year, students can choose to take algebra two and then AP math classes, or they can take more niche courses such as financial algebra and algebra by design. In addition to changes in science and math offerings, changes are taking place in the humanities as well.

Next year’s freshmen will be the first to experience the embedded honors English system. Currently, honors English 9 and 10 are separate from the regular English 9 and 10 classes. Students forecast in advance for which class they would like to take. 

With the new system, all freshmen will be in the same English classes. The 2024-25 curriculum states that the “Honors designation option will be embedded into this course and appear on the transcript.”

 “Embedding honors means anyone can take it,” said 9th grade transition coordinator Scott Pierce. He talked about how with honors embedded, the classes won’t be separate, and no student will be prevented from taking honors.

Next year Honors English 10 will still be separated from the regular English 10 classes. South English teacher Allison Dodd will be teaching English 9, among other classes next year, and spoke about how the embedded honors option will function. She explained how interested freshmen will complete a capstone project to earn the honors designation.

Dodd will also be one of the teachers teaching the AXE class next year, a brand new requirement for freshmen. AXE, which stands for Academic eXcellence Essentials, counts toward an “other subject” credit. The AXE class helps freshmen learn “how to high school,” Pierce said.

This course is primarily aimed at cultivating skills that are essential for academic success and the transition to high school. It also integrates skills learned in AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), such as study skills, social-emotional learning, and self-awareness. 

All freshmen not in IHS or AVID will take AXE, which will have AVID strategies that “all 9th graders can access,” Dodd explained. As part of a group of teachers instructing AXE next year, Dodd is “excited for collaboration with colleagues.”

Next year, AXE will only be offered at South, however depending on its success, Pierce said there is a possibility for the program to branch out to other schools in the district.

A common theme among these changes is creating a more equal base of knowledge for freshmen, as well as setting them up with skills and resources for academic success early on in their high school careers. 

“It’s good to have a common starter,” Hocken said about having all freshmen starting with physics. “It ends up being more equitable.” 

With all these changes, however, the new courses are sure to be accompanied by  challenges. Next year, as the new freshmen adjust to high school, South as a whole will have to adjust as well.

By Jada Jones and Aria Lynn-Skov