Science

Common courses

High school science courses are best described in each high school's course catalog. There are five common courses across the District's three comprehensive high schools.

• Biology — Biology (Miller & Levine, © 2019)
• Chemistry Lab Methods (semester course); Physics Lab Methods (semester course) - developed in district, 2015
• Chemistry — Inspire Chemistry (McGraw-Hill © 2021)
• Physics — Inspire Physics (McGraw-Hill © 2020)

Learning Recommendations

In our continuing efforts to provide a more meaningful, challenging, and optimal learning experience for our high school students, the language in the high school Common Course Guide does have "Prerequisites," but instead "Learning Recommendations."

Learning Recommendations will allow students to have a better understanding of the skills and content knowledge that our teachers believe is important in predicting the likelihood of success in a given course. In the past, "pre-requisites" sometimes created a barrier by using a grade in a previous class or a test score on a proficiency test that prevented students from taking a course that they may have actually been capable of taking. By clearly articulating and communicating these "Learning Recommendations," our students and families will be able to make more informed decisions when registering for courses.

It is everyone's shared goal that students have meaningful, relevant, challenging, learning experiences, not only in science classrooms, but in all classes across our district. Appropriate placement is an important step in that process.

We encourage students and families to carefully study the high school course guide for specific language on College Academic Distribution Requirement, lab science, and algebra-based designations.

Science Courses Notes

• See your High School Course Guide for additional science courses and detailed descriptions.
  • Issaquah High School
  • Liberty High School
  • Skyline High School
• The Course Guide also has suggestions for possible science course combinations that will provide students the opportunity to access the required lab science and algebra-based science courses.

Special notes

• A minimum of three credits of laboratory science is required. At least two of the three credits must be in lab-based science such as biology, chemistry, or physics. Students typically take this full credit course in two successive high school semesters. Additionally, at least one of the three credits of laboratory science must be an algebra-based science course (e.g. chemistry or physics). 
• The principles of technology courses taught in Washington State high schools may apply toward the laboratory science requirement.
• The Issaquah School District recommends that students take 3-4 years of science in high school—see the High School Course Catalogs to make informed decisions.
• *Advanced Placement courses are offered at Issaquah and Liberty High Schools
• **International Baccalaureate courses are offered at Skyline High School
• Some "College in the High School" courses are available at Issaquah and Liberty High Schools.

Resources

• High School course guides
• College Academic Distribution Requirement (CADR) - University of Washington CADRs Description
• Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI):
  • Graduation
  • Science K-12 Learning Standards (2013)
  • Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS)