Science Graduation Requirements

The Lakeside Science Department seeks to instill a lasting enthusiasm for science through an exploration of the natural world. We strive to develop in students a deep understanding of scientific history, process, and content in the life and physical sciences. Beyond this fundamental expectation, we also offer a variety of advanced courses to challenge and prepare the most enthusiastic and able students for further study in science.

Please note that:

The intensive and advanced courses should be undertaken only after careful consultation with parents, advisors, and the science faculty. In all cases, permission from the department is required.
As noted in the course descriptions below, many science courses have a lab component and meet more than the normal two 45‑minute periods and one 75‑minute period per week.

Graduation Requirements:

The graduation requirements for science will be one year of biology, at least one semester of physics, at least one semester of chemistry, and one semester of environmental science, taken in that sequential order, for a minimum of two and a half years of science. However, many students may choose to take more than the minimum required. In order to make the best decision, it is important to understand the possible different science plans and how they best fit within students overall Lakeside plan.

It is possible to complete the minimum two and a half year graduation requirement in three school years by any of the following plans:

	1/2 Physics, 1/2 Chemistry
	Plan A				Plan B	Plan C
9th	Bio	Bio	Bio		Bio	Bio	Bio	Bio
10th	Phys Sem Chem Sem	Phys Sem Chem Sem		Bio	Phys Sem	Phys Sem	Phys Sem		Bio
11th	Envi Sci		Phys Sem Chem Sem	Phys Sem Chem Sem	Chem Sem	Chem Sem Envi Sci		Phys Sem	Phys Sem
12th		Envi Sci	Envi Sci	Envi Sci	Envi Sci		Chem Sem Envi Sci	Chem Sem Envi Sci	Chem Sem Envi Sci

It is also possible to take a half year course in either physics or chemistry and a year‑long course in the other, for a total of three years of science, by any of the following plans:

	1/2 Physics, 1 Chemistry
	Plan D	Plan E
9th	Bio	Bio	Bio	Bio
10th	Phys Sem	Phys Sem	Phys Sem		Bio
11th	Chem Year*	Chem Year* Envi Sci		Phys Sem	Phys Sem
12th	Envi Sci		Chem Year* Envi Sci	Chem Year* Envi Sci	Chem Year* Envi Sci

	1 Physics, 1/2 Chemistry
	Plan F	Plan G
9th	Bio	Bio	Bio	Bio
10th	Phys Year*	Phys Year*	Phys Year*		Bio
11th	Chem Sem	Chem Sem Envi Sci		Phys Year*	Phys Year*
12th	Envi Sci		Chem Sem Envi Sci	Chem Sem Envi Sci	Chem Sem Envi Sci

Finally, it is also possible to take year‑long courses in both physics and chemistry, for a total of three and a half years of science, by any of the following plans:

	1 Physics, 1 Chemistry
	Plan H	Plan I
9th	Bio	Bio	Bio	Bio
10th	Phys Year*	Phys Year*	Phys Year*		Bio
11th	Chem Year*	Chem Year* Envi Sci		Phys Year*	Phys Year*
12th	Envi Sci		Chem Year* Envi Sci	Chem Year* Envi Sci	Chem Year* Envi Sci

* There are both intensive and regular versions of these courses.

Students may register for a year-long physics or chemistry course and withdraw within the first two weeks without penalty. However, students registered for a year-long physics or chemistry course who withdraw any time after the add/drop deadline will receive no credit for the course (i.e., students withdrawing after the first semester of a year-long course will not receive credit for a semester, even if they are passing the course at the time of withdrawal). If, however, students registered for a semester of physics or chemistry wish to continue with physics or chemistry, they may register for the second semester, and will be placed if space in a year-long section exists. However, students are strongly discouraged from requesting enrollment in a year-long of physics or chemistry course after completing a semester since placement in a second semester depends on enrollment, and there is no guarantee they will be placed in a spring semester of a year-long section. Physics and chemistry sections have enrollment caps, and the enrollment in these sections will not be exceeded to accommodate students who indicate a preference for a year-long course after the first semester. Students are therefore strongly advised to plan on taking either semesters of physics or chemistry or full years.

It is not necessary to take biology in 9th grade, even if a student plans to take year‑long physics and chemistry courses. However some plans require taking environmental science concurrently with the spring semester of chemistry. If you are not certain you will take year‑long courses in physics and chemistry, then it is perfectly reasonable to defer biology until the 10th grade.

Students wanting to take Advanced Biology, Organic Chemistry, or Advanced Physics in 12th grade are advised to complete chemistry in 11th grade.

Finally, the Science Department offers a number of semester‑long and year‑long elective courses (listed in this Curriculum Guide). Many Lakeside students end up taking one or more of these, but they are entirely optional.