Upper School Course Description 2017-18

THE MISSION OF FRANKLIN ROAD ACADEMY Franklin Road Academy provides a challenging educational experience in an inclusive Christian community with an unwavering commitment to develop leaders of integrity and purpose.

We Will … 

Inspire in our students a lifelong love of learning through a dynamic academic program which will prepare them for success in life;

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Encourage students to discover their passions through opportunities in academics, the arts, athletics, and servant leadership;

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Nurture leaders of integrity, guided by Christian principles, compelled to lead lives of compassionate global citizenship.

THE UPPER SCHOOL ACADEMIC MISSION Franklin Road Academy emphasizes academic excellence while instilling a love for learning in our students. We offer an outstanding college-preparatory program that is appropriately complemented and enhanced by a wide variety of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities in the arts, athletics, and through service. Our goal is to offer an educational experience that is both academically challenging and filled with opportunities which offer spiritual and personal growth.

Franklin Road Academy is committed to exceeding standards for curricular content and using the classroom as an environment to teach and develop vital 21st century skills.

The upper school administration offers our continued assistance in planning the high school course of study, identifying possible college choices, and working through the college application and admission processes. Please feel free to contact the upper school office any time you need advice or assistance along the way.

We are pleased that you have selected Franklin Road Academy. We look forward to working with you.

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Franklin Road Academy Scholars with Integrity and Purpose 4700 Franklin Road Nashville, TN 37220 US Office: 615-331-6808 Fax: 615-781-8551 Head of Upper School: Prentice Stabler 2017-2018 Academic Program Guide

Introduction........................................................................................................................3 Four-Year Plan...................................................................................................................4 Requirements for Graduation..........................................................................................5 Grading Scale and Academic Calendar...........................................................................7 Course Offerings................................................................................................................8

Course Descriptions.................................................................................................

English Department.……………………………………………. ……………..11 Mathematics Department.……………………………………..........................15 Social Studies Department.…………………………………….. ……………..19 World Language Department.………………………………….……………..24 Science Department.……………………………………………. ……………..30 Technology Department……………………………………………………….35 Fine and Performing Arts Department.……………………….……………..37 Enrichments.…………………………………………………………………...41 Religious Studies Department.………………………………………………...43 Physical Education Department.………………………………. ……………..44 Interim………………………………...………………………..……………………….46 Honors and Advanced Placement Courses....................................................................46 Grade Point Average (GPA)...........................................................................................47 Class Rank........................................................................................................................47 Scheduling and Credit Policy..........................................................................................48 Clubs, Student Organizations, Activities.......................................................................48 Spiritual Life, Athletics...................................................................................................49 Key Facts, Alpha/Omega.................................................................................................50 Service Life, Campus Facilities.......................................................................................51 Note: This academic program guide is subject to change as necessary. Please refer to the FRA website for the most current update.

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PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING The full academic program guide and the course description book are located on the FRA website. The purpose of the academic program guide is to help parents and students become familiar with the academic program at Franklin Road Academy. We hope this information will assist you in making informed choices regarding your individual course of study. If you have questions regarding the academic program at Franklin Road Academy, please be sure to contact the head of upper school or academic coordinator.

A critical component to academic success is the planning ability afforded by the four-year plan.

Students will complete or update their four-year plan for graduation each year. This process will allow students to assess their current schedules, personal skills, interests, and abilities, and they can set tentative goals for the coming years. The four-year plan is likely to change significantly as a student progresses from freshman year through senior year, but a commitment to seriously plan for the future ensures that course selections are purposeful and set students up to open as many opportunities as possible. You will find a four-year plan template in the course description book found on the FRA website.

When planning a course of study, we encourage each student to gather as much information as possible by talking with parents, teachers, academic advisors, and school administrators.

Franklin Road Academy offers extensive academic and college placement counseling, both of which are designed to helps students establish healthy goals and ultimately gain admission the college of their choice.

We strongly encourage students to actively pursue the most academically challenging course of study they can manage. Evidence of rigorous coursework is increasingly important in the college admission process, both for admission and for access to scholarships.

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FRA FOUR-YEAR PLAN FOR HIGH SCHOOL Six credits required each year. At least five academic credits each year.

9th

10th

11th

12th

Math (4)

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English (4)

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Science (3)

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Social Studies (3) _______________________

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World Lang. (2) _______________________

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Religion (1)

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Fine Arts (1)

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Wellness (1)

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Tech (.5)

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Other Elect/SH _______________________

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ACADEMIC CREDITS:

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ANNUAL TOTAL CREDITS:

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CUMMUALTIVE CREDITS:

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NAME: _______________________________________________

GRADUATION YEAR: ______________________ 4

FRA UPPER SCHOOL ACADEMIC NOTES & GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS Students must earn 24 total credits for upper school graduation.

Twenty of those credits must come from academic courses.

4 units

English

4 units

Mathematics

3 units

Science

3 units

Social Studies

2 units

World Language

½ unit

Technology

1 unit

Religious Studies

1 unit

Physical Education

1 unit

Fine and Performing Arts

4½ units Electives ______________________________________________ 24 Units Required for Graduation

In addition, Franklin Road Academy students are required to submit documentation of an average of five hours of community service per year for each of their four years of high school. This service learning requirement will be appropriately adjusted for students who enter FRA after the ninth grade year.

Franklin Road Academy also includes participation and completion of our annual Interim program on a student’s transcript. Interim is compulsory for graduation from FRA.

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GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AND COURSE OF STUDY English: All students must complete English I, II, III, and the senior level Critical Thinking and Writing course.

In addition seniors must complete a one-semester elective course in English.

Mathematics: All students must complete four years of mathematics beginning with the ninth grade year.

Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and one or more upper level math courses (Pre-Calculus, Calculus, AP Calculus, Advanced Math Topics, or AP Statistics) must be taken. It is possible a student may receive Algebra I credit in the 8th grade if he or she has met the academic standards for that class. In this instance 9th grade placement will be Algebra II. Science: All students must successfully complete Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

Social Studies: All students must successfully complete Ancient/Medieval History, World History, and U.S. History.

World Language: Students are required to complete two consecutive years of the same world language in grades 9-12 for graduation. Students who have demonstrated their ability with an average of A or high B are encouraged to take the third, fourth, or fifth year of a language; however, a teacher recommendation is required.

A student earning a final grade of 85 or above in 8th grade world language may choose to remain in the same language (level II) or switch to level I of another language.

A student earning a final grade of 84 or below in 8th grade world language will be carefully evaluated by the world language faculty to determine readiness for level II.  Students in this category may progress to level II only with the recommendation of FRA faculty and administration.  Students who are not recommended for level II may choose a different language or repeat level I based on the recommendation of the world language faculty and the administration.

Technology: All students must successfully complete one semester for a total of ½ unit of credit from the technology offerings.

Physical Education: All students must complete two semesters of Wellness and/or Performance Fitness.

Enrichments: Students must complete at least two semesters of religious studies: Old Testament Survey, New Testament Survey, the Life of Christ, Faith and Film, Christian Leadership, or World Religions.

Fine and Performing Arts: Students must successfully complete two semesters of fine or performing arts, selecting from the areas of art, drama, instrumental music, or vocal music.

The academic program at Franklin Road Academy is intended to offer an appropriate degree of flexibility regarding course selections. Inherent in the program is the opportunity to enhance the basic requirements when such consideration improves the academic preparation of an individual for a particular college program. FRA will make every effort to meet the elective requests of our students, but elective placement cannot always be guaranteed.

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FRA UPPER SCHOOL GRADING SCALE Grade A+ A A‐ B+ B B‐ C+ C C‐ F

Range 97‐100 93‐96 90‐92 87‐89 83‐86 80‐82 77‐79 73‐76 70‐72 0‐69

GPA Points* 4.30 4.00 3.75 3.50 3.00 2.75 2.50 2.00 2.00 0.00

*FRA adjusts GPA by .5 points for honors classes and one point for AP classes.

Academic Calendar The school year is divided into two semesters. Progress is reported to parents at the six-week and twelve-week mark of each semester through the use of progress reports. Parents will receive written comments at the nine week mark of each semester. Semester report cards will be emailed home within 14 days from the last exam.

Exams are given at the end of each semester. All students are required to take fall semester exams in full-year courses. In semester courses, seniors may earn exam exemption for the semester by having an average of 92.

Seniors may earn exam exemption for all full-year courses in the spring semester by having a combined average of 92 or better for the previous reporting periods. Exams will comprise 20% of the semester grade.

Dean’s List Students who attain an average of 90 or better in academic classes with no grade below 87 earn a place on the Dean’s List. Honors and AP classes have five points added to the quarterly grade to determine this honor.

Dean’s List is announced at the beginning of the following quarter.

Head’s List Students who attain an average of 95 or better in academic classes with no grade below 90 earn a place on the Head’s List. Honors and AP classes have five points added to the quarterly grade to determine this honor.

Students who earn this honor for each of the four quarters are named to the Annual Head’s List at the end of the year.

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FRA COURSE OFFERINGS All students must take at least six courses each semester. For all grades, five of the six must be academic courses. FRA requires 24 total credits, with 20 earned in academic classes, for students to be a candidate for graduation.

DEPARTMENT

COURSE

CREDITS

ENGLISH

English I: Genres in World Literature English I (H): Genres in World Literature English II: The American Experience English II (H): The American Experience English III: British Literary Legacy AP English: Language & Composition English IV: Critical Thinking and Writing AP English: Literature & Composition English IV: Shakespeare Sampling English IV: Fictional Worlds, Tolkien Studies English IV: Creative Writing English IV: Cultural Conflict in the Novel

1 1 1 1 1 1 ½ (required) 1 ½ ½ ½ ½

MATHEMATICS

Algebra I Algebra II Algebra II (H) Geometry Geometry (H) Pre-Calculus Pre-Calculus (H) Calculus AP Statistics Advanced Math Topics AP Calculus – AB and BC

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

SOCIAL STUDIES

Ancient and Medieval History 1 Ancient and Medieval History (H) 1 World History 1 AP World History 1 United States History 1 AP United States History 1 AP European History 1 American Government ½ Economics ½ U.S. History, 1820-1900 ½ Psychology ½ The Holocaust: Meanings and Implications ½ War and Peace: Conflict in the Holy Land ½ Intro to Sociology: Survey of American Social Issues ½

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DEPARTMENT

COURSE

CREDITS

WORLD LANGUAGE

French I French II French III French III (H) French Film, Music, and Literature AP French Language Spanish I Spanish II Spanish III Spanish III (H) AP Spanish Language AP Spanish Literature and Culture Contemporary Spanish Language and Music Spanish Culture through Film Latin I Latin II Latin III (H) Latin IV/V (H) AP Latin Vergil Classical Mythology World Language: Linguistics and Writing

1 1 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 1 ½ ½

SCIENCE

Biology I Biology I (H) Anatomy and Physiology AP Biology Chemistry I Chemistry I (H) Advanced Chemistry Topics AP Chemistry Physics I Physics I (H) Physics II AP Physics I AP Physics II Environmental Science Intro to Robotics

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ½ ½

TECHNOLOGY

Introduction to Technology Technology: Gaming and Simulation Digital Publications: Yearbook Computer Science (H) Digital Media Innovations Graphic Design Technology and Design Thinking AP Computer Science Principles

½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1

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DEPARTMENT

COURSE

CREDITS

FINE & PERFORMING ARTS

*Art I: Drawing *Art II: Color Theory *Art III: Painting AP Studio Art: Drawing *Ceramics I *Ceramics II AP Studio Art: 3D Design *Dramatic Arts I *Dramatic Arts II *Theater Tech *Jazz Band *Introduction to Band *Introduction to Guitar *Vocal Ensemble *Concert Choir

½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1

ENRICHMENT

Old Testament Survey New Testament Survey Life of Christ World Religions Faith and Film Christian Leadership Public Speaking Broadcast Journalism Criminology AP Capstone: Seminar and Research

½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 2 (1 per year)

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

*Wellness *Performance Fitness

½ ½

*Not an academic course

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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS Curricular development and program design are an integral part of maintaining courses that challenge and prepare students for college. Each department at FRA is led by a department chair whose responsibility it is to maintain and develop curriculum and assist in implementing best practices in their respective curricular area for grades 5-12. The courses below represent thoughtful and intentional design to best prepare the FRA student for the rigors of college academics.

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT All students must complete English I, II, III, and the senior level Critical Writing and Thinking course. In addition seniors must complete a one semester elective course in literature. A teacher recommendation, an "A" average in previous work, and a minimum score above the required percentile on standardized tests are required for all honors and advanced placement courses.

ENGLISH (4 credits required) The English curriculum in literature is based on the goal of developing critical readers who have strong analytical and composition skills. Sequential courses offer the continuing practice of grammar skills, the addition of an extensive vocabulary, and the development of strong research and writing skills.

English electives provide an opportunity to study specific areas of literature and to strengthen student writing skills. Independent study courses are available in the area of journalism.

Course Options English I or English I Honors (9) English II or English II Honors (10) English III or AP English Language and Composition (11) English IV: Critical Thinking and Writing* (12-mandatory for non-AP students) AP English Literature and Composition (12) English IV: Shakespeare Sampling* (12) English IV: Fictional Worlds, Tolkien Studies* (12) English IV: Creative Writing (12) English IV: Cultural Conflict in the Novel* (12) *One semester course

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ENGLISH I: GENRES IN WORLD LITERATURE 1 Credit Grade 9 This course designed for freshman English students explores the fundamental question of what it means to be human. By exploring multiple genres (short stories, novels, poetry, epic poetry, novellas, essays, etc.) from a myriad of perspectives that differ in history and experience, we begin to discover and articulate our own views of the world. We will come in contact with many different cultures separated from our own – by time, distance, and perspective – in order to best understand who we are and to consider how these perspectives inform our faith. The primary focus will be on the development of skills, emphasizing the link between close reading, writing, and thinking. Vocabulary and grammar are taught within the student’s own reading and writing.

ENGLISH I (H): GENRES IN WORLD LITERATURE 1 Credit Grade 9 This course designed for freshman English students explores the fundamental question of what it means to be human. By exploring multiple genres (short stories, novels, poetry, epic poetry, novellas, essays, etc.) from a myriad of perspectives that differ in history and experience, we begin to discover and articulate our own views of the world. We will come in contact with many different cultures separated from our own – by time, distance, and perspective – in order to best understand who we are and to consider how these perspectives inform our faith. The primary focus will be on the development of skills, emphasizing the link between close reading, writing, and thinking. Vocabulary and grammar are taught within the student’s own reading and writing. The course will involve parallel outside readings each nine weeks in order to increase the student’s exposure to literature. The pacing, depth, and breadth of this honors course will increase from that of English I in order to prepare students for the rigor of AP courses.

ENGLISH II: THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE 1 Credit Grade 10 This course designed for sophomore English students explores the implications of what it means to be American. We begin this journey by reading from and into a variety of perspectives (regional, racial, religious, socio-economic, and gender-based) so that we may begin to understand how our national community has defined itself in the past and how we might define it today. For this reason, we will be engaging in a number of different texts from an assortment of genres: poems, essays, letters, novels, short stories, speeches. How do these multifarious perspectives change our perceptions about our past and inform our present? How do our perceptions about the American journey inform our faith? The primary focus will be on the development of skills, emphasizing the link between close reading, writing, and thinking. Vocabulary and grammar are taught within the student’s own reading and writing.

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ENGLISH II (H): THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE 1 Credit Grade 10 This course designed for the advanced sophomore English students explores the implications of what it means to be an American. As opposed to a general survey course, this class seeks to engage in a thematic approach to major selections of the American literary canon. The primary focus will be on the development of skills, emphasizing the link between close reading, writing, and thinking. More independence is required in terms of students’ reading, writing, thinking, speaking, and analyzing abilities and in balancing their other studies and activities to come to class prepared to play an active role in discussion.

ENGLISH III: BRITISH LITERARY LEGACY 1 Credit Grade 11 This course is an intensive study of the literature of the English canon. From its beginnings with the epic of Beowulf through more modern texts, students will be exposed to several major works of English literature and will study the cultures in which those texts were created. The course also focuses on writing effective sentences, paragraphs, and essays, with additional review of common grammatical errors. The course includes a vocabulary component to expand students’ working vocabularies. More independence is required in terms of students’ reading, writing, thinking, speaking, and analyzing abilities and in balancing their other studies and activities to come to class prepared to play an active role in discussion.

AP ENGLISH: LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION 1 Credit Grade 11 AP Language and Composition is a college-level course offered to 11th grade students to help them become skilled readers of prose written in a variety of contexts which include essays, speeches, memoirs, and news articles along with the graphics and visual images that frequently accompany both electronic and print media.

Additionally, students are taught composition which emphasizes the expository, analytical, and argumentative writing skills needed for success in academic and professional settings.

ENGLISH IV: CRITICAL THINKING AND WRITING ½ Credit Grade 12 – Mandatory Based on the changes in the 21st-century world and the need for education to adapt to the changes, this course will require students to practice and hone their critical thinking skills as well as develop their communication skills. Students will pursue the essential questions of “What do we know and how do we know it?” This course will emphasize collaboration and presentation skills as students simultaneously navigate and synthesize the vast flow of information in the world today. Students will immerse themselves in inquiry, and in doing so, they will be required to take initiative, demonstrate leadership, ask good questions, and foster their own creativity.

Students will read into and write in a variety of genres, engage in research, and participate in Socratic seminars.

By the end of the course, students will be effective critical thinkers and communicators, preparing them for 21stcentury higher education, careers, and responsible citizenship.

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AP ENGLISH: LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION 1 Credit Grade 12 Advanced Placement English is a college-level course in literature and composition. Extensive reading in the areas of poetry, drama, fiction, and literary criticism is required, and class participation is heavily emphasized.

There is extensive written analysis of the literature studied, and, in preparation for the AP exam, practice exercises are included in the course.

ENGLISH IV: SHAKESPEARE SAMPLING ½ credit Grade 12 This course seeks to provide students with a broad exposure to several of William Shakespeare’s plays. Our selections will include at least one history, one tragedy, one comedy, and one problem play. Some time will be spent exploring the historical context of Shakespeare’s world and the context in which the plays are set. We will also examine the theatrical treatment of these plays and examine how the films add to or detract from the story.

The course also focuses on writing effective sentences, paragraphs, and essays, with additional review of common grammatical errors. The course includes an online vocabulary component, completed independently, to expand students’ working vocabularies. More independence is required in terms of students’ reading, writing, thinking, speaking, and analyzing abilities and in balancing their other studies and activities to come to class prepared to play an active role in discussion.

ENGLISH IV: FICTIONAL WORLDS, TOLKIEN STUDIES ½ Credit Grade 12 Through the exploration of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, students will consider how distance from reality allows writers and readers to examine issues that would otherwise hit too close to home, leading to the inevitable discovery that fantastic fiction (as all literature) does indeed reveal human truths. The course also focuses on writing effective sentences, paragraphs, and essays, with additional review of common grammatical errors. The course includes a vocabulary component to expand students’ working vocabularies. More independence is required in terms of students’ reading, writing, thinking, speaking, and analyzing abilities and in balancing their other studies and activities to come to class prepared to play an active role in discussion.

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ENGLISH IV: CREATIVE WRITING ½ Credit Grade 12 In this writing workshop, students will experience writing as a tool for critical thinking, self-discovery, and creative expression. The course is comprised of three units: fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction. Students will analyze published works and produce their own writing in each of these genres. Writing skills will be developed through pre-writing, editing, revising, and critiquing. Students will maintain a writing portfolio throughout the semester. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to identify successful elements of an effective piece of creative writing, participate in a writing community, and express themselves with originality and clarity in stories, poetry, and personal essays.

ENGLISH IV: CULTURAL CONFLICT IN THE NOVEL ½ Credit Grade 12 With every advancement in transportation and technology, cultures around the world have been interacting with each other at an increasing pace. Sometimes the interaction is peaceable, sometimes violent. This course will explore various examples of cultural clashes and draw from a wide variety of cultures, time periods, and geographic locations. Possible topics and authors include the Holocaust (Levi, Kertesz, Spiegelman), Native Americans (Silko, Sherman), British Imperialism (Rhys, Conrad), African-Americans (Hurston, Toomer, Morrison), Chinese Americans (Yang, Kingston), the Middle East (Nafisi, Satrapi).

MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT All students are required to enroll in a math course each of their four years in high school. Students must complete a minimum of four units: Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and Pre-Calculus or Advanced Math Topics. Those students who successfully complete Algebra I in the eighth grade must still complete four years of mathematics during high school. This additional course could be any of the following: Advanced Math Topics, Calculus, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, or AP Statistics. All Honors and Advanced Placement courses require a teacher recommendation, a grade of “A” in a previous math course, and scores above the required percentile on standardized tests.

MATHEMATICS (4 credits required) The mathematics curriculum is designed so that students learn to:  Read, write, and orally communicate mathematical concepts.  Organize, analyze, depict, and interpret data to make decisions and predictions related to real world situations.  Solve theoretical and practical problems using essential concepts of algebra, geometry, probability, and statistics.  Comprehend the relationships between mathematics, the sciences, and technology.

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Topics in each class are presented numerically, graphically, analytically, and verbally to enhance the learning experience. AP courses in calculus and statistics follow the topic outlines set by the College Board for their respective disciplines. Graphing calculator competencies increase with each grade level, and students are exposed to the latest math software each year.

Course Options Algebra I (8 and 9) Algebra II or Algebra II Honors (9-11) Geometry or Geometry Honors (10 and 11) Pre-Calculus or Pre-Calculus Honors (11 and 12) Calculus or AP Calculus (11 and 12) AP Statistics (11 and 12) Advanced Math Topics (12) ALGEBRA I 1 Credit Grade 9 This introductory course is intended to build the foundation for further study in symbolic mathematics. The major concepts introduced will be simplifying expressions; solving equations, inequalities, and systems of equations in two or more variables; factoring polynomials; simplifying rational expressions; problem solving; defining, graphing, and exploring domains and ranges of functions; and simplifying radical expressions.

Students will explore data using regression analysis and use their regression equation to make predictions.

Graphing calculators will be used to solve problems, experiment with data, and verify conclusions.

Trigonometry and geometry are also explored on an introductory level.

ALGEBRA II 1 Credit Grades 9 and 10 A thorough review of topics from Algebra I comprises the first part of this course. More extensive study is given to the topics of radicals and complex numbers, linear and quadratic equations, and problem solving. New concepts studied include conic sections, logarithmic and exponential functions, sequences and series, matrices, and probability and statistics. Mathematical modeling through regression analysis will be explored on a deeper level than in Algebra I. Trigonometry will also be explored in a more formal and extended fashion including graphs of the trigonometric functions with transformations.

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ALGEBRA II (H) 1 Credit Grades 9 and 10 Although this course covers much of the same material as the regular Algebra II class, there is a more rigorous approach to the study of those topics as well as further topics from geometry and trigonometry. Specifically, students will look more closely at functions defined by tables, graphs, and equations, and utilize mathematical modeling more extensively. New concepts will be introduced numerically, graphically, analytically, and verbally whenever possible. Additional graphing calculator competencies will include solving systems of linear equations using matrices, finding roots of equations, solving non-linear systems of equations, and maximizing/minimizing graphs of functions.

GEOMETRY 1 Credit Grades 10 and 11 This course is designed to emphasize the study of the properties and applications of common geometric figures in two and three dimensions (plane and solid geometry). It includes the study of transformations of plane figures and right triangle trigonometry. Inductive and deductive thinking skills are used in problem solving situations, and applications to the real world are stressed. This course also emphasizes writing proofs in various forms to solve (prove) properties of geometric figures.

GEOMETRY (H) 1 Credit Grades 10 and 11 The sequence of this course will be similar to the regular course but the scope will be much broader. In addition to the familiar topics, students will explore more challenging logic problems, write more extensive proofs, and explore non-Euclidean geometries. Analytic geometry will be explored in depth in preparation for more advanced math courses. Advanced mathematical concepts from Pre-Calculus and Calculus will also be introduced at an introductory level.

PRE-CALCULUS 1 Credit Grades 11 and 12 This course in advanced mathematics provides an extensive and extended study of both algebraic and geometric concepts, with major emphasis on trigonometry, conic sections, functions and their graphs, probability, and statistics. The basic concepts of analytic geometry, including continuity and limits of functions, are also introduced. Students will explore the representation of patterns using arithmetic and geometric sequences and series, including the use of sigma notation to represent series.

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PRE-CALCULUS (H) 1 Credit Grades 11 and 12 This course is designed for those students with the aptitude and desire to take calculus, either during their senior year or in college. In addition to the topics covered in regular Pre-Calculus, students will be introduced to concepts that foreshadow calculus and continue to use algebra and trigonometry to model real-life problems.

Students will also be more formally introduced to the “Rule of Four,� which encourages students to investigate mathematical ideas and processes graphically, numerically, algebraically, and verbally. Mathematical modeling and making predictions from models will continue to be explored, and graphing calculator technology will be utilized when appropriate.

CALCULUS 1 Credit Grade 12 This advanced mathematics course is ideally suited for those students interested in business and economics, life sciences, and social sciences who have met the prerequisites for a calculus course but are not ready for advanced placement calculus. This course begins with an extensive development of a library of elementary functions, including their properties and uses. Both differential and integral calculus are studied with an emphasis on application. Students are also introduced to multivariable calculus as well as a brief discussion of differentiation and integration of trigonometric functions. Students are encouraged to investigate mathematical ideas and processes graphically, numerically, algebraically, and verbally. Mathematical modeling and making predictions from models will be further explored, and graphing calculator technology will continue to be utilized when appropriate.

AP STATISTICS 1 Credit Grade 12 The purpose of this AP course in statistics is to introduce students to the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data. Students will explore data (describing patterns and departures from patterns), sample and experiment (planning and conducting a study), anticipate patterns (exploring random phenomena using probability and simulation) and statistical inference (estimating population parameters and testing hypotheses.

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ADVANCED MATH TOPICS 1 Credit Grade 12 This course will provide a general overview of mathematics aimed at those seniors who will be majoring in the liberal arts, education, social sciences, business, nursing, and allied health fields. In addition to a comprehensive review of high school mathematics, students will also study set theory, logic, systems of numeration (including number bases), number theory, linear programming, group theory, modular arithmetic, and non-Euclidean geometry. Students who have had both Pre-Calculus and Advanced Math Topics will also be well-prepared for a college-level course in calculus should they choose to take it after entering college.

AP CALCULUS AB 1 Credit Grade 12 This course is intended as the final year of high school mathematics for those students who are preparing for the advanced placement exam. The course begins with an extensive exploration of elementary functions with an emphasis on the relationships between functions and their graphs, and students will be introduced to the concept of families of functions. Both differential and integral calculus of a single variable are explored. Theory and application are emphasized equally. Students are encouraged to look at mathematical ideas and processes numerically, graphically, analytically, and verbally. Emphasis will be placed on both the mechanics and the interpretation of differential and integral calculus. Students will become proficient with the entire range of their graphing calculator’s capabilities. Students taking this course will be expected to take the advanced placement exam in calculus for the purpose of receiving college credit in calculus.

AP CALCULUS BC 1 Credit Grade 12 Like Calculus AB this course is intended as the final year of high school mathematics for those students who are preparing for the advanced placement exam. In addition to the topics covered in AP Calculus AB, students will also be introduced to analysis of planar curves given in parametric, polar, and vector form; slope fields; Euler’s method; L’Hopital’s Rule; antiderivatives by substitution, parts, and simple partial fractions; logistic equations; Taylor polynomial approximations; and Taylor and Maclaurin series. The content of Calculus BC is designed to qualify students for placement and credit in a course that is one level beyond that granted for Calculus AB.

SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT A fundamental task for any social studies class is to search for the character of “why.” It is a study of changes, reactions, and developments throughout culture, people, events, and even ideas. In social studies, the discipline of history remains crucial to understanding a proper world view.

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SOCIAL STUDIES (3 credits required) Students at Franklin Road Academy are required to complete three units of social studies for graduation. They will study Ancient History in order to recognize the connections between cultures and people long ago and their own society today. In World History, the students will learn how events and ideology have changed the world radically over the past 10,000 years. In American History students study how the United States of America developed from their foundations and how those initial ideas still hold today. Teachers recommend an "A" average in previous social studies courses and scores above the required percentile on standardized tests for all Honors and Advanced Placement classes.

Extensive reading of both primary and secondary sources, as well as expository writing, is integral for all social studies classes. Note-taking and organizational skills are also emphasized. Tablet PCs will be used to accelerate the research process and improve writing and material comprehension.

Elective courses vary in length (1-2 semesters) depending on specific course content. Essay skills are emphasized. AP courses allow for intensive coverage of the main topics and additional analysis, writing, and comprehension.

Course Options Ancient History or Ancient History Honors (9) World History or AP World History (10) U.S. History or AP U.S. History (11) AP European History (12) American Government* (11-12) Economics* (11-12) U.S. History 1820-1900* (12) Psychology* (11-12) The Holocaust* (11-12) War and Peace* (11-12) Sociology* (11-12) *One semester course ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL HISTORY 1 Credit Grade 9 This year-long course introduces ninth grade students to the major political, social, and religious movements of the Ancient World. Beginning with Mesopotamia, the students gain knowledge of early civilizations through reading the textbook, taking notes from lectures, and discussing the topics during class time. The other subjects studied are China, India, Persia, Jerusalem, Greece, Rome, Byzantium, and will conclude with the Crusades.

Extensive writing of short and long essays will be frequent, and the use of technology will help deepen the learning experience.

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ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL HISTORY (H) 1 Credit Grade 9 This year-long course will cover the same topics as the regular class but will include a more in-depth focus on the origins and conceptual ideas of each historical time period. The students will also be required to read and analyze primary based documents to help them prepare for future AP level classes and to give them a further understanding of the subject beyond their textbook. As an honors class, more attention will be given on how to write historically and develop their critical mindsets.

WORLD HISTORY 1 Credit Grade 10 This year-long course will explore both the rise of Western Civilization and the contributions to history from the non-Western world. Starting with the Middle Ages, students will explore new developments in revolution, imperialism, science, politics, war, and religion. Critical analysis of the textbook and other assigned material is an integral component to class. Additionally, organization, note-taking, and solid study habits will help students prepare for college.

AP WORLD HISTORY 1 Credit Grade 10 The AP World History course focuses on developing students' understanding of world history from approximately 8000 B.C.E. to the present. The course has students investigate the content of world history for significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in six historical periods, and develop and use the same thinking skills and methods employed by historians when they study the past. The course also provides five themes that students explore throughout the course in order to make connections among historical developments in different times and places encompassing the five major geographical regions of the globe.

UNITED STATES HISTORY 1 Credit Grade 11 This year-long survey of American history considers the major themes, figures, and events from the time of Columbus through the twentieth century. Emphasis is placed on politics, social issues, religion, culture, economics, and an ideological understanding of people throughout each period of time. Both primary and secondary sources will be assigned, which will give the student a deeper understanding of each subject being studied. Topics include colonization and colonial America, the American Revolution, Federalism, Jacksonian Democracy, Manifest Destiny, Civil War and Reconstruction, the Industrial Revolution, the Progressive Era, World War I, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, Civil Rights, Vietnam, and Watergate.

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AP UNITED STATES HISTORY 1 Credit Grade 11 This year-long course will explore the same concepts and topics as the regular United States History class, but will also prepare students for the AP exam in May. With a major focus on the political and cultural developments from the time of Columbus on through the twentieth century, the students will be required to comprehend and analyze extensive primary and scholarly historical texts in order to better understand each time period. Additionally, more in-depth writing and critical thinking will be required of the students.

AP EUROPEAN HISTORY 1 Credit Grade 12 In the year-long Advanced Placement European History course, students survey the history of Europe from the Renaissance to the present, with an emphasis on the thematic developments of Western Civilization. The class examines social, political, economic, religious, and cultural movements that dramatically impacted history.

Major areas of study include the Renaissance and Reformation, the topics of the Enlightenment, the revolutionary movements of the 19th Century, the Industrial Revolution, 20th century conflict, and social reform.

Emphasis will be placed on primary and scholarly sources equivalent to those gained in a college-level introductory course. Students are expected to use outside sources and the class to increase learning comprehension.

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT ½ Credit Grades 11-12 This semester course will be a survey on several important aspects of the U.S. federal system including U.S. government and constitutional history, national and state operations, politics, and the nature of the American democracy. Each section is designed to enlighten the student on the workings of the United States federal system and the role of the citizen in the foundation and operation of the government. Attention will also be given to the history of politics and politicians and the impact important political events have had on the country.

The class will include in-depth discussion of current events as well as a term paper at the end of the semester.

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ECONOMICS ½ Credit Grades 11-12 This semester course will focus on fundamental economic principles students will need to know as they advance to college-level economics classes. The class will focus on both micro and macroeconomics and will include ongoing instruction in personal finance. Students will be introduced to the Foundations of Financial Peace program created by Dave Ramsey and will learn the importance of avoiding debt and managing money. Each area of study is designed to assist the student in understanding basic mathematic principles of economics and the larger impact that money and the economy has on society overall. However, the main goal is to help the student understand and recognize trends in economics and be able to analyze data to better understand the new complicated global economy.

U.S. HISTORY, 1820-1900: A CIVIL WAR ½ Credit Grade 12 This semester course will cover United States history from 1860-1877, but, because the Civil War is the central event in American history, the causes and consequences will be stressed as well. Students will examine scholarly literature on the subject from varying viewpoints and discuss their own ideological understanding of the war. Topics include the Compromise of 1820 and 1854, the election of 1860, Fort Sumter, Emancipation Proclamation, the war itself and the Reconstruction that followed. Great detail will be given to the battles, military leaders, and politicians who helped define this moment in history. The class will also be expected to write a research paper and get the opportunity to visit Civil War sites throughout middle Tennessee.

PSYCHOLOGY ½ Credit Grades 11-12 Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and the mental processes. The scope of psychology is broad, ranging from the scientific activity of neurons and hormones, to the maze-running abilities of lab rats, to the effects of emotions on how we think and act towards others, to the influence of social contexts and cultures on our own behavior. This course will provide students with a broad introduction to the vast and exciting field.

It will cover psychology’s basic subject matter across a variety of topics (i.e. development, learning, memory, abnormal behavior, and social influence), history of different psychologists’ approaches to collecting and evaluating evidence about behavior, as well as how psychological knowledge can be applied to understanding – and improving – everyday life.

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THE HOLOCAUST: ITS MEANINGS AND IMPLICATIONS ½ Credit Grades 11-12 This course examines the systematic destruction of European Jewry and other groups during World War II, its background, and its aftermath. It addresses the attempts by victims, bystanders, perpetrators, and their descendants – and we are all their descendants – to create meaningful narratives about an event that appears to lack discernible meaning. To that end it focuses on historical accounts, case studies, memoirs, fiction, and theology and such issues as history, memory, witness, conscience, language, evil, and others that they raise.

WAR AND PEACE: CONFLICT IN THE HOLY LAND (THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT) ½ Credit Grades 11-12 This course examines the history of the Holy Land in the 19th and 20th centuries with an emphasis on U.S. involvement after 1945. Students will also study the United States’ relationship with Israel and its impact on the region in modernity.

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY: SURVEY OF MODERN SOCIAL ISSUES ½ Credit Grades 10-12 This course introduces the fundamental elements of sociology and applies them through an examination of modern social issues (i.e. healthcare, education, gun control, race relations, immigration, the environment, and civil rights) Students will learn the theoretical paradigms that define types and stages of social movements.

Students will also explore how social problems are addressed by means of research, media, journalism, leadership, violence/non-violent means, social norms, and personal biases/world view.

WORLD LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT Students are required to complete two years of the same world language in grades 9-12 for graduation. Students who have demonstrated their ability with an average of "A or high B" are encouraged to take the third, fourth, or fifth year of a language; however, a teacher recommendation is required.

A student earning a final grade of 85 or above in 8th grade world language may choose to remain in the same language (level II) or switch to level I of another language.

A student earning a final grade of 84 or below in 8th grade world language will be carefully screened by the world language faculty to determine readiness for level II.  Students in this category may progress to level II only with the recommendation of FRA faculty and administration.  Students who are not recommended for level II will be required to choose a different language or repeat level I, based on the recommendation of the world language faculty and the administration.

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WORLD LANGUAGE (2 credits required) In French and Spanish, students develop abilities to listen, speak, read, and write in the world language, gaining proficiency throughout the course of study. The main objective is oral and written communication. Advanced courses (level III and beyond) are taught entirely in the world language. Cultural aspects of Francophone and Hispanic civilizations are woven into the curriculum. Latin and classical courses offer a rigorous study of grammar, vocabulary, and reading of the great classical works. In addition, students learn about the culture of ancient civilizations as well as the connections to the modern world and modern languages.

Upper level world language courses offer college-level exposure, especially in the four AP courses offered. A number of hosting and travel opportunities are sponsored by the world language department, which foster an authentic experience not possible in the classroom.

Course Options French I (8th -12th) French II (9th-12th) French III or French III Honors (10th-12th) French through Film, Literature, and Music (11th-12th) AP French Language and Culture (11th-12th) Spanish I (8th-12th) Spanish II (9th-12th) Spanish III or Spanish III Honors (10th-12th) AP Spanish Language (11th-12th) AP Spanish Literature and Culture (11th-12th) Contemporary Spanish Language and Music* (12th) Spanish Culture through Film* (12th) Latin I (8th-12th) Latin II (9th-12th) Latin III Honors (10th-12th) Latin IV/V Honors (10th-12th) AP Latin Vergil (11th-12th) Classical Mythology* (9th–12th) Global Language Studies** (11th and 12th) *One-semester course ** Credit: ½ credit as an elective. Does not replace the 2 full credits of French, Spanish, or Latin. May be taken for two semesters.

FRENCH I 1 Credit Grades 9-12 French I is an introduction to the French language and Francophone culture. Communication in the target language is emphasized. Novice high proficiency in interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes is the goal for this course. Through the study of other cultures, students will gain a greater degree of intercultural proficiency and global awareness.

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FRENCH II 1 Credit Grades 9-12 French II is a continuation of French I, expanding proficiency to the intermediate range in interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational communication. The study of Francophone culture continues.

FRENCH III 1 Credit Grades 10-12 This course seeks to expand communicative proficiency even further, to intermediate high and beyond if possible. Students will refine listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, and will use French not as the subject of their studies, but as the language in which those studies are being carried out. Studies deepen their understanding of their own culture and others.

FRENCH III (H) 1 Credit Grades 10-12 In addition to the regular French III curriculum, students will read and write extensively in preparation for AP French Language and Culture. Students will pursue self-directed projects that allow them to explore topics and questions of interest in the French-speaking world.

FRENCH THROUGH FILM, MUSIC, AND LITERATURE ½ Credit Grades 11-12 This course will continue to develop proficiency in French through an examination of the thematic units, as seen through the lens of contemporary film, contemporary music, and selected literature. Students enrolling in the course will help set the themes prior to the semester, and will also help drive the content. The course is suitable for pre-AP, post-AP, or as an elective capstone course beyond French III or French III (H). May be taken in the fall, spring, or both.

AP FRENCH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE 1 Credit Grades 11-12 This course is an advanced study of language and culture of the Francophone world with concentration on perfecting interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational communication. Fluency and accuracy in French are developed within and across a wide variety of contexts. The course is conducted entirely in French. Course themes include global challenges, science and technology, contemporary life, personal and public identities, families and communities, and beauty and aesthetics.

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SPANISH I 1 Credit Grades 9-12 Spanish I is an introduction to the Spanish language. Students develop their basic language skills – listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students are also given information about the history, culture, and way of life of Spanish-speaking people. Communication in Spanish is emphasized.

SPANISH II 1 Credit Grades 9-12 Spanish II is a continuation of Spanish I. Students are exposed to more reading selections, stories, and conversational skills. There is continued emphasis on cultural understanding.

SPANISH III 1 Credit Grades 10-12 This course is a review of the structures covered in Spanish I and Spanish II with an introduction to increasingly complex grammar structures, situations, topics, and vocabulary. Special emphasis is placed on the communication of needs and thoughts through speaking and writing. Students will also be expected to read and interpret intermediate reading selections. Culture is examined through a variety of topics and subjects.

SPANISH III (H) 1 Credit Grades 10-12 In addition to regular Spanish III topics, students will begin preparation for the Spanish AP exams through increased writing and speaking exercises. More advanced reading selections, increased vocabulary, and advanced grammar structures will be covered in class. Speaking Spanish is required.

AP SPANISH LANGUAGE 1 Credit Grades 11-12 This course is an advanced study of language and culture of the Spanish-speaking world with concentration on perfecting interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational communication. Fluency and accuracy in Spanish are developed within and across a wide variety of contexts. The course is conducted entirely in Spanish. Course themes include the arts, history, current events, literature, culture, and sports. Students will be exposed to a wide variety of authentic resources from native sources.

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AP SPANISH LITERATURE AND CULTURE 1 Credit Grades 11-12 This course is a study of major literary themes and genres of Peninsular Spanish, Latin American, and U.S. Hispanic literature with readings of major authors from the Middle Ages to contemporary times such as Cervantes, Dario, Jorge Luis Borges, Isabel Allende, and Gabriel Garcia Márquez. Cultural competence, linguistic proficiency, and literary analysis will be the emphasis of this course which is conducted entirely in Spanish.

CONTEMPORARY SPANISH LANGUAGE AND MUSIC ½ Credit Grade 12 Spanish songs will be played to learn colloquial vocabulary and to review grammar aspects of the Spanish language. Students will study popular cultural trends and concepts mainly related to Spanish youth.

SPANISH CULTURE THROUGH FILM ½ Credit Grade 12 Spanish movies and documentaries will be watched to learn culture, colloquial vocabulary, customs, and literature. Students will review grammar aspects and popular cultural trends from different Spanish speaking countries. Films and documentaries that will be viewed for this course are from Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Costa Rica, and other Spanish speaking countries.

LATIN I 1 Credit Grades 9-12 Latin I is an introduction to the language, culture, history, and mythology of the Roman people. This course will emphasize Latin grammar (and thus English grammar) and literature from the very first day while also introducing the student to the derivation of modern English from Latin.

LATIN II 1 Credit Grades 9-12 Latin II continues the emphasis of Latin I in the study of the language, culture, history, and mythology of the Roman people, increasing the amount of ancient literature read and increasing the complexity of the grammar studied. By the end of the year, students will be starting to go beyond the textbook and into the realm of the real texts, preparing for Latin III.

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LATIN III (H) 1 Credit Grades 10-12 Myths, Magic, and Mos Maiorum. In this course students will read selections from a variety of Roman authors.

Grammar and vocabulary are presented as a means to the goal of reading authentic Latin each day. Cicero’s politically-charged rhetoric, Ovid’s epic poetry, and a number of comic, mythological, and historical sources are among what students will read. Literary discourse, criticism, analysis, and interpretation are practiced as way of communing with the ancients and in order to prepare students for the AP curriculum.

LATIN IV/V (H) 1 Credit Grades 11-12 This is an intensive survey of Latin literature, emphasizing vocabulary, grammatical comprehension, literary criticism, and the historical and political significance of Latin writings. Students will read everything from Plautus’s third century BC comedies, to Horace’s first century BC Odes, to the Vulgate of the fourth century AD. AP LATIN VERGIL 1 Credit Grades 11-12 This is an intensive study of Vergil’s epic poem, The Aeneid, and of Caesar’s Gallic War. The course emphasizes vocabulary, grammatical comprehension, literary criticism, and the historical and political significance of the late first century BC and the rise of Augustus.

CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY ½ Credit Grades 9-12 Classical Mythology serves to give the students a background into many of the stories from ancient Greece and Rome which have continued to influence modern literature, culture, and the art of all periods. Students will learn how the myths are not only entertaining, but also illustrate many themes which are as applicable now as they were in ancient times.

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GLOBAL LANGUAGE STUDIES ½ Credit GRADES 11-12 After a brief intro to world language families, language evolution, linguistics, and writing systems, students will begin a guided, independent study to acquire a 3rd language – nearly any world language of their choosing.

Students will collaborate with native speakers within their community to gain language skills and cultural awareness. Any student interested in this class needs to speak with me in person and may need an application.

Prerequisites for this course are two years of French, Spanish, or Latin (and should be encouraged to continue those studies if they are recommended to do so)

SCIENCE DEPARTMENT The goal of the Franklin Road Academy Science Department is to prepare students with the skills and knowledge needed to develop a functional understanding of biological and physical principles in a collegepreparatory setting. Students are exposed to successively more sophisticated concepts and experimental skills that allow them to investigate the nature and behavior of matter, energy, and living organisms. The department staff is committed to active learning experiences, engaging the students through lecture, discussion, projects, and laboratory work. These serve to help students develop and enhance their ability to think critically and communicate intelligently about scientific problems and issues. Throughout the program, students are engaged in posing and investigating questions about observable natural phenomena, are involved in quantitative and qualitative analysis of information, and routinely examine the historical development of fundamental principles through the use of 21st-century skills.

SCIENCE (3 credits required) Science classes are designed to give students the ability to manipulate collected data in the classroom and the laboratory in order to prove or disprove hypotheses.

Extensive laboratory skills are taught and utilized in upper level classes. AP courses in chemistry, biology, and physics follow the topic outlines set forth by the College Board for their respective disciplines. Required laboratory series in these classes prepare students for college laboratory success.

Course Options Biology I or Biology I Honors (9) Anatomy and Physiology (11-12) AP Biology (11-12) Chemistry I or Chemistry I Honors (10) Advanced Chemistry Topics (11-12) AP Chemistry (11-12) Physics I or Physics I Honors (11-12) AP Physics I (11-12) Physics II, AP Physics II (12) Environmental Science* (11-12) Science and Technology* (11-12) Into to Robotics* (11-12) *One semester course

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BIOLOGY I 1 Credit Grade 9 This course is designed to give a basic understanding of living organisms and how they function. Biological communities, basic organic chemistry, cellular cytology studies, genetics, change over time, taxonomy, ecology, and botany are all studied. The units are planned with college preparation in mind as well as an effort to stimulate a genuine interest in the sciences. Extensive lab work, including dissections and lab reports, is required.

BIOLOGY I (H) 1 Credit Grade 9 Honors Biology is a rigorous year-long laboratory course for 9th grade students. Honors Biology covers topics typically covered in a high school biology course and prepares students for Advanced Placement Biology.

Students study the structures, functions, and process of living organisms and their interactions with the environment. Major themes include cell structure and specialization, energy and chemistry of life, genetics and evolution, diversity of life, and plant systems. Students learn complex biological concepts through interactive lectures and application, and knowledge is assessed through quizzes, labs, tests, and projects. The curriculum integrates writing skills, critical-thinking skills, laboratory skills, and dissections. In addition the course work will emphasize microscopy, calculating data, graphing, and essay exam questions.

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 1 Credit Grades 11-12 This course is a yearlong in-depth study of human anatomy and physiology. The areas covered include medical terminology, basic chemistry, cell and tissue structure, and the systems of the human body. Numerous applications and everyday examples will show how the human responds to disease, injuries, as well as what conditions help to optimize health. Dissections of various body parts (using mammalian animal specimens) will be used to show how anatomy relates to physiology.

AP BIOLOGY 1 Credit Grades 11-12 AP Biology is an introductory college-level biology course for students who have successfully completed high school courses in biology and chemistry. Students cultivate their understanding of biology through inquirybased investigations as they explore evolution, cellular processes such as energy and communication, genetics, information transfer, ecology, and interactions. This course requires that 25% of the instructional time will be spent in hands-on laboratory work, with an emphasis on inquiry-based investigations that provide students with opportunities to apply the science practices.

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The course is based on four big ideas, which encompass core scientific principles, theories, and processes that cut across traditional boundaries and provide a broad way of thinking about living organisms and biological systems. The following are big ideas: 1. The process of evolution explains the diversity and unity of life.

2. Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, reproduce, and maintain dynamic homeostasis.

3. Living systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information essential to life processes.

4. Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties.

Prerequisites for this course are Honors Biology I and Honors Chemistry I. Â CHEMISTRY I 1 Credit Grade 10 This course utilizes problem-solving skills as well as laboratory explorations and mathematical reasoning to examine the basics of atomic theory, chemical reactions, thermochemistry, gas laws, and colligative properties.

Prerequisites for this course include Algebra I and Biology I. Concurrent enrollment in or completion of Algebra II is also required.

CHEMISTRY I (H) 1 Credit Grade 10 This course focuses on mastery of concepts, mathematical skills, laboratory reasoning, and problem-solving skills. Rigorous algebra is used frequently to analyze chemical concepts. Topics to be covered in this course include nomenclature, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, gas laws, atomic theory, and solution chemistry.

Prerequisites for this course include successful completion of Algebra I and Biology I. Concurrent enrollment or completion of Algebra II is highly recommended.

ADVANCED CHEMISTRY TOPICS 1 Credit Grades 11-12 This course expands and deepens information learned in Chemistry I. It is a lab-based class that examines foundational concepts such as gas laws, thermodynamics, the atomic model, bonding, kinetics, and equilibrium.

The course contributes to the development of the students’ abilities to think clearly and to express their ideas, orally and in writing, with clarity and logic. The prerequisite for this course is completion of Chemistry I or Chemistry I Honors.

AP CHEMISTRY 1 Credit Grades 11-12 As a continuation of the Chemistry I Honors class, this course examines the equilibrium condition, including basic equilibrium, acid-base chemistry, solubility equilibrium, coordination chemistry, thermodynamics, and chemical kinetics. Other topics that are studied include electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry, organic chemistry, and descriptive chemistry. Students will be required to use mathematical reasoning skills, laboratory reasoning, and problem-solving techniques to work problems involving very rigorous algebra computations centered 32

around chemical concepts. Prerequisites for this course are successful completion of Chemistry I Honors and concurrent enrollment in Pre-Calculus. Upon completion of this course, students are prepared to take the AP Chemistry exam.

PHYSICS I 1 Credit Grades 11-12 This course emphasizes topics in Newtonian mechanics (linear and rotational kinematics and dynamics, momentum, energy, universal gravitation) and electricity and magnetism are discussed. Laboratory explorations highlight the connection between basic physics principles and how they apply to everyday life. Minimum Algebra II competency required.

PHYSICS I (H) 1 Credit Grades 11-12 Honors Physics I is a rigorous college-preparatory physics class designed for strong students who have a desire to continue in science or engineering in college or continue on to AP physics while at FRA. Strong algebra skills are a perquisite for the course. This course will cover an introduction to physics; kinematics in 1D and 2D; dynamics; uniform circular motion and gravitation; work, energy, and power; linear momentum; rotational motion, simple harmonic motion; waves; and electricity PHYSICS II 1 Credit Grade 12 A continuation of Physics I, this course continues to accent conceptual comprehension over mathematical computation. Physics II covers properties of matter, heat, and thermodynamics, waves (sound and light), atomic and modern physics, and relativity. Laboratory explorations again highlight the connection between basic physics principles and how they apply to everyday life. Prerequisite: Physics I or AP Physics 1.

INTRO TO ROBOTICS ½ Credit Grades 11-12 This STEM course will consist of two parts. In part one, students will utilize the VEX robotics platform and will be introduced to the basic principles of robotics and coding. In part two, students will be introduced to more advanced computer coding and will utilize the open-source Arduino robotics platform. Upon completion, students will have a deeper understanding of the principles of robotics as well as how to design, build, and control various robots.

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AP PHYSICS 1 1 Credit Grades 11-12 Designed for honors students, AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based class that is the equivalent of the first semester of an introductory college-level physics course. This class explores topics such as Newtonian mechanics (including rotational motion); work, energy, and power; mechanical waves and sound; and introductory simple electrical circuits. Through inquiry-based learning and laboratory exercises, students will develop scientific critical thinking and reasoning skills. Upon completion of this course, students are prepared to take the AP Physics 1 exam. The only prerequisite for this course is the instructor’s recommendation.

AP PHYSICS 2 1 Credit Grade 12 A continuation of AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2 is an algebra-based class that is the equivalent of the second semester of an introductory college-level physics course. This class explores topics such as fluid statics and dynamics; thermodynamics with kinetic theory; PV diagrams and probability; electrostatics; electrical circuits with capacitors; magnetic fields; electromagnetism; physical and geometric optics; and quantum, atomic, and nuclear physics. Through inquiry-based learning and laboratory exercises, students will develop scientific critical thinking and reasoning skills. Upon completion of this course, students are prepared to take the AP Physics 2 exam. Prerequisites for this course are AP Physics 1 and instructor recommendation. Students must also have successfully completed or be concurrently enrolled in Pre-Calculus.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ½ Credit Grades 11-12 This is a one semester course designed to give the student a hands-on approach to science and engineering. This course will feature many hands-on challenges for the student as well as interactive discussions centered on class content.

The goal of this course, time permitting, is to cover the following four broad areas: Module I: Molecular Biology and Medicine Module II: Green technologies of today and tomorrow Module III: Student-driven applied science and engineering projects Module IV: Careers in Science and Technology (time permitting) This course will focus heavily on experiential learning and how to apply the technology in the FRA Innovation Lab to the design-thinking process.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ½ Credit Grades 12 This laboratory science examines the composition of ecosystems and the impacts of human activity. Topics covered include matter and energy, sustainable agriculture, freshwater quality and cycling, waste disposal, alternative energy sources, conservation, and environmental legislation. Labs are performed throughout the course including off-campus field trips to Radnor Lake and Ellington Agricultural Center. The program is designed to foster student environmental awareness and recognition of the importance of sustainability.

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TECHNOLOGY Technology practice and theory is considered an integral part of the learning process at Franklin Road Academy.

TECHNOLOGY (1/2 credit required) Students use tablet PCs to demonstrate competencies in word processing, spreadsheets, multi-media, web design, video production, and Internet-based applications. Courses discuss troubleshooting, file management, ergonomics, and maintenance techniques as well as image editing, movie making, and graphic design.

Completion of one class from the Technology catalogue is required for graduation.

Course Options (one semester each) Introduction to Technology (9-12) Technology: Gaming and Simulation (9-12) Digital Publications: Yearbook (9-12 full year course) Computer Science (10-12) Digital Media (10-12) Innovations (9-12) Graphic Design (9-12) Technology and Design Thinking (11-12 AP Computer Science Principles (11-12) INTRO TO TECHNOLOGY ½ Credit Grades 9-12 Students learn competencies in word processing, spreadsheets, multi-media, web-design, video production and Internet-based applications. The curriculum will vary to keep pace with school-wide technology initiatives to allow for relevant and dynamic use in the classroom. This course will have primary availability as a summer class.

TECHNOLOGY: GAMING AND SIMULATION ½ Credit Grades 9-12 Students will learn the foundation of computer programming. Introductory topics include gaming industry history, game development processes, game genres, storyboarding, game environment, character design, interface design, game play, AI, the psychology of game design, and professionalism. Students will develop various games using various game design applications.

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DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS: YEARBOOK 1 Credit Grades 9-12 Digital Publications will be a year-long class within the Upper School Technology Department. The class will focus on producing FRA’s national award-winning annual. A maximum of 10 students will be allowed on staff each year through an application process.

COMPUTER SCIENCE (H) ½ Credit Grades 10-12 This course introduces event-driven computer programming using a graphical user interface (GUI) and the Visual BASIC programming language. Topics include input/output operations, syntax, program structure, data types, arithmetical operations, functions, loops, conditional statements, and other related topics. On-screen components such as command buttons, text boxes, and forms are also discussed. Visual Basic is used to program many parts of Windows to create desktop applications, and it's also the macro language for the MS Office products including Work, PowerPoint, and Excel. Students must be recommended for this course and have an interest in the computer science field.

DIGITAL MEDIA ½ Credit Grades 10-12 Digital Media explores journalism in the 21st century. Emphasis will be placed on journalistic writing and design. Students will learn how to conduct journalistic interviews and write journalistic pieces for newspaper, yearbook, and magazine. The class will analyze the elements that make a journalistic spread effective as well as how to create a spread using Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop. Students will also discuss and debate student press rights, the First Amendment, and current legal case studies affecting student publications.

INNOVATIONS 1 Credit Grades 9-12 by application only Innovations is a year-long technology elective devoted to design thinking and experiential learning. From start to finish, students take the lead in this predominantly project-based, passion-driven course. Students design their project(s), decide how success will be measured, seek outside mentors, and devise how to implement their plans. Innovations combines media technology skills with the meaningful exploration of community and global issues, and entrepreneurialism. Students will gain valuable experience in various forms of multimedia content production, innovative applications and presentational platforms as they explore what it means to be an innovator, leader, and entrepreneur.

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TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN THINKING 1 Credit Grades 9-12 by application only Students will learn the DEEPdt (Discover, Empathize, Experiment, Produce) design thinking process through collaborative projects dealing with issues students face in Nashville and at FRA. Students will also work with one local non-profit organization and one local for-profit organization to practice the DEEPdt process. Students would also spend dedicated time in the Innovations Lab learning to use the 3D printer, laser cutter, power tools, etc.

FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT ARTS (1 credit required) The Fine and Performing Arts department provides a wealth of opportunities for student participation and performance. Course options include drama, art, pottery, and clay design. Performance opportunities include instrumental and vocal ensembles and participation in solo and ensemble competitions at both the regional and state levels. Fine arts classes develop and nurture creative thinking skills. Arts courses provide balance to academic focus and encourage lifelong appreciation of the arts.

All students are required to complete one unit of fine or performing arts.

Course Options Art I, II, or III* (9-12) AP Studio Art: Drawing (10-12) Ceramics I or II* (9-12) AP Studio Art: 3D Design (11-12) Dramatic Arts I* (9-12) Dramatic Arts II* (9-12) Theater Tech* (9-12) Jazz Ensemble (9-12) Intro to Band (9-12) Intro to Guitar (9-12) Concert Choir (9-12) Vocal Ensemble (9-12) *One semester course

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ART I: DRAWING ½ Credit Grades 9-12 Art I is for students who are interested in building on their current skills and knowledge from middle school art or other art classes. Students will concentrate on refining drawing skills and techniques as they deepen their understanding of compositional principles and learn to “see like an artist.” Media used in this class will consist primarily of pencil and charcoal.

ART II: COLOR THEORY ½ Credit Grades 9-12 This course will develop skills learned in Art I as students work in a variety of color media, including colored pencils, markers, chalk and oil pastels, acrylic paint, and oil paint. Students will learn how to blend colors to create depth and interest in their art work. Art I is a prerequisite for this course.

ART III: PAINTING ½ Credit Grades 10-12 Painting affords serious art students the opportunity to work in acrylic and oil paint media as they follow the development of 20th century art history. Students will study the painting styles and major artists of the modernist movement, then create art that demonstrates knowledge of the movement as well as skills developed in Art I and II. This course will prepare students for AP Art. Art I and II are a prerequisite for this course.

AP STUDIO ART: DRAWING 1 Credit Grades 10-12 AP Art provides the serious art student the opportunity for in-depth work in a variety of drawing and painting media. The class works toward the creation of a portfolio for consideration for college credit. Students must be highly motivated and be able to put in extra time outside of class to meet all deadlines established by the instructor and the AP review board. Students will be expected to do homework assignments in this class.

Students must have taken Art I, II, and III. Recommendation from the art instructor is required for enrollment.

CERAMICS I ½ Credit Grades 9-12 This class is centered around the study of clay sculpture. Students will learn methods of working in clay, such as pinch and slab construction, as well as how to apply glazes and to fire clay objects. Students will receive basic instruction on the potter’s wheel.

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CERAMICS II ½ Credit Grades 9-12 This is a course for students who have completed Ceramics I and are recommended for advanced study in ceramics. Students learn to mix and formulate their own glazes, to operate and fire electric and Raku kilns, and to work with advanced problems in hand-building and wheel-throwing.

AP STUDIO ART: 3D DESIGN 1 Credit Grades 11-12 3D Design involves purposeful decision-making about using the elements and principles of art in an integrative way. Students are asked to demonstrate their understanding of design principles as they relate to the integration of depth and space, volume and surface. Students will demonstrate the mastery of 3D design through sculpture, architectural modeling, medal work, ceramics, glass work, and 3D fabric/fiber arts. To earn college credit students must submit and have approved an appropriate and comprehensive 3D portfolio.

DRAMATIC ARTS I ½ Credit Grades 9-12 This course places emphasis on the basic skills that are necessary to ensure success in the art of theater. The course includes a history of theater, a continual study of theater vocabulary and terminology, and the various elements involved in producing a play. The essential purpose of such a course is to introduce and reinforce new theatre techniques, aspects, and skills which the student may take with him/her if the decision is made to pursue dramatic arts in the future. The final assessment for this class is a teacher directed, small scale production that could be attended by an audience.

DRAMATIC ARTS II ½ Credit Grades 9-12 This class places emphasis on the skills that are necessary to ensure success in the art of theater acting. The course includes a continual study of theater terminology, beginner and advanced improvisation, diction, projection, stage movement/presence, character analysis, audition proficiency, character analysis, scene study, and scene directing. The essential purpose of such a course is to introduce and reinforce new theater techniques, aspects and skills which the student may take with him/her if the decision is made to pursue dramatic arts in the future. This course has a prerequisite of Dramatics Arts I or instructor approval.

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THEATER TECH ½ Credit Grades 9-12 This course covers the various physical properties of technical theater production. Lighting, sound, and set design and construction will all be addressed. The class will be designing and constructing sets for school performances as well as individual lighting projects. Students will learn equipment operation, general maintenance, sound technique, and visual design.

JAZZ ENSEMBLE 1 Credit Grades 9-12 The primary goal of this course is to provide opportunities for music students to study jazz and other styles of music in an instrumental performing ensemble. The fundamentals of music performance such as sight-reading, articulation, intonation, dynamics, and musicality are practiced daily. Individual creativity and improvisation are encouraged, as well as a deeper understanding and appreciation for the aesthetic qualities of music. Based on auditions and part balance, students will be placed in jazz ensemble.

INTRO TO BAND 1 Credit Grades 9-12 This class is offered to any student who would like to learn how to play an instrument with the goal of participating in the FRA advanced instrumental ensembles. The instruments are flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, bass, and percussion. Tone production, instrument technique, music reading, and overall musicianship skills will be learned. The students will practice with the aid of “SmartMusic” music software. A band method book is also required. The group will have one performance each semester. This is a two-semester course.

INTRO TO GUITAR ½ Credit Grades 9-12 This one-year course is designed for students with no previous guitar experience. Students with some guitar experience with a desire to learn to read music will benefit as well. Students will receive guidance and direction in solving problems related to playing the guitar at a beginning level and will learn many of the different styles, skills, and techniques required to become a successful guitarist. Areas of concentration include correct posture, note reading, aural skills, flat-picking, singing songs, rhythmic patterns, chord study, finger-picking styles, musical forms, songwriting, improvisation, and performing experiences.

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VOCAL ENSEMBLE/CONCERT CHOIR 1 Credit Grades 9-12 There are two choirs offered in the vocal music department which perform for school functions, community service/promotional events, as well as choral adjudications and competitions. Students will study score and sight-reading, part-singing/harmonization, and vocal technique. Based on auditions and part balance within the groups, students may be placed in either Vocal Ensemble or Concert Choir. Students also have opportunities for individual competition in regional honors choirs, solo and ensemble competitions, and mid-state/all-state auditions.

ENRICHMENTS AND ARTS ENRICHMENTS (1 religion/1 P.E. required) Enrichments focus on physical fitness and spiritual life. Physical Fitness and Wellness classes emphasize the importance of overall fitness and an active lifestyle. Religion courses teach the history and theology of Christianity and other world religions. Life lessons of faith, integrity, character, and love are taught from the perspective of Biblical truth.

Course Options (one semester each) Old Testament Survey (9-12) New Testament Survey (9-12) Life of Christ (9-12) World Religions (9-12) Faith & Film (11-12) Christian Leadership (9–12) Public Speaking (10-12) Broadcast Journalism (10-12) Criminology (11-12) AP Capstone: Seminar (11) AP Capstone: Research (12) Wellness (9-12) Performance Fitness (9-12) PUBLIC SPEAKING ½ Credit Grades 9-12 This course teaches the use of verbal and nonverbal communication to organize and deliver effective oral presentations. Emphasis is on research, preparation, delivery, and evaluation of informative, persuasive, and special occasion public speaking. Upon completion, students will be able to prepare and deliver well-organized speeches and participate in group discussion with appropriate audiovisual support. Students will also demonstrate the speaking, listening, and interpersonal skills necessary to be effective communicators in academic settings and in the community.

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BROADCAST JOURNALISM ½ Credit GRADES 10-12 Broadcast Journalism is an introductory course designed to acquaint students with the fundamentals of broadcast production through a theory-based, hands-on approach which includes writing, producing, on-air camera techniques, and computer editing. Students will receive basic training in videography techniques using digital technology to create various broadcasts for TV and the Internet (Podcasts). The class will focus on writing and reporting well-balanced, comprehensive, and visually compelling stories. Students will research, report, write, shoot, and edit stories. In addition, students will explore the history of radio and television and examine the responsibilities and ethics of broadcast journalists.

CRIMINOLOGY ½ Credit GRADES 11-12 This course is designed to give the students an in-depth look into the criminal justice system, to include a history of early police techniques developed by Sir Robert Peel to modern police techniques, such as the latest technology employed by police departments. Furthermore, students will be challenged to examine our current legal system and how court decisions have impacted and changed police procedures. Specific areas of interest will include DNA and fingerprint analysis and overall crime scene investigations. The course will conclude with a mock trial where all students will participate.

AP CAPSTONE: SEMINAR 1 Credit Grade 11 The AP Seminar course, taken in 11th grade, will equip students with the power to explore academic and realworld issues from multiple perspectives. Through a variety of materials – from articles and research studies to foundational and philosophical texts – students will be challenged to explore complex questions; understand and evaluate opposing viewpoints; interpret and synthesize information; and develop, communicate, and defend evidence-based arguments. Samples of course themes that may be covered in AP Seminar include education, innovation, sustainability, and technology. Students are assessed through both an individual project and a team project completed during the year and a year-end written exam. AP Seminar is open to recommended juniors, and it is particularly encouraged for students simultaneously enrolled in AP Language and Composition.

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AP CAPSTONE: RESEARCH 1 Credit Grade 12 AP Research allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest.

Through this exploration, students design, plan, and conduct a year-long investigation to address a research question. In the AP Research course, students further develop the skills acquired in the AP Seminar course by learning research methodology, employing ethical research practices, and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information. Students reflect on their skill development, document their processes, and curate the artifacts of their scholarly work through a process and reflection portfolio. The course culminates in an academic paper of 4,000-5,000 words (accompanied by a performance, exhibit, or product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense. AP Seminar is a prerequisite for this course.

RELIGIOUS STUDIES All students are required to successfully complete one unit of religious studies.

OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY ½ Credit Grades 9-12 This course seeks to understand the purpose and complete picture of the Old Testament. We want to understand the special relationship that God established with the world, humanity, and the nation of Israel in particular.

This course is taught as the basis for all of life as well as the foreshadowing of the coming of Jesus in the New Testament. This course is fall semester only.

NEW TESTAMENT SURVEY ½ Credit Grades 9-12 This course is taught for students to see the fulfillment of God’s design for mankind. Where we get glimpses of what is to come by studying the Old Testament, we are able to see the full picture in the New Testament. God’s ultimate design of the redemption of mankind comes to fruition through the life of Jesus as detailed in the gospels as well as the fleshing out of the impact of his life as expressed in the rest of the New Testament. This course is spring semester only.

THE LIFE OF CHRIST ½ Credit Grades 9-12 This course is taught almost as a history class about the actual life of Jesus on the Earth 2,000 years ago. Most of the material drawn for the class is taken from the Gospels of the New Testament with special emphasis on the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

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WORLD RELIGIONS ½ Credit Grades 9-12 This course is an investigation into the world’s most prominent and accepted religions. Both monotheistic and polytheistic religions are studied with emphasis on the cultures and practices of these religions as world views.

Taught by a Christian teacher and in a Christian environment, we seek to understand and appreciate the beliefs and practices of the major religions of the world.

FAITH AND FILM ½ Credit Grades 11-12 This course is designed for students to look for spiritual significance through the medium of film. Key elements of the class are the power of story in culture, the idea of Christ figures in movies, and our own interpretation and exploration of the spiritual and often religious themes of the films studied.

CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP ½ Credit Grades 9-12 Christian Leadership is a semester elective course designed with a three-fold approach to Christian Leadership – Head, Heart, and Hands.  Head – Academic knowledge of what it means to be a Christian leader  Heart – Developing and growing Christian leadership traits and abilities  Hands – Living out Christian Leadership The purpose of this course is not just to teach the students about Christian leaders and leadership attributes, but to help spark transformation in each student over the course of the semester that will continue beyond the classroom.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT All students are required to successfully complete one unit for graduation.

Course Options (one semester each) Performance Fitness Wellness PERFORMANCE FITNESS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION ½ Credit Grades 9-12 This course is designed to introduce students to task-specific performance fitness while increasing their levels of motor literacy. Students that exhibit a high level of participation consistently will acquire the necessary initial technique platform of muscular strength and endurance, joint mobility, body composition, linear speed mechanics, agility, and performance discipline.

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WELLNESS ½ Credit Grades 9-12 This course is designed to motivate and enable students to improve their lifelong wellness by teaching them the concepts, knowledge, skills, and behaviors that lead to a healthy fitness level and regular participation in physical activity. The goals of this course are achieved through teaching components of fitness, training principles, nutrition, exercise fads and fallacies, strength training, various cardiovascular activities, CPR training, yoga, and Pilates.

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INTERIM During the four days before spring break, FRA provides unique experiential learning opportunities for upper school students. Each faculty member sponsors a class, trip, internship “job shadow,” or service project. In addition, Interim offers overseas trips, mission trips, and community service. The wide selection of experiential and service learning opportunities allows our students to broaden their understanding of the world around them and explore vocational or philanthropic goals. The CPS works closely with the upper school to develop servicebased education and opportunities for all FRA students. Interim is an integral part of the educational experience at FRA and all students are expected to participate. Interim will be graded on a pass/fail basis and included on all transcripts

HONORS AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES Franklin Road Academy offers honors courses in all academic areas. Advanced Placement courses are offered in English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics C, World History, U.S. History, European History, Latin Vergil, French Language, Spanish Language, Spanish Literature, AP Capstone, Studio Art: Drawing, and Studio Art: 3D Design.

Franklin Road Academy’s criteria for enrollment in honors or AP courses are: 1.

The student must be recommended by the previous-level teacher.

2.

The student must have current standardized test scores above a required percentile in relevant quantitative and/or verbal areas.

3.

The student should have an “A” average in previous course work in the particular subject area.

Occasionally, “high B” students will be considered on a space-available basis.

4.

The student and parent(s) must acknowledge in writing the additional expectations associated with honors and AP courses.

CALCULATION OF GPA Calculation of overall grade point averages is the responsibility of the upper school administration. This information is used on transcripts and for reporting academic performance to colleges or for scholarship or awards consideration. Quality points are assigned in the traditional manner (A=4, B=3, C=2, F=0). An additional 0.5 quality point each semester of an honors course and 1.0 quality point each semester of an AP course will be added to participating students’ GPAs. GPA will be calculated at the end of each semester for grades 9-12. Grades earned for fall and spring semesters are the only grades used in determining the GPA.

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CLASS RANK As a matter of policy, Franklin Road Academy does not provide information regarding an individual student's class rank. Approximate class standing will be discernible through examination of the class profile in conjunction with reported GPA. In an effort to provide our students every advantage in the college admissions process, we will recognize valedictorian and salutatorian as well as those students whose academic numeric averages place them among the top 10 members of their class. FRA does not report class rank.

SCHEDULING Returning students will pre-register in February each year. Students will meet individually with their advisors and grade chairs to develop and refine a four-year graduation plan. There will be many others who can assist in this process including the academic coordinator, head of upper school, or college counselors. All preregistration for returning students will be completed online via Renweb.

Students may make written requests for registration changes until July 1. After July 1, no schedule changes will be made until after the beginning of school.

Every effort is made to accommodate student requests for courses. Seniors are given consideration over students in grades 9-11. Academic course requirements always take precedence over electives, fine and performing arts, and enrichments in the scheduling process. The goal of registration at FRA is to allow students the ability to appropriately challenge themselves inside the FRA curriculum in order to build a strong and diverse transcript.

In order to allow our students flexibility in scheduling FRA will offer summer courses in the areas of wellness, technology, and religion.

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CREDIT POLICY The following is our failure/summer school policy: Fall Semester

Spring Semester

Credit

Summer School

Pass Pass Fail Fail

1 ½ ½ 0

None Required 1st Sem. Only 2nd Sem. Only Both Semesters

Pass* Fail Pass Fail

*A passing grade at FRA means to earn a grade of 70 or higher.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES & ORGANIZATIONS Student Council Academic Honor Council National Honor Society Instrumental Music Vocal Music Newspaper Staff Literary Magazine Robotics FCA Quill & Scroll Mu Alpha Theta Alpha/Omega Interact Club Spiritual Life Committee Debate Model United Nations International Club Best Buddies Science Olympiad

Year-round Year-round Year-round Year-round Year-round Year-round Year-round Year-round Year-round Year-round Year-round Year-round Year-round Year-round Year-round Year-round Year-round Year-round Winter

Comprised of elected student leaders Students nominated and elected by class Specific induction criteria Open to all students to audition Open to all students to audition Members chosen in fall All students may contribute Open to all students Open to all students Open to select students in publications Selected math students Open to all students Open to all students Open to all students Open to all students Open to all students Open to all students Open to all students Students qualify through science class

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES Fall FRAir Class Retreats Homecoming Decorating Contests Homecoming Dance Class Service Projects Winter Dance Senior Day May Day Junior-Senior Prom Prom Fashion Show Battle of the Bands Alpha/Omega Events 48

PERFORMING ARTS OPPORTUNITIES Dramatic Production Evening with the Arts Musical Production Instrumental Music Cocoa & Carols Electronic Music Ensemble Vocal Music Ensemble Blue Thunder

Spring Winter Fall Performance and Competitions Christmas Concert Periodic Performances Performance and Competitions Drumline

SPIRITUAL LIFE By mission Franklin Road Academy is a school that implements all programs in an inclusive Christian environment. Students gather each day for a daily devotion offered by a member of the student body or faculty.

FRA supports a Spiritual Life Committee, has chaplains for each class, participates in service days, and celebrates an annual Spiritual Emphasis Week. To supplement this part of the mission, the upper school partners with the Center for Philanthropic Studies to provide service opportunities and education. In addition each FRA student must complete a full credit of religious studies to graduate. FRA is a non-denominational school that welcomes families of all faiths.

ATHLETICS Boys Sports

Girls Sports

Fall:

Football Cross Country Golf

Volleyball Cross Country Golf Soccer Cheerleading

Winter:

Basketball Wrestling Bowling *Swimming *Hockey

Basketball Cheerleading Bowling *Swimming

Spring:

Baseball Tennis Track Soccer

Softball Tennis Track Lacrosse

FRA offers all of the varsity sports currently sanctioned by the TSSAA. In addition, students may elect to participate in the *nonTSSAA sports of swimming and hockey.

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ATHLETIC FACILITIES FRA’s athletic facilities include:        

Four gymnasiums Football stadium Baseball stadium Soccer stadium Softball field Tennis courts Fully-equipped weight room Track and field with turf infield

KEY FACTS Located on a 57-acre campus in Nashville, Tennessee, Franklin Road Academy enrolls approximately 850 students in grades pre-kindergarten through twelve. FRA’s upper school includes approximately 260 students in grades 9-12. Admission to FRA is selective and based on the student’s ability to succeed in a college preparatory environment.     

FRA is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Southern Association of Independent Schools All FRA students in grades 7-12 use tablet PCs in order to enrich their learning experiences and to better prepare them for 21st century collegiate life and professions.

All FRA students in grades 9-12 must complete a minimum of 20 hours of community service for graduation.

FRA matriculates 100% of our students to college each year. The graduating class of 2014 earned over $5 million in scholarships.

FRA has a 10:1 student/faculty ratio and an average class size of 12.

ALPHA & OMEGA All FRA upper school students are divided into two groups: Alpha and Omega. These groups compete in academic and athletic competitions throughout the year, as well as other fun events, promoting school spirit and healthy competition.

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SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES TURNER FELLOWSHIP This summer program offers rising seniors, chosen by committee application and interview, the opportunity to serve at not-for-profit organizations in the Nashville community. Participating agencies have included The Margaret Maddox Family YMCA, The Salvation Army, The Martha O’Bryan Center, and St. Luke’s Community Center.

THE CENTER FOR PHILANTHROPIC STUDIES The Center for Philanthropic Studies at Franklin Road Academy provides programming in community service, service learning, and philanthropic education for all FRA students. Experiential learning activities, student-led initiatives, Service Saturdays, and an introduction to the non-profit sector enrich academics and cultural and spiritual life.

CAMPUS FACILITIES FINE & PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FRA’s Fine and Performing Arts Center features beautiful facilities including an outdoor amphitheater, a 700seat theater with professional sound and lighting, and separate rooms and studios for visual and performing arts, band, dance, drama, and voice.

FRA students have many opportunities to express their talents through fine and performing arts including two major drama productions each year – a fall drama and spring musical.

FRA produces both Christmas and spring choral and band concerts, Cocoa and Carols, and Evening with the Arts in the spring – all of which showcase student talent.

HANDS-ON SCIENCE LABORATORIES Upper school and middle school students are taught science within state-of-the-art science labs in grades 5-12.

THE L.M. CROCKETT LIBRARY FRA’s middle and upper school library has 25,000+ holdings of books, magazines, audio books, DVDs, and videos. It features an online card catalog system, nine databases, and Internet search capability with thousands of sources for those who log onto the library website. The library has a copier, scanner, and both black and white and color printers for student and teacher use.

There are 44 comfortable reading chairs and three study rooms which accommodate up to four students each for studying and collaborating on projects. The Rodewald Room under the cupola is available for conferences and luncheons.

SEABURY FAMILY CONFERENCE CENTER FRA’s chapel has been converted into a state-of- the-art conference center with audio visual presentation equipment and conference seating for 100.

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