Upper School Curriculum
MPA's Upper School offers a rigorous college-prep environment with opportunities for students in grades nine through 12.
The high school classes listed below are offered on a block schedule that allows students to take half of their core subjects in quarter one and the other half in quarter two, alternating to complete the year. This ensures that teachers can go far beyond memorization and delve deeply into their content areas. This approach is supported by research and by many years of positive feedback from students, parents, and faculty. The high school experience at MPA truly prepares students for college, and more importantly, for life.
Upper School Curriculum (Grades 9‑12)
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Subject |
Grade 9 |
Grade 10 |
Grade 11 |
Grade 12 |
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4 Credit Requirement |
English 9: Composition and Literary Analysis |
English 10: Western and Global Literature |
American Studies American Literature and Composition |
AP English Literature Contemporary Women Writers Creative Writing Fiction and Literary Adaptation Literature of Awe Living the Blues: Music and the Harlem Renaissance Sci Fi and the Politics of Imagination Short Forms |
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4 Credit Requirement |
World History 9 or Honors World History 9 |
World History 10 or AP World History 10 |
American Studies Modern United States History |
21st Century Global Issues Constitutional Law Government and Economics Introduction To Psychology World Religions |
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3 Credit Requirement |
Algebra 1 or Geometry or Advanced Algebra 2/Trigonometry or Honors Algebra 2/3 |
Geometry or Algebra 2/Trigonometry or Advanced Algebra 3/Advanced Trigonometry or Honors Pre-Calculus |
Advanced Algebra 3/Advanced Trigonometry or Functions/Probability/ Trigonometry or Honors Pre-Calculus or AP Calculus AB |
AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC AP Statistics Discrete Math Honors Pre-Calculus Mathematical Modeling and Social Justice Issues Statistics |
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3 Credit Requirement |
Physics 9 |
Biology Honors Biology |
Chemistry Honors Chemistry |
Adv. Physics: Mechanics Adv. Topics in Chemistry: Environmental Chemistry Anatomy/Physiology Astronomy Environmental Science Neuroscience |
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3 Credit Requirement |
Spanish, French, or Chinese |
Student placement in world language is based on prior experience and/or written and oral assessment. The Spanish and French programs offer classes from Level I through AP Language and Culture (class offerings contingent on enrollment). The Chinese program currently offers Level 1 and Advanced Chinese Language and Culture with plans to offer more courses in the future. |
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1 Credit Requirement |
9th Grade Health 9th Grade Physical Education |
Wellness Some students may elect to take an additional year of physical education as elective credit. Functional Fitness Net Games Personal Training Team Activities |
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Fine Arts 3 Credit Requirement |
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Seminar Program |
9th Grade Seminar |
Junior Seminar Wellness |
Senior Seminar Senior Performances Senior Service Project |
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5.75 Credit Requirement |
Advanced Argumentation Engineering and Design Foundations of Health Equity Intro To Computer Science Computer Science II Makerspace Persuasive Communication Robotics Yearbook I: Journalism and Yearbook Production Yearbook II: Journalism and Yearbook Production 2 |
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