Curriculum

Students learn in an environment which focuses on engagement, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and inquiry.  Throughout their time at Nesbitt Discovery Academy, students are  immersed in project-based learning, allowing them to develop solutions to "real-world" problems.  In addition, they will have the opportunity to establish partnerships/relationships with local businesses/industries and local colleges/universities.  

A Day in the Life...

TYPICAL COURSES BY GRADE LEVEL:

Curriculum Night PPT

9th Grade Courses

  • 1. English I

  • 2. Math I or Math II

  • 3. Biology

  • 4. World History

  • 5. PLTW Introduction to Engineering

  • 6. Physical Education/Health (PED 211)

  • 7. CIS-110/ACA-122 (AB Tech)

One additional courses from below:

  • Python Programming I

  • AP Computer Science Principles

  • Orchestra

  • PLTW Principles of Biomedical Science

  • Spanish 1

  • Spanish 2 Honors (prerequisite Spanish I)

10th Grade Courses

  • 1. English II

  • 2. Math III or 4th Math

  • 3. Earth-Environmental Science/AP Earth Science(Prerequisite: Biology I for AP Earth)

  • 4. Chemistry (Prerequisite: Students must have completed or be enrolled in Math 3)

  • 5. Economics Personal Finance

  • 6. PLTW Principles of Engineering

Two additional course from below:

  • AP Computer Science Principles (prerequisite Math I)

  • AP Computer Science A (prerequisite Math II and/or AP Computer Science Principles)

  • PLTW Principles of Biomedical Science

  • PLTW Human Body Systems (prerequisite PBS)

  • AP Human Geography

  • AP Psychology (with teacher recommendation)

  • Principles of Wellness/Human Performance

  • Orchestra

  • Spanish 1

  • Spanish 2 Honors (prerequisite Spanish I)

  • NCVPS World Languages

  • A-B Tech Offerings

    • ART-111

    • MUS-110

    • HUM-110

    • PSY-150

    • SOC-210

11th Grade Courses

  • 1. English III Honors or ENG 111/112 (must take ENG-232 Senior year)

  • 2. Math III or 4th Math

  • 3. American History or AP US History

  • 4. At least one PLTW offering: (IED and POE)

    • Civil Engineering Architecture

    • Digital Electronics

    • Environmental Sustainability

    • Computer Integrated Manufacturing

Four additional courses from below:

  • Core Offerings:

    • AP Chemistry (Prerequisite: Chemistry I)

    • AP Human Geography

    • AP Psychology

    • BIO-111 (Prerequisite: DRE-098, ENG-002 Tier 1, or C or better in ENG-110 or ENG-111; MAT-003 Tier 2)

    • BIO-112 (Prerequisite: C or better in BIO-111)

    • MAT-143 (Prerequisite: Math III Honors)

    • MAT-152 (Prerequisite: Math III Honors)

    • MAT-171 (Prerequisite: Math III Honors)

    • MAT-172 (Prerequisite: C or better in MAT-171 or placement)

    • MAT-271 (Prerequisite: C or better in MAT-172 or placement)

    • MAT-272 (Prerequisite: C or better in MAT-271)

    • Physics (Prerequisite: Students must have completed or be enrolled in Math 2)

    • PHY-151 (Prerequisite: DRE-098, ENG-002 Tier 2, or C or better in ENG-110 or ENG-111; C or better in MAT-171 or MAT-271)


  • Additional Offerings:

    • PLTW

      • Principles of Biomedical Science

      • Human Body Systems (prerequisite PBS)

      • Medical Interventions (prerequisite HBS)

    • AP Computer Science A

    • AP Computer Science Principles

    • Orchestra

    • SPA-111 (Prerequisite: DRE-097, ENG-002 Tier 1, or C or better in ENG-110 or ENG-111)

    • SPA-112 (C or better in SPA-111)

    • SPA-211 (C or better in SPA-112)

    • NCSSM Offerings:

      • Aerospace Engineering (Prerequisite: Completion of Math III or Integrated Math III with a B or higher. Students should be able to relate lengths of sides of a triangle to angles using trigonometry.)

      • Forensic Science (Prerequisite: Completion of Language Arts/ English with a grade of "A", completion of Biology I and Math III.)

      • Genetics and Biotechnology (Prerequisite: Completion of Biology with a B or higher and completion of Math III.)

    • A-B Tech Offerings:

      • ART-111

      • HUM-110

      • MUS-110

      • PSY-150

      • SOC-210

      • COM-120 (Requisites: Take DRE-097, DRE 098, ENG 002 Tier 1, or C or better in ENG 110 or ENG 111 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.)

      • COM-215 (Requisites: Take ENG-111 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.
        Minimum grade C - Must be completed prior to taking this course.

      • COM-231 (Requisites: Take DRE-097, DRE 098, ENG 002 Tier 1, or C or better in ENG 110 or ENG 111 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.)

      • COM-240 (Requisites: Take ENG-111 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.
        Minimum grade C - Must be completed prior to taking this course.)

12th Grade Core Courses

  • 1. English IV Honors or

    • ENG 232 (semester) AND ENG 241 (semester)

  • 2. Advanced Level Math

  • 3. Civics Honors or AP Government and Politics

  • 4. PLTW Capstone (prerequisite IED, POE, and one PLTW elective)

3-4 additional courses from below:

  • Core Offerings:

    • AP Chemistry (Prerequisite: Chemistry I)

    • AP Human Geography

    • AP Psychology

    • BIO-111 (Prerequisite: DRE-098, ENG-002 Tier 1, or C or better in ENG-110 or ENG-111; MAT-003 Tier 2)

    • BIO-112 (Prerequisite: C or better in BIO-111)

    • MAT-143 (Prerequisite: Math III Honors)

    • MAT-152 (Prerequisite: Math III Honors)

    • MAT-171 (Prerequisite: Math III Honors)

    • MAT-172 (Prerequisite: C or better in MAT-171 or placement)

    • MAT-271 (Prerequisite: C or better in MAT-172 or placement)

    • MAT-272 (Prerequisite: C or better in MAT-271)

    • Physics (Prerequisite: Students must have completed or be enrolled in Math 2)

    • PHY-151 (Prerequisite: DRE-098, ENG-002 Tier 2, or C or better in ENG-110 or ENG-111; C or better in MAT-171 or MAT-271)

  • Additional Offerings:

    • PLTW

      • Principles of Biomedical Science

      • Human Body Systems (prerequisite PBS)

      • Medical Interventions (prerequisite HBS)PLTW Civil Engineering and Architecture

    • AP Computer Science A

    • AP Computer Science Principles

    • PLTW Digital Electronics

    • PLTW Environmental Sustainability

    • CTE Internship STEM

    • Orchestra

    • SPA-111 (Prerequisite: DRE-097, ENG-002 Tier 1, or C or better in ENG-110 or ENG-111)

    • SPA-112 (C or better in SPA-111)

    • NCSSM Offerings:

      • Aerospace Engineering

      • Forensic Science

      • Genetics and Biotechnology

    • A-B Tech Offerings:

      • ART-111

      • HUM-110

      • MUS-110

      • PSY-150

      • SOC-210

      • COM-120 (Requisites: Take DRE-097, DRE 098, ENG 002 Tier 1, or C or better in ENG 110 or ENG 111 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.)

      • COM-215 (Requisites: Take ENG-111 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.
        Minimum grade C - Must be completed prior to taking this course.

      • COM-231 (Requisites: Take DRE-097, DRE 098, ENG 002 Tier 1, or C or better in ENG 110 or ENG 111 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.)

      • COM-240 (Requisites: Take ENG-111 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.
        Minimum grade C - Must be completed prior to taking this course.)

College Course Policies:

Course Grades

Students must earn a C or higher in order to earn college credit for a course.   A grade of D in a college course will earn high school elective credit only. Please also refer to A-B Tech's Grading System.

Course Withdrawals

Students will not be allowed to drop any college courses until they have met with the school counselor. Unless the withdrawal occurs within the first 10 days of school, students who withdraw from a college course will receive an “F” for that course on their high school transcript. The failing grade will be removed from the high school transcript when the student retakes the course and makes a passing mark.

If withdrawing from a course will leave a student with fewer than four courses, he or she will be assigned to a mandatory Success Lab each day for the remainder of the semester.