Junior High Core Courses

Students are all in different places at this very important time in their lives. San Tan’s mission is to offer social and academic choices that inspire happiness and support success for all students. College and Career readiness opportunities are available as early as 7th grade.

At San Tan Charter School, academic excellence is more than just achieving good grades. It is about maximizing a student’s intellectual development through a strong course of study, and vast opportunities to participate in Honors, Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment, and other enrichment programs.

Review our Core Courses below and visit our Elective Courses to learn more about how San Tan Charter School supports our student’s college, career, and creative interests.

Gifted & Advanced Classes

The previous self-contained gifted class now has the option of moving as a cohort through advanced core classes which allows the teachers to set an appropriate pace and depth of content that meets the needs of each individual student.

Advanced Math students are offered the choice of accelerating to a math class that challenges their abilities accordingly.

7th Grade

Language Arts 7
This course integrates reading, writing, speaking, listening and language skills using a thematic based program to teach the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards. Students are taught strategies to effectively read both fiction and nonfiction and respond through varied writing activities.

Scholars Prep Language Arts 7
This course integrates reading, writing, speaking, listening and language skills using a thematic based program to teach the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards. Students enrolled in this course must be ready to more deeply connect writing and reading. Advanced writing skills and reading strategies will be emphasized through the use of a higher-level curriculum, including formal writing workshops and independent reading of multiple literary genres. This Scholars Prep course is designed for those students who possess the motivation and skills necessary to be prepared to take AP and Dual Enrollment classes beginning in High School.

7th Grade Math
Students will cover the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards for 7th grade mathematics. The five domains are Ratio and Proportional Relationships, the Number System, Expressions and Equations, Geometry, and Statistics and Probability.

Scholars Prep Math 7
Students will cover the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards for 7th grade mathematics more in depth than in Math Course II. The five domains are Ratio and Proportional Relationships, the Number System, Expressions and Equations, Geometry, and Statistics and Probability. This mathematics course is designed for those students who possess the motivation and skills necessary to be prepared to take higher level math classes in high school.

Science 7
This course is designed to teach a selection of Life Science topics. Students will use three-dimensional inquiry as a discovery method in order to describe and analyze the interactions of living organisms within ecosystems. Life Science topics include Structure, Function, and Information Processing; Growth,
Development, and Reproduction of Organisms; Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems; Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems; and Natural Selection and Adaptations. Scientific persona and events of historical significance will be integrated to support the curriculum and help students make relevant connections to their lives.

Scholars Prep Science 7
Students will learn the general spectrum of biology. It includes laboratory procedures and investigations. An average of one day per week will be devoted to lab work. Students may be expected to complete one or more projects per quarter. This Scholars Prep course is designed for those students who possess the motivation and skills necessary to be prepared to take AP and Dual Enrollment classes beginning in High School.

Social Studies 7
Students will study the development of society from the Scientific Revolution to the Modern Era. Discussions will include political revolutions, the industrial revolutions, imperialism, both world wars and the interwar period, and other world conflicts.

Scholars Prep Social Studies 7
Students will study the development of mankind through such topics as geography, early civilizations, Middle Ages, the Reformation and the modern world with an emphasis on Western Civilization. Discussions will include the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. This Scholars Prep course is designed for those students who possess the motivation and skills necessary to be prepared to take AP and Dual Enrollment classes beginning in High School.

8th Grade

Language Arts 8
This course integrates reading, writing, speaking, listening and language skills using a thematic based program to teach the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards. All students are taught strategies to effectively read both fiction and nonfiction and respond through varied writing activities.

Scholars Prep Language Arts 8
This course integrates reading, writing, speaking, listening and language skills to teach the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards. Students enrolled in this course must be ready to more deeply connect writing and reading. Advanced writing skills and reading strategies will be emphasized through
the use of a higher level curriculum, including formal writing workshops and independent reading of multiple literary genres. This Scholars Prep course is designed for those students who possess the motivation and skills necessary to be prepared to take AP and Dual Enrollment classes beginning in High School.

8th Grade Math
This course covers the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards for 8th grade. The domains are Number Systems, Equations and Expressions, Functions, Geometry and Statistics and Probability. This course will prepare students for Algebra I.

Scholars Prep Math 8
This course covers the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards for 8th grade. The domains are Number Systems, Equations and Expressions, Functions, Geometry and Statistics and Probability. This mathematics course is designed for those students who possess the motivation and skills necessary to be prepared to take higher level math classes in high school.

Science 8
This course is designed to teach students the fundamentals of Physical Science. Students will use three-dimensional inquiry as a discovery method in order to describe and analyze the phenomena central to the physical sciences. Physical Science topics include Matter and its interactions, motion and stability, energy and waves and their applications in technologies. This inquiry-based course will teach hands-on laboratory skills and methods as a means to learning the content curriculum.

Scholars Prep Science 8
Students will use experiments to introduce the principles of chemistry. Students will be required to keep a lab notebook and may be required to do several projects as part of the class. A minimum of one day per week will be devoted to laboratory studies. This Scholars Prep course is designed for those students who possess the motivation and skills necessary to be prepared to take AP and Dual Enrollment classes beginning in High School.

Social Studies 8
Students will study civics and the many characteristics of the United States government. Discussions will include foundations of the U.S. government, the structure of the U.S. government, civil rights, immigration, human rights, terrorism, environmental issues, and economics.

Scholars Prep Social Studies 8
Students will, with appropriate textbook and supplemental readings in the form of documents and essays, provide both chronological and thematic coverage of American History. Emphasis is placed on political history, foreign affairs, and economic and social development, including literary and cultural
history. This Scholars Prep course is designed for those students who possess the motivation and skills necessary to be prepared to take AP and Dual Enrollment classes beginning in High School.

Advanced Placement

Course content, pace, and academic rigor is college level as adopted by the College Board program and is geared to enable students to pass the AP test. These courses provide credit toward high school graduation and students earn an additional grade point according to the weighted grade process. Check with prospective colleges regarding their AP credit policies. AP Testing fees apply.

Contact the Guidance Center for criteria and applications.

OFFERINGS:

  • AP American History
  • AP Biology
  • AP Calculus
  • AP Chemistry
  • AP English Language
  • AP English Literature
  • AP U.S. History
  • AP World History

Dual or Concurrent College Classes

Dual credit or concurrent credit classes are classes that are offered by Chandler Gilbert Community College on the Power Campus, online and at the CGCC campuses. These are college level classes that receive both college and high school credit. Students enrolled in these classes must meet both the expectations of the high school and the community college including any prerequisites and/or testing.

Please see the community college and/or our guidance office for additional details. Course fees and college tuition apply.