About
Welcome to the Science Department
The Hillsdale Science Department is dedicated to providing a rich introduction to science practices and skills as well as the opportunity to engage in challenging topics for all students. The science faculty strives to prepare Hillsdale graduates to critically examine the natural world, make informed decisions based on evidence, and recognize the complexity in what popular culture might label as “science.” In alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards, 9th and 10th grade students engage in science practices such as asking questions, designing their own experiments, analyzing data, modeling systems, and communicating their findings. 9th grade students will experience these practices in the context of Biology (10 credit life science course) while 10th grade students continue the sequence with Chemistry (10 credit physical science course). Earth science standards are interwoven between the two introductory courses. While most students will have finished the science graduation requirement (20 credits) at the end of their 10th grade year, 11th and 12th grade students are strongly encouraged to continue in science - whatever their post high school plans may be. In the 11th and 12th grade, students can choose to continue with the NGSS-aligned courses by taking Physics, or they can elect to challenge themselves with an Advanced Placement (AP) offering. AP science courses are available in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics 1 and Physics 2. Students taking AP courses are eligible to take the AP exams in May, which may lead to earning college credits.