SCPA Course Descriptions

The School for Creative and Performing Arts High School (7-12) Academic Programs

The School for Creative and Performing Arts provides a strong academic and college-preparatory curriculum for all students. All academic programs are rooted in the Ohio Common Core State Standards.

The High School Course Guide includes more detail about the opportunities and resources available to our high school students. Students and their families are encouraged to use the High School Course Guide to plan their educational pathway. The guide includes course descriptions, information about early college credit and alternative credit programs, and more. Graduation requirements, grade reporting, report cards and other policies and procedures are also included in the guide.

The School for Creative and Perfoming Arts’ Academic Section is guided by the following eight principles:

  1. Higher Expectations: In order for students to meet tougher learning standards and compete for increasingly demanding jobs, they must be exposed to more rigorous content and performance expectations.
  2. Engagement: The future is layered, networked and vibrant, so our students must be engaged socially, emotionally and intellectually—and at a deep level—to fully develop their talents.
  3. Collaboration: The workplace is becoming increasingly collaborative and it will be even more so in the future, so our students must be comfortable working in teams, sharing responsibility and making joint decisions.
  4. Real World Connections: The future holds many challenges, so our students must be exposed to real world issues and their possible solutions, while being inspired by—and even consulting with—experts from around the world.
  5. Technology: The future promises to be only more digital and data-driven, so our students must be able to use information and communications technology to expand their knowledge and deepen their skills.
  6. Social Skills: In both the physical and digital realms, the future will be even more heavily networked and crowd-sourced, so our students must be able to expand their self-awareness, learn social skills and understand the hallmarks of wise choices.
  7. Critical Thinking: The future offers an abundance of information and opinion, so our students must be able to analyze, synthesize and evaluate.
  8. Creativity: The future is awash in opportunity and challenges, so our students must be able to generate new and novel ideas, conceive of alternatives and view things from different perspectives.

Click on the links below to learn more about each academic department and the courses they offer as well as other topics relevant to SCPA’s Academics

Grading Scale

School for Creative and Performing Arts Grading Scale

  • 90-100% A Outstanding
  • 80-89% B Good
  • 70-79% C Average
  • 60-69% D Almost Failing
  • 60%> F Failing

Student GPAs are calculated on a 4 point system. A = 4 Points, B = 3 Points, C = 2 Points, D = 1 Point, F = 0 Points.

AA Classes and AP classes may have different credit weights depending on the subject. Consult your student’s teacher or counselors for further information.

For grading questions related to a specific class, be sure to contact your student’s teacher.

Programs/Early College Credit/Alternative Credit Opportunities

Students at SCPA are given the opportunity to complete their graduation requirements and gain credits in a number of ways, described below.

Regular  Courses are designed to meet Ohio’s academic standards. Courses in grades 9 and 10 are designed to prepare students for the required state tests. Courses in grades 11 and 12 are designed to complete graduation requirements and prepare students for postsecondary education.

Advanced Academic — Courses in this program are designed to exceed Ohio’s academic standards. Topics will be studied in more depth and additional topics will be studied. AA courses in grades 9 and 10 are designed to prepare students for AP courses in grades 11 and 12.

Advanced Placement — AA courses in grades 11 and 12 are appropriate for students who would like a more in-depth course without the requirements of an AP course. Courses in this program are comparable to college-level work, and students in AP courses may be eligible to earn college credit based on an AP exam. SCPA offers AP courses in both traditional and blended learning models. Students meet face-to face with instructors five days per week in the traditional model. Students may sit for an AP exam without taking the course, provided they have met registration deadlines and paid fees.

Career Technical — Career Technical courses address content for specific vocations. CPS offers programs in a number of areas. Specific programs have unique courses designed to fit the program.

College Credit Plus — High school students in grades 9-12 may earn both college and high school credit by accessing College Credit Plus. Taking a college course from a public college or university under College Credit Plus is free. That means no cost for tuition, books or fees. If students choose to attend a private college or university, they may have limited costs. There are no tuition costs to CPS students who take courses at Cincinnati State. Students must meet all deadlines and work with school personnel for scheduling.

SCPA Course Offerings  Social Studies

Modern World History — Grade 9 – Prerequisites: None. This course examines world events from the era of the Scientific Revolution in the 1600s to the present. It explores the impact of the democratic and industrial revolutions, the forces that led to world domination by European powers, the wars that changed empires, the ideas that led to independence movements and the effects of global interdependence. The concepts of historical thinking introduced in earlier grades continue to build, with students locating and analyzing primary and secondary sources from multiple perspectives to draw conclusions. A variety of approaches— chronological, thematic, historiographical and biographical—are possible. Advanced Academic Pathway (AA) available.

Modern US History — Grade 10 – Prerequisites: Modern World History. This course examines the history of the United States of America, including the nation’s economic, political, cultural and diplomatic development from 1877 to the present as well as an overview of important historic documents. It presents new as well as traditional viewpoints and interpretations of America’s past. Students learn to apply lessons of history to their own experiences. It stresses the importance of being informed on the many issues of today and assessing the conflicting views. The federal republic has withstood challenges to its national security and expanded the rights and roles of its citizens. The episodes of its past have shaped the nature of the country today and prepared it to attend to the challenges of tomorrow. Understanding how these events came to pass and their meaning for today’s citizens is the purpose of this course. The concepts of historical thinking introduced in earlier grades continue to build with students locating and analyzing primary and secondary sources from multiple perspectives to draw conclusions. Advanced Academic Pathway (AA) available.

US Government — Grade 11, 12 – Prerequisites: Modern World History, Modern US History. U.S. Government is a survey of the key concepts of American government with a focus on federalism and the concept of developing students toward the goal of informed and active citizenship in the 21st century. The course addresses the branches of government, elections, citizenship and Ohio government, as well as key documents and historical development. How the American people govern themselves at national, state and local levels of government is the basis for this course. Students can impact issues addressed by local governments through service learning and senior projects. Advanced Academic Pathway (AA) available.

*AP US History — Grade 10, 11, 12 – Prerequisites – Modern World History. The AP U.S. History course focuses on the development of historical thinking skills (chronological reasoning, comparing and contextualizing, crafting historical arguments using historical evidence, and interpreting and synthesizing historical narrative) and an understanding of content learning objectives organized around seven themes, such as identity, peopling and America in the world. In line with college and university U.S. history survey courses, the AP U.S. History course expands on the history of the Americas from 1491 to 1607 and from 1980 to the present. It also allows teachers flexibility across nine different periods of U.S. history to teach topics of their choice in depth.

*AP US Government — Grade 11, 12 – Prerequisites – Modern World History, Modern US History. The AP U.S. Government course involves the study of democratic ideas, balance of powers, and tension between the practical and ideal in national policymaking. Students analyze and discuss the importance of various constitutional principles, rights and procedures, institutions, and political processes that impact us as citizens.

* Enrollment in classes with this mark requires approval from the course instructor.

SCPA Course Offerings – English Department

English 9: Literature and Composition – Grade 9 – Prerequisites – None. This course, based on a survey of literature of various time periods and countries, will provide ninth grade students the opportunity to expand and polish reading, writing, research, technology, listening, viewing and speaking skills while studying a variety of genres. Students will make connections to real-world experiences while demonstrating proficiency of the writing process through narrative, reflective, descriptive and persuasive literary analysis. Advanced Academic Pathway (AA) available.

English 10: Language, Literature and Composition – Grade 10 – Prerequisites – English 9. This course for tenth grade students will incorporate major works from a variety of genres and styles. Students will read both literature and informational texts to further develop critical thinking skills, such as analysis, inference and synthesis. Students will be challenged to use evidence from texts in their written and oral responses. The course selections will engage students in gaining a deeper  understanding of the society in which they live. Advanced Academic Pathway (AA) available.

English 11: Language, Literature and Composition – Grade 11 – Prerequisites – English 9, English 10. Building on the foundation of critical thinking skills developed in English 10, this course will expand students’ ability to think critically and communicate in both written and oral formats. Through the analysis of literature, film, poetry, art and nonfiction sources, eleventh grade students will gain a better understanding of society and human nature. The course will also feature the study of American authors and foundational documents of the U.S., such as the Declaration of Independence. Advanced Academic Pathway (AA) available.

English 12: Language, Literature and Composition – Grade 12 – Prerequisites – English 9, English 10, English 11. This senior-level course moves students beyond reader response to the application of multiple perspectives when analyzing complex texts of various types. Rigorous reading and writing tasks will support students’ development of complex synthesis skills. Students will read a variety of genres and styles by authors from different cultures and time periods. Students will demonstrate mastery of written and oral expression through a variety of essays, speaking opportunities and research tasks. Advanced Academic Pathway (AA) available.

*AP English Literature and Composition – Grade 11/12 – Prerequisites – English 9 and English 10. Option for students in their junior or senior years. Students may complete the AP course in lieu of either World or British Literature to satisfy graduation requirements. AP English is designed for students who have demonstrated the ability to meet the demands of college preparatory courses and who wish to advance their English skills to the collegiate level while still in high school. The demands of this course are rigorous, as extensive reading and expository writing are required. Successful completion of the optional AP placement tests may result in college English credit(s).

*AP English Language and Composition - Grade 11/12 – Prerequisites – English 9 and English 10. Option for students in their junior or senior years. Students may complete the AP course in lieu of either World or British Literature to satisfy graduation requirements. AP English is designed for students who have demonstrated the ability to meet the demands of college preparatory courses and who wish to advance their English skills to the collegiate level while still in high school. The demands of this course are rigorous, as extensive reading and expository writing are required. Successful completion of the optional AP placement tests may result in college English credit.

* Enrollment in classes with this mark requires approval from the course instructor.

SCPA Course Offerings – Science Department

Biology — Grades 9, 10 – Prerequisites – Algebra I. This course investigates the composition, diversity, complexity and interconnectedness of life on Earth. Fundamental concepts of heredity and evolution provide a framework through inquiry-based instruction to explore the living world, the physical environment and the interactions within and between them. Students engage in investigations to understand and explain the behavior of living things in a variety of scenarios that incorporate scientific reasoning, analysis, communication skills and real-world applications. Advanced Academic Pathway (AA) available.

Chemistry — Grades 10, 11, 12 – Prerequisites – Algebra I This course introduces students to key concepts and theories that provide a foundation for further study in other sciences as well as advanced science disciplines. Chemistry comprises a systematic study of the predictive physical interactions of matter and subsequent events that occur in the natural world. This course is organized around the study of matter through the exploration of classification, its structure and its interactions. Advanced Academic Pathway (AA) available.

*Botany & Zoology Botany is the scientific study of plants and their relationship to the environment. In this course students investigate the growth, reproduction, anatomy, morphology, physiology, biochemistry, taxonomy, genetics, and ecology of plants. Laboratory and outdoor experiences complement classroom activities. Zoology is the scientific study of animals and their relationships to their environment. Students will explore the physiology, taxonomy, genetics and other related topics.

Anatomy & Physiology — Grades 11, 12 - Human Anatomy and Physiology is a course that investigates the structure and function of the human body. Topics covered will include the basic organization of the body; biochemical composition; and major body systems along with the impact of diseases on certain systems. Students will engage in many related to truly understanding the structure and function of the human body. Working from the topics of basic anatomical terminology to the biochemical composition of the human body, all the way into great detail of each of the major systems of the body, students will learn through reading materials, study guides, unit worksheets, group work, projects, and labs. Students will be responsible for proper use of lab equipment, lab reports, and projects assigned throughout each unit. One of the goals of this course is to prepare students with the skills necessary to be successful in future science classes in college.

*Physics — Grades 11, 12 – Prerequisites – Algebra I & II - Physics elaborates on the study of the key concepts of motion, forces and energy as they relate to increasingly complex systems and applications that will provide a foundation for further study in science and scientific literacy. Students engage in investigations to understand and explain motion, forces and energy in a variety of inquiry and design scenarios that incorporate scientific reasoning, analysis, communication skills and real-world applications.

*AP Biology — Grades 11/12 – Prerequisites –Biology and Chemistry - AP Biology is an introductory college-level biology course. Students cultivate their understanding of biology through inquiry-based investigations as they explore evolution, cellular processes–energy and communication, genetics, information transfer, ecology and interactions.

*AP Chemistry — Grades 11/12 – Prerequisites – Algebra II & Chemistry - The AP Chemistry course provides students with a college-level foundation to support future advanced course work in chemistry. Students cultivate their understanding of chemistry through inquiry-based investigations as they explore topics that include atomic structure, intermolecular forces and bonding, chemical reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics and equilibrium.

* Enrollment in classes with this mark requires approval from the course instructor.

SCPA Course Offerings – Math Department

Geometry — Grade 9 – Prerequisites – Algebra I - The fundamental purpose of Geometry is to formalize and extend the student’s geo-metric experience from grades 7 and 8. Formal definitions of congruence and similarity will be developed through translations, rotations, reflections and dilations. Proofs for the special properties of lines, angles and shapes will be demonstrated formally and informally through a variety of mediums. Coordinate geometry will be used to model and define geometric theorems, properties, equations and shapes. Previous knowledge of right triangles and 3-D figures will be deepened through proofs, models and real-world applications. Advanced Academic Pathway (AA) Available.

Algebra II — Grade 10 – Prerequisites – Algebra I, Geometry – In Algebra II, students build on Algebra I and Geometry experiences, both deepening their understanding of relations and functions and expanding their repertoire of familiar functions. Students will analyze contextual situations involving functions. They will examine functions using graphic, numeric, analytical and verbal models. Students will further investigate the properties of logarithmic, exponential, polynomial and rational functions, including end behavior, asymptotes, intercepts and transformations. Stu-dents will apply this knowledge to geometric and statistical concepts. Advanced Academic Pathway (AA) Available.

Pre-Calculus — Grade 11,12 – Prerequisites – Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry - Pre-calculus is designed to prepare students for calculus or AP Calculus AB. Students will gain an introductory understanding of convergence and divergence. They will collect, analyze and draw conclusions from data. Pre-calc will deepen the students’ algebraic foundation to solve complex problems involving polynomial, rational, logarithmic and trigonometric functions. Those skills will help students develop an intuitive understanding of limits and continuity. Pre-Calculus AA includes the basic understanding of the Pre-Calculus curriculum with added rigor, depth, global connections, multiple representations (verbal, algebraic, numerical, graphical, physical) and expectations of sophistication in student work. Advanced Academic Pathway (AA) Available.

*AP Calculus — Grades 11 and 12 – Prerequisites – Precalculus, Algebra II - AP Calculus is designed for students who excel at math. This demanding course will explore new properties of linear, polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric, inverse trigonometric and piecewise-defined functions. Unifying themes will be used to deepen the student’s understanding of these functions through analysis, limits, derivatives, integrals, approximation and modeling. Students will apply these concepts to real-world problems involving rates of change, optimization, accumulation, area and volume. A score of “3” or higher on the AP exam equals one semester or two quarters credit at most universities.

Advanced Quantitative Reasoning — Grades 11, 12 – Prerequisites – Algebra II - AQR is a fourth-year course in mathematics, statistics and modeling for students who have completed Algebra II. The goal of the AQR course is to develop the student’s ability to investigate and solve substantial problems. Students will be asked to communicate with precision to prepare for postsecondary course work. Students will deepen and further their exploration of relations and functions. Students who complete this course in the eleventh grade will be prepared to study AP Statistics, AP Computer Sciences or Pre-Calculus in their senior year of high school.

* Enrollment in classes with this mark requires approval from the course instructor.