Curriculum Guide

Academic Support Class (ASC) is designed to provide students who receive special education services with specialized instruction specific to the student’s Individualized Educational Plan (IEP).

Topics in this course include a review of the basic physics concepts that were covered in the first-year physics course but will be looked at from a more advanced engineering level with a very hands-on approach.

The study of functions is woven throughout the course and includes linear, quadratic, and polynomial functions.

Advanced Algebra Essential course is for students with varied backgrounds and abilities. This course is designed for students who need additional time to master advanced algebra concepts.

Three courses will be taught in two years, Advanced Algebra, FST, and AP Statistics.

Content includes detailed drawings, working drawings, pictorials, sketching, assembly drawings, 3D parametric modeling parts and assemblies, and 3D printing.

Students will be introduced to variables, solve and graph equations and inequalities in standard, linear, and quadratic form, and apply various problem-solving skills in real-life situations.

This course focuses on the structures of the human body, what/where they are, how they function, came to be, and compare to other organisms.

In this course you will start out with an overview of game and animation history and quickly move into the concept of development and production of animations and computer games.

AP Biology is an advanced-level biology course. It is designed to be equivalent to a first year college biology course and prepare the student for the AP Biology exam.

This course follows the Advanced Placement Calculus AB curriculum.

This course follows the Advanced Placement Calculus AB and BC curriculums. 

The AP Chemistry curriculum is equivalent to a college course usually taken by chemistry majors during their first year of college.

The course introduces students to computer science with fundamental topics that include problem-solving, design strategies and methodologies, organization of data (data structures), approaches to processing dates (algorithms), analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing.

AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) is a full-year, rigorous, entry-level course that introduces high school students to the foundations and concepts of computer science and challenges them to explore how computing and technology can impact the world.

The A.P. U.S. Government and Politics course emphasizes an introduction to the key political concepts, ideas, institutions, policies, interactions, roles and behaviors that characterize the constitutional system and political culture of the United States.

AP Language and Composition challenges students to harness the power of rhetoric as they study texts from a wide range of time periods, styles, authors, and subjects.

AP English Literature is a comprehensive study of imaginative literature, ranging from Dante to contemporary fiction and poetry.

The Advanced Placement Macroeconomics course gives students a thorough understanding of the principles of economics that apply to the economy as a whole and is comparable to a college level course.

The Advanced Placement Microeconomics course gives students a thorough understanding of the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual decision makers, both consumers and producers, within the larger economic system.

AP Physics C is a college-level course that covers Newtonian physics including rotation, gravitation and oscillation in preparation for the AP Physics C (Mechanics) exam.

AP Psychology is a two-semester (full year) college-level class that challenges students academically and socially.

This course will give highly motivated and successful Spanish students the opportunity to develop advanced level communication skills in Spanish. While using authentic resources, the students will develop the speaking, listening, reading and writing skills necessary to prepare them to take the Advanced Placement Language and Culture examination.

AP U.S. History is a rigorous, college-level course that offers a deep dive into the history of the United States, from the pre-Columbian era to the present day.

AP World History will develop students’ understanding of the evolution of global processes in interaction between different types of human societies.

DDT1-2 focuses on the basic fundamentals and principles of drafting design with an emphasis on mechanical design and architecture.

Bella Voce provides the treble singer with advanced choral training.

This beginning course uses a conceptual approach to explain key concepts in biology and the Life Science Michigan Science Standards.

Students learn that Business Management is the process of using the resources of a business to efficiently and effectively achieve its goals through planning, organizing, staffing, leading and controlling.

Cadet Teaching is a senior elective class where students receive high school credit for working with East Grand Rapids Middle School and Elementary teachers.

This is an introductory course in theories and concepts of modern chemistry.

Honors Chemistry is offered to students interested in studying the sciences at a deeper level.

The Constitutional Studies program studies the history and origin of Constitutional principles as well as current day application of such.

This single-semester, reading-intensive course (5 to 7 novels) will focus on the reading, analysis, and synthesis of contemporary literature through the application of several critical theories, present-day issues, and various contemporary films from both American and non-American creators.

Creative Writing is designed for students who demonstrate a strong aptitude and desire to express themselves creatively through the genres of poetry, short story, creative nonfiction, and drama.

The course introduces students to computer science with fundamental topics that include problem-solving, design strategies and methodologies, organization of data (data structures), approaches to processing dates (algorithms), analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing.

This course introduces students to the exploration and application of digital photography processes including, but not limited to: digital camera use, methods of presentation, curating work to reach a broad audience, Adobe Photoshop, etc. 

Drawing and Painting A & B, students have the opportunity to use a wide variety of drawing and painting mediums to make individual artworks.

Students who meet the qualifications for Dual Enrollment may enroll in college courses in addition to courses at the high school. Consultation with the student's counselor is necessary as the counselor's recommendation is required prior to registration at any of the local colleges.

The Economics course, which is aligned with the Michigan Merit Curriculum, enables students to understand and consider potential implications of the basic scarcity problem faced by individuals, businesses, and societies; unlimited wants in pursuit of limited resources.

The course content consists of a variety of selections from American literature and informational texts from the seventeenth century to the present.

English 10 Honors is a comprehensive English course designed for highly motivated students, who wish in-depth handling of material and a competitive academic environment.

English 9 provides the freshman student with broad experience in all areas of language arts: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

The literature in English 9 Honors is, for the most part, classical in nature and is studied not only for its literary value but also for its reflection of specific historical periods and peoples. 

The focus of the class is an in-depth experience into the pre-production, production and post-production aspects of digital filmmaking.

In Film Studies 1, your student will be required to view a variety of American/English Language Films in order to analyze themes, color, visual design, cinematography, editing, sound effects and dialogue, costuming, musical scoring, acting, directing style, genres, and the impact of film on American Society.

This class will cover the history of the American Hollywood film industry and examine award winning American films and examine various genres.

This course introduces the fundamental principles of science and technology upon which forensic science is based.

Foundation Art is a dynamic and comprehensive course designed to provide students with a strong artistic foundation. The semester-based programs offer hands-on project-based learning in both first and second-semester courses. 

This course is designed for students who are completely or almost completely new to French. Students will be introduced to basic vocabulary themes related to everyday life, school, food, and shopping.

French 2 is designed for students who were previously successful in French. The course focuses on reinforcing and building on the students’ grammatical knowledge, vocabulary, and writing.

This course is designed for previously successful French students as an alternative option to the IB French course. Students will continue to build their communication and cultural skills through increased speaking, listening, reading, and writing activities.

In this class students will work on IEP goals, daily living skills, and functional math and English through specialized instruction that are connected to the Kent ISD Alternate Standards Curriculum.

Functions, Statistics, and Trigonometry is designed to give the student an experience in modeling real-life scenarios with various equations and extrapolating answers from them which forms the foundation of the course.

This course covers the conclusion of Functions, Statistics, and Trigonometry as well as Advanced Placement Statistics.

Students will explore a variety of properties related to triangles and quadrilaterals, relationships of parallel and perpendicular lines, circles, and three-dimensional figures.

Gone Boarding is an experiential, project-based course that will provide powerful contexts and opportunities for students to learn and develop new skills in the areas of independent and collaborative work in design, engineering, fabrication and visual arts.

This is a senior level course that covers the fundamental ideas, functions and processes which form the basis of the American political system.

The health education course empowers students to make health-related decisions while meeting the district’s one-semester health education requirement for graduation.

IB Higher Level (HL) Biology is a two-year course designed to provide students an in-depth study of the relationship of structure, function, and interaction within and between all biological systems.

IB Higher Level (SL) Biology is a one-year course designed to provide students an in-depth study of the relationship of structure, function, and interaction within and between all biological systems.

Students will explore key business concepts—creativity, change, ethics, and sustainability—while learning how businesses operate in a fast-changing, global marketplace.

Students examine the chemical principles that form the basis of physical and biological systems through the core content and develop their skills in designing experiments, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions from experimental data. 

This course is an interdisciplinary view that investigates environmental systems in both structure and function.

In analyzing film, students will examine elements of plot, setting, style, cinematography and point of view as well as historical perspective and the impact on our society.

Students will work in groups and alone to produce short films.  Activities such as storyboarding, script writing, acting for the camera, camera techniques and editing are the basis of the class.

The IB French HL program is a two-year program of study designed for highly motivated and successful French students who have successfully completed French 2.

The IB French SL program is a two-year program of study designed for highly motivated and successful French students who have successfully completed French 2.

This course can be taken on its own to fulfill the US History graduation requirement OR as an elective after taking US history to build interest in the content OR can be taken as Year 1 of the IB History HL course.

IB HL Language and Literature is a two-year course that introduces the critical study and interpretation of texts from a wide range of literary and non-literary genres.

In this two-year course, students study a wide range of literary and non-literary texts in a variety of media.

The IB Latin HL program is a two-year program of study that runs with the IB Latin SL course. This course is designed for highly motivated students of Latin that wish to complete additional coursework while completing the necessary IB Latin SL material.

The IB Latin program is a two-year program of study in which students continue their acquisition of the language through the reading, interpretation and analysis of authentic Latin texts.

Advanced topics which will be explored in depth include Algebra, Functions, Geometry and Trigonometry, Vectors, Statistics and Probability, and Calculus.

The students most likely to select this course already have a strong foundation in algebra and geometry and possess the enthusiasm to learn about and explore in more detail the mathematical concepts they’ve been introduced to in those courses.

This course is designed for students who enjoy describing the real world and solving practical problems using mathematics, those who are interested in harnessing the power of technology alongside exploring mathematical models, and enjoy the more practical side of mathematics.

This two-year course seeks to develop students’ knowledge and potential as musicians, composers, and performers through the lens of personal, local, and global approaches to music.

IB psychology, a one year course, examines the interaction of biological, cognitive and sociocultural influences on human behavior, thereby adopting an integrative approach.

This course is designed primarily for highly motivated and successful Spanish students who were previously enrolled in the Honors Spanish sequence and wish to pursue an IB certificate or IB diploma.

This course is designed for highly motivated and successful Spanish students who have successfully completed IB Spanish Year 1 and wish to pursue an IB certificate or IB diploma.

This course is the next course in the Honors Spanish sequence after Spanish 3 Honors. It is for those students continuing on the Honors pathway, including students pursuing the IB Diploma or an IB certificate in Spanish, who plan on taking AP Spanish.

The Theory of Knowledge (TOK) class is the capstone of the IB Diploma Programme. It is a class centered on epistemology – the study of knowledge and the validity of beliefs – which allows students to think critically about what we believe as individuals and societies.

The IB Visual Arts Standard Level and Higher Level courses are two-year studio-based experiences that emphasize a well-documented creative process which includes in-depth research, analysis, and experimentation as well as the final production and exhibition of both 2-D and 3-D artworks.

This course can be taken to fulfill the World History requirement OR as an elective after taking World History, to build interest in the content OR can be taken as Year 2 of the IB History HL course (see History of the Americas description) OR can be taken as IB History SL (both the HL and SL courses have tests where college credit can be earned).

Integrated Physics and Chemistry is an introductory course to investigate the basic principles of physics with an introduction to chemistry.

Students will study the physical structures and spaces in which people live and the relationship between the homeowner and the home.

This course enables students to explore a variety of business career opportunities while developing essential employability and human relations skills.

Students will develop skills in informational writing and speaking using journalistic standards, ethics, and reporting.

This is a performance-based class, and will serve as an introduction to the rich history of jazz music.

This course offers practical experience in newspaper publishing in a self-directed workshop environment.

This hands-on early college program was created in collaboration with Grand Rapids Community College to offer students the opportunity to earn a tuition-free general Associate Degree, or a specialized Associate Degree in Mechanical Design.

The Kent Career Tech Center is an educational service of the Kent Intermediate School District. Programs within KCTC are grouped together in clusters of common occupational groups in order to maximize interaction and develop a core of common skills. 

This course will teach the basic vocabulary and grammar necessary to read and comprehend some simple stories. Students will build their English vocabulary by studying derivatives.

Students in Latin 2 will continue to develop their reading comprehension and writing skills through the study of grammar and vocabulary.

Madrigals is designed to provide students the opportunity to sing difficult choral literature for small ensembles, with an emphasis placed on music from the 15th -17th centuries, as well as contemporary music written for the small ensemble.

Students must attend the mandatory Online Course meeting in March in order to register for an online class. The class must meet the online course requirements and must be approved by the counselor and principal. Learn more by visiting Michigan Virtual. 

Personal Finance is a course designed to help students understand the impact of individual choices on occupational goals and future earnings potential.

This course introduces students to the exploration and application of a variety of traditional and contemporary analog photography tools, materials and processes including, but not limited to: 35mm camera operation, analog film chemistry & processing, traditional darkroom printmaking and enlargement, methods of presentation, curating work to reach a broad audience, Photoshop for post-production, etc. 

Fuel your body by participating in a variety of team and individualized sports (badminton, volleyball, yard games, track and field, basketball, flag football, floor hockey, Ultimate Frisbee, cooperative games, and various other indoor/outdoor games and an introduction to weight training). 

All students will benefit most from taking physics as a 9th grader to develop basic measurement, numerical analysis, and fundamental problem-solving skills, which are basic to all science.

All students will benefit most from taking physics as a 9th grader to develop basic measurement, numerical analysis, and fundamental problem-solving skills, which are basic to all science. 

Pioneer Chorus is a non-auditioned, primary level ensemble, providing specialized vocal training for the young tenor/bass voice.

Pioneer Orchestra is an intermediate level ensemble for 9th and 10th grade students focused on intermediate to advanced string technique.

Portfolio Prep is offered to students who are seriously interested in independent student-driven investigative, creative and artistic processes.

This course covers the conclusion of Functions, Statistics, and Trigonometry as well as Advanced Placement Statistics.

Precalculus and Discrete Mathematics is designed to give the student an experience in the following topics: operations on parent functions, manipulation of polynomials/rational functions, limits, polar coordinates, and vectors, which are highlighted in the first three marking periods, all with an emphasis on algebraic fluency.

Students will experience the excitement and urgency of creating a television product while providing a valuable medium of communication for the school. 

This course covers basic public speaking skills from writing to delivery and nonverbal communication.

The focus of this course would be applications of real-world data sets.

Content includes the drawing and sketching of floor plans, foundation plans, site plans, construction and architectural details required for the residential architecture.

These courses introduce students to 3-D design using a variety of traditional and contemporary sculpture tools, materials and processes including, but not limited to: clay (hand-construction and wheel-thrown forms), plaster, wood, metals, foam-core, paper, Bristol, cardboard, found objects, etc. 

Band is open to all high school students who demonstrate adequate proficiency of technical skills on a band instrument.

The course will teach advanced design techniques and will develop critical thinking skills, time management skills, group work, and applied math and science skills.

This course is designed for students who are completely or almost completely new to Spanish. Introduction to the beginning basics will include Greetings, Colors, Numbers, and other vocabulary. 

Students in Spanish 2 will continue to improve their communication and cultural skills at the intermediate low level. They will focus on reinforcing the present tense, its irregularities and learning the past tense and its irregularities.

This course is for those students who began the study of Spanish in the East Grand Rapids elementary program and successfully completed the middle school program in grades 6, 7, and 8. Students will continue to improve in their communication and cultural skills at an intermediate level.

Spanish 3 is designed to be taken by previously successful students of Spanish who wish to further enhance their Spanish language skills.

This course is for those students who were previously enrolled in the K-12 Spanish sequence. Students will continue to build their communication and cultural skills.

Spanish 4 is designed to be taken by previously successful Spanish students.

Spanish 5 is designed to be taken by previously successful Spanish students.

Students will study the basic marketing concepts with applications to various entertainment organizations both locally and nationally.

Students in Team Games will compete to improve fitness through organized team activities in a “series” format, round-robin play, and unique tournaments.

In this course, we will survey the history of theater both nationally and globally as well as study everything that goes into a theatrical production.

Treble Chorus is a non-auditioned, primary level ensemble, providing the young treble singer with basic vocal technique.

In United States History, students will explore the key political, social, cultural, and economic forces that have shaped the nation.

Varsity Orchestra is an advanced level ensemble for 11th and 12th grade students focused on intermediate to advanced string technique.

Varsity Voices is the main ensemble of EGRHS and provides the student with intermediate choral training. The purpose of the choir is to provide independence as a choral musician.

This introductory course provides the fundamental technical and creative aspects of the television and film industry including the operation of digital cameras, microphones, script writing, editing, and graphics.

The emphasis in this class will be achieving a goal level of physical fitness, rooted in strength development.

Exploring historical evidence and diverse narratives, students connect the people, places, and events of history to understand the problems of today and prepare themselves for the future.

Students enrolled in this course are responsible for the production of the East Grand Rapids High School annual yearbook.