Frequently Asked Questions

• Is it true that students are only required to take 2 years of science (8 credits) in order to graduate from ARHS?
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• I’ve heard that it is unusual to require Environmental Science in 9th grade. Why are we doing things so differently?
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• Students no longer take Honors Biology as a full-year option in 9th grade. Does that mean they can’t take as many AP science classes as they could previously?
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• My child loves science and would like to "double up" and take two science classes during the same academic year. Is that possible?
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• Isn’t Environmental Science a highly politicized policy course, rather than an actual science class?
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• Aren’t Ecology and Environmental Science "soft" sciences, basically encouraging students to care about the Earth, and remember to recycle? Shouldn’t students be taking a rigorous lab-based course?
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• Could a course like Ecology / Environmental Science look odd on a student’s transcript, and possibly hurt his or her chances of getting into a competitive college?
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• This course sounds experimental to me. Are our teachers ’inventing’ a new course? What qualifications do the teachers have in this area?
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• By starting with Ecology / Environmental Science, aren’t our students delaying the study of a core science? Why don’t our students just start with one of the 3 core sciences?
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• Will some students graduate never having taken a physical science class?
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• How will students pass the high-stakes state mandated MCAS test if they are taking this course in 9th grade?
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• I’ve heard that under the former Science program at ARHS, students electing Honors Biology in 9th grade could take the SAT IIs. Isn’t it a disadvantage that our students can’t do this any longer?
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