High School Advancement Courses

Scholars Advancement Courses

Each offering is limited to a small class size. Food service is included in the price.

The Scholars Program offers students in grades 9 – 12 a more intense academic option. The offerings in this program are mostly credit bearing and can be taken in place of courses during the academic year. Other courses can be taken to build the skills and confidence necessary for students to succeed in advanced courses the following year. Through Summer Connections, we help you get ready for the rigorous subjects you plan to take in the future, be it during high school or college. A number of students who register for scholars classes use the summer coursework as an opportunity to build a bridge/review for AP classes and SAT Subject Tests.  For additional math, writing or English courses for grades 5-8, please see the Junior Scholars Program. 

Advancement Courses are intense and enable a student to complete a full year’s work in a few weeks. Students wishing to accelerate their studies may apply for credit to fulfill graduation requirements or may use the course to fulfill prerequisites for more advanced courses. Students may only take one course for advancement and should expect to do two to four hours of homework daily. Evaluations consist of the letter grades A, B, C, D and F. Interim grades and comments will be mailed on Wednesday, July 14, 2021. Final grades and comments will be mailed on Friday, August 13.

No credit will be granted to a student who is absent more than three days for any reason. Repeated tardiness will result in the loss of academic credit and/or a lower grade. The Independence Day holiday will be observed on Monday, July 5. No classes will be held on this day to celebrate the national holiday. Since the teachers are able to adjust their lessons to deliver the same experience in that week as any other week, the prices are not adjusted. The fee is based on the course offering and not a per diem cost. NOTE: This year’s fees include the provision of lunch daily. Food may not be ordered from off campus restaurants or services; to protect participants from the risk of contracting COVID, the campus will be closed to visitors throughout the program day.

Advancement Algebra 1

Scholars ♦ MATH

  • $2045 ♦ Lunch Included ♦ BYOD (Limited to 12 students)
  • Week 1 – Week 5 July 6 – August 6 ♦ 5 WEEKS
  • Grades 9-12 8:20 AM – 1:55 PM

This course covers the essential concepts of a full-year course in Algebra I.  The course content is organized around families of functions with special emphasis on linear and quadratic functions.  In addition, we will incorporate probability and data analysis helping students to build skills with math topics that often appear on standardized tests.

Advancement Algebra 2

Scholars ♦ MATH

  • $2045 ♦ Lunch Included ♦ BYOD (Limited to 12 students)
  • Week 1 – Week 5 July 6 – August 6 ♦ 5 WEEKS
  • Grades 9-12 8:20 AM – 1:55 PM

This course covers the essential concepts of a full-year course in Algebra II.  Topics include a review of Algebra I, quadratic equations, irrational numbers, complex numbers, linear systems in two and three variables, inequalities, exponents, logarithms, sequences, series, the binomial theorem and word problems.

A graphing calculator is recommended for this course. TI-83+ (or higher) calculator required. Prerequisite: One year of Algebra and one year of Geometry.

Advancement Biology

Scholars ♦ SCIENCE

  • $2100 ♦ Lunch Included ♦ Additional Materials Fee $50 ♦ BYOD (Limited to 12 students)

  • Week 1 – Week 5 July 6 – August 6 ♦ 5 WEEKS

  • Grades 9-12 8:20 AM – 1:55 PM

This course emphasizes the investigative processes of biological science and the history of scientific ideas. Laboratory experiments, microscopic investigations, dissections, and various audiovisual aids are used to explain the basic concepts of life. Topics include cell biology, biochemistry, organic chemistry, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, evolution, genetics, human reproduction, anatomy, and physiology.

Advancement Chemistry

Scholars ♦ SCIENCE

  • $2100 ♦ Lunch Included ♦ Additional Materials Fee $50 ♦ BYOD (Limited to 12 students)

  • Week 1 – Week 5 July 6 – August 6 ♦ 5 WEEKS

  • Grades 9-12 8:20 AM – 1:55 PM

Chemistry is often called the “Central Science.” In this course, you will make the connection between math and science. Each week, several experiments will be performed to investigate the cause and effect relationships which permeates all of science. Topics include: Atomic Theory, Quantum Mechanics, gas laws, solutions in equilibrium, Electrochemistry, Nuclear Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry. Experiments are performed several times each week. A scientific lab notebook will be provided to the students. Prerequisite: One year of science and two years of Algebra.

Advancement Computer Programming

Scholars ♦ MATH

  • $2045 ♦ BYOD (Limited to 12 students) ♦

  • July 6 – August 6 ♦ 5 WEEKS

  • Grades 9-12 8:20 AM – 1:55 PM

This course introduces students to computer programming via the Python programming language. The general notions of algorithms and algorithmic thinking are introduced, as well as the basic syntax of Python, including some simple graphics. The fundamental aspects of programming are covered, including variables and data types, conditionals, loops, functions, and input/output. Students who successfully complete this course should be ready for AP Computer Science. 

Advancement Geometry

Scholars ♦ MATH

  • $2045 ♦ Lunch Included ♦ BYOD (Limited to 12 students) ♦

  • July 6 – August 6 ♦ 5 WEEKS

  • Grades 9-12 8:20 AM – 1:55 PM

This course covers the essential concepts of a full-year course in Geometry.  Topics include basic geometric figures and their properties, reasoning and proof, parallel lines and planes, triangles, geometric means, quadrilaterals, similarity, circles, loci, areas of plane figures; and areas and volumes of solids. Prerequisite: Algebra I

Advancement Physics

Scholars ♦ SCIENCE

  • $2100 ♦ Lunch Included ♦ Additional Materials Fee $50 ♦ BYOD (Limited to 12 students)

  • Week 1 – Week 5 July 6 – August 6 ♦ 5 WEEKS

  • Grades 9-12 8:20 AM – 1:55 PM

From the forces that hold the nucleus of the atom together to those that form stars and galaxies, physics is the study of the foundations of our Universe.  This course is an intensive, honors-level physics program covering typical first-year topics: motion in one and two dimensions, Newton’s Laws, energy, momentum, oscillations, waves, and electricity. Students will actively investigate relationships between measurable quantities in a laboratory environment to construct conceptual models that give structure to the physical phenomena we observe, and which form the basis of our understanding. As time permits, students may also learn and apply introductory programming techniques to create computer simulations of physical systems. Prerequisite: One year of science and two years of algebra and trigonometry.

Advancement Pre-Calculus

Scholars ♦ MATH

  • $2045 ♦ Lunch Included ♦ BYOD (Limited to 12 students)

  • Week 1 – Week 5 July 6 – August 6 ♦ 5 WEEKS

  • Grades 9-12 8:20 AM – 1:55 PM

This course covers the essential concepts of a full-year course in Pre-Calculus.  Topics include trigonometry; complex numbers; polynomials; sequences and series; exponential and logarithmic functions, and the conic sections.

A graphing calculator is required for this course. TI-83+ (or higher) calculator required. Prerequisite: Two years of Algebra and one year of Geometry.

Note: Students in classes designated as BYOD will be expected to bring a laptop that meets minimum requirements or any brand Chromebook. A tablet with a keyboard is also acceptable, but we find that the mobile platforms of these devices limit the functionality in some learning activities. Students who enroll in courses designated BYOD must identify during the registration process whether they commit to bringing a personal device to Summer Connections or whether they would need to have the program supply a device for the course.

Students may bring any brand Chromebook. The Chromebook MUST have wireless internet to function. They may also bring a PC laptop with Microsoft Windows 7 or Windows 8 operating system, and minimum 4 GB RAM of memory.  Antivirus protection is the owner’s responsibility. We currently allow Apple laptops purchased within the last three years. Although iPads and other model tablets are convenient for most purposes, the mobile apps do not provide some of the features needed in class.

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