Academic Courses

Build your experience here.

Course offerings are full of information that you will need to know as you journey through high school. Spend some time getting to know what to expect, the programs we offer, and plan ahead for how you'll challenge yourself to grow during your time with us.

Pro Tip:

Colleges also have course catalogues that you will need to follow closely to make informed decisions about which classes you'll need to take. Get into practice now so you know how to navigate it later!

Scheduling

Students will be expected to carry a full schedule for the entirety of the time they are with us. We are committed to making sure the students are prepared for leadership and service as a citizen in a global society. For the mission of Fort Hayes (to create expectations of excellence within students through challenging and collaborative learning by bending the arts, academic and career programs) to be fully realized, we as a school along with our families, must collaborate to position or students in a way that they are competitive and well educated when they graduate high school.

To ensure that students are enrolled in the appropriate classes for graduation and scheduled in a 10-period configuration, there are several principles that will guide this task:

Graduation Requirements (not optional)
Class Size Balance (not optional)
4 Core Subjects (not optional)
1 Non-Instructional Period (Student Mentoring)
Multiple Arts Integration Classes (not optional)
Full Schedule for 4 years (no early leave and no late arrival)
Teacher Recommendations
Student Requests

When a student/family chooses Fort Hayes, these are the requirements for attending our school. We believe in rich and vibrant emergence in the Arts and have built our scheduled based on a 10-period extended day.

English

English 9 (Grade 9)

World Studies Humanities English 9 (Grade 9)

Coursework: Accelerated

Taken with Humanities: Modern World History 9

The humanities approach looks at the sum total of significant ideas and achievements of human kind.
Study major world events and movements from the 1700s-present, integrating the study of the seven aspects of culture:
- History
- Literature
- Philosophy
- Architecture
- Visual Arts
- Music
- Dance

English 10 (Grade 10)

Honors English 10 (Grade 10)

Coursework: Advanced | Pre-req: Teacher recommendation

The humanities approach looks at the sum total of significant ideas and achievements of humankind.
Examine the history, literature, and culture of the United States from 1877-present, integrating the study of seven aspects of culture:
- History
- Literature
- Philosophy
- Architecture
- Visual Arts
- Music
- Dance

English 11 (Grade 11)

AP Language and Composition 11 (Grade 11)

GPA: Weighted | Pre-req: Teacher recommendation

Analyze complex texts written in a variety of contexts and push your writing beyond programmatic responses to compose prose with richness and complexity for mature readers.
Enhance critical thinking, communication, and composition skills by experimenting with purpose, mode, and stylistic devices in their own writing.

English 12 (Grade 12)

AP Literature and Composition 12 (Grade 12)

GPA: Weighted | Pre-req: Teacher recommendation

Engage in critical analysis of imaginative literature, particularly those of recognized literary merit from diverse selections.
Use close reading, critical questioning, thoughtful discussion, and analytical writing to deepen your understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for readers.

Mathematics

Algebra I (Grade 9)

Geometry (Grade 10)

Use the languages of set theory to expand your ability to compute and interpret theoretical and experimental probabilities for compound events, attending to mutually exclusive events, independent events, and conditional probability.
Use triangle congruence as a familiar foundation for the development of formal and informal proof.
Prove theorems - using a variety of formats - and apply them when solving problems about triangles, quadrilaterals, and other polygons.
Apply geometric concepts to solve real-world, design and modeling problems.

Algebra II (Grade 11)

Represent and analyze mathematical situations and properties using patterns, relations, functions, and algebraic symbols; analyze and apply various methods to model, graph and solve linear and absolute value equations and inequalities
Use algebraic, graphical, and numerical methods to analyze, compare, translate, and solve quadratic equations with real or imaginary roots
Use algebraic, graphical, and numerical methods to analyze, compare, translate, and solve polynomial and rational equations.
Graph exponential functions and relate them to logarithms
Solve real-world problems using exponential functions
Evaluate and interpret data
Make predictions based on data and apply basic understanding of probability to solve real-world problems

Pro Tip:

Social Studies

Modern World History (Grade 9)

Humanities: Modern World History 9 (Grade 9)

Coursework: Accelerated

Study world events from 1600-present, combined with English 9 in a humanities approach.
Explore the impact of the democratic and industrial revolutions, the forces that led to world domination by European powers, the wars that changed empires and more.
The humanities approach integrates literature, history, art, music, and drama of cultures.

American History (Grade 10)

AP United States History (Grades 10-12)

GPA: Weighted | Pre-req: Teacher recommendation

This course covers a wide range of topics in the United States history from European settlement to the present.
Engage in the collegiate-level study of history and the political, economic, intellectual and social themes that have shaped present society.
Students are required to maintain a high level of engagement in the materials as they prepare for the Spring administration of the AP United States History Test. A high score on this test can earn students up to 3 semester hours of college credit.

AP Government (Grade 11)

GPA: Weighted | Pre-req: Teacher recommendation

This is a college-level introduction to key political concepts, ideas, institutions, policies, interactions, roles and behaviors that characterize the constitutional system and political culture of the United States.
Read and analyze U.S. foundational documents, key Supreme Court decision and more to grasp the relationships and interactions between political institutions and behavior.
Students are required to maintain a high level of engagement in the materials as they prepare for the AP US Government Test in Spring. A high score on this test can earn students up to 3 semester hours college credit.

Sociology (Grades 11-12)

Economics (Grades 11-12)

Economics explores the fundamental principles of financial economics and decision-making.
Topics include human capital and labor, saving and investing, consumer economic, credit and debt, and risk management.
Learn to read, analyze, manage, and communicate about personal financial conditions that affect one's material well-being, discern financial choices, discuss money and financial issues, plan for the future, and respond to life events that affect everyday financial decisions, including events in the general economy.
Standards and fulfills the requirements for 0.5 financial literacy credit established by Senate Bill 1.

African American Studies (Grade 12)

Study the African-American experience from its African origins to its American present.
Focus on roles Africans and African-Americans have played in history that have often been left out of history courses.
Analyze fundamental concepts of African American history including the transatlantic slave trade, slavery and freedom, discrimination, and the struggle for civil rights.
Course includes opportunity for students to complete requirements for the Senior Capstone Project.

AP African American Studies (Grade 12)

GPA: Weighted | Pre-req: Teacher recommendation

AP African American Studies is an interdisciplinary course that examines the diversity of African American experiences through direct encounters with authentic and varied sources.
Explore key topics that extend from early African kingdoms to the ongoing challenges and achievements of the contemporary moment.
Given the interdisciplinary character of African American studies, students in this course will develop skills across multiple fields, with an emphasis on developing historical, literary, visual, and data analysis skills.
The course foregrounds a study of the diversity of Black communities in the United States within the broader context of Africa and African diaspora.

Global Issues (Grade 12)

Examine contemporary social, political, economic, and environmental issues in the 21st century world, with particular emphasis on the impact of globalization.
The dynamics of global interactions among nations and regions present issues that affect all humanity.
Specific issues to be covered include:
- collective security,
- terrorism,
- human rights,
- immigration,
- international trade,
- health crises
- sustainability
Examine problems and solutions from multiple perspectives, and learn how individuals and groups have the capacity to impact global issues.
This course includes opportunities for students to participate in service learning and prepare research for senior capstone.

History of American Pop Music (Grade 12)

*Listed as American Humanities-SS in course planner*

American music represents a unique blending of cultural influences and experiences.
Examine the development of popular music in America within its cultural, social, economic, and political contexts.
Focus on genres including gospel, country, jazz, blues, hip-hop, big band, soul, folk, bluegrass, and rock.
Course includes opportunities for students to complete requirements for the senior capstone project.

Air Force Junior ROTC

AIR Force Junior ROTC II (Grades 10-12)

Pre-req: Application and ROTC I

Air Force Junior ROTC II students will begin their pursuit of aerospace and military careers while developing leadership skills and becoming self-confident and self-disciplined.
Successful cadets may:
- receive a nomination for the Air Force Academy; or
- receive a college scholarship; or
- enter the active duty Air Force one pay grade higher than other enlistees.

Air Force Junior ROTC II students will begin their pursuit of aerospace and military careers while developing leadership skills and becoming self-confident and self-disciplined.
Successful cadets may:
- receive a nomination for the Air Force Academy; or
- receive a college scholarship; or
- enter the active duty Air Force one pay grade higher than other enlistees.

World Languages

Spanish I (Grades 9-12)

Students will be introduced to the Spanish language as a tool for communication and to the people who speak Spanish.
Develop skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in accordance with the Ohio Academic Content Standards for World Languages.
Focus on listening and speaking in order to use the language for real communication in a cultural context, presenting an overview of Spanish-speaking countries, focusing on the Caribbean.

Spanish II (Grades 9-12)

Pre-req: Spanish I

A continuation of listening and speaking for real communication in accordance with the Ohio Academic Content Standards for World Languages.
Greater emphasis will begin to be placed on reading, writing, and cultural study.
Cultural study will focus on Spain and Mexico and their impact on our society.
Students will also gain an awareness of career opportunities as they prepare for life in the 21st century.

An introduction to the Japanese language as a tool for communication and to the people who speak Japanese.
While developing skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Japanese in accordance with the Ohio Academic Content Standards.
Focus on listening and speaking in order to use the language for real communication in a cultural context along with an overview of Japanese-speaking countries.

Japanese II (Grades 9-12)

Pre-req: Japanese I

A continuation of listening and speaking for real communication in accordance with the Ohio Academic Content Standards for World Languages.
Greater emphasis will begin to be placed on reading and writing.
Begin an in-depth study of Japan and explore patterns of living in the Japanese culture.
Students will also gain an awareness of career opportunities as they prepare for life in the 21st century.

An introduction to the Italian language as a tool for communication and to the people who speak Italian.
While developing the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Italian in accordance with the Ohio Academic Content Standards for World Languages, students will gain cross-cultural insights.
Focus on listening and speaking in order to use the language for real communication in a cultural context along with an overview of Italian-speaking countries.

An introduction to the French language as a tool for communication and to the people who speak French.
While developing the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in French in accordance with the Ohio Academic Content Standards for World Languages, students will gain cross-cultural insights.
Focus on listening and speaking in order to use the language for real communication in a cultural context along with an overview of French-speaking countries.

Microsoft Office (MOS) (Grades 11-12)

STEAM (Grade 9)

Participate in design challenges, collaborate with Ohio State Engineering students, and investigate innovation through integration with the arts.
STEAM students will have the opportunity to explore their creative process across various disciplines, with a focus placed on cultivating creative thinking.
Be able to create projects about your own curiosities within the context of science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

Students will perform advanced skills that are developmentally appropriate for students in grades 9-12 in at least one activity from the following categories of sport: invasion games, net/wall games, fielding/run-scoring games, and/or target games.
Students will successfully participate in sport demonstrating skills of the game and applying the tactics, knowledge and concepts of the game.