Our outstanding staff is directly involved in developing our customized Innovation Career Academy curriculum and teaching live online classes. Together with our Achievement House Cyber Charter School core curriculum, we build a robust educational foundation for students. Click hhttps://innovationcareeracademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2023-2024-Program-of-Studies-1.pdfere to download our printable Program of Studies.
Department Requirement: Students are required to complete 4.0 credits in English, to include 1 course in Literature and an English course to be taken each school year, during grades 9-12. Students are placed in appropriate courses by their school counselor. Courses marked (*) meet the Literature requirement for this department.
Core Classes
Engage in an in-depth study of the American experience through a rich variety of literature from Native American writings to modern novels. Learn about the major writers and time periods, as well as the various periods of American literature and the ideas that shaped the writing of those times. Explore how various genres of writing and speaking transformed over time as the United States grew and cities were built. Learn to understand authors in relation to their historical settings, gather biographical information, and write literary essays, research papers, and personal responses.rnAvailable Sections: Honors, CP
This course is equivalent to a one semester college-level composition courses with an emphasis on expository, analytical,argumentative, personal and reflective writing on a variety of subjects. Learn to write effectively through rhetorical choices appropriate to audience, message, and medium. Teacher and peer writing feedback and revisions are a large component of the course. Emphasis is on vocabulary/diction, grammatical conventions, organization, and effective use of tone and voice to achieve desired goals of the compositions.
This course is equivalent to a one-semester college-level course which engages in critical analysis of fiction. Students study representative works from various genres and periods, concentrating on works of recognized literary merit. Critical analysis of literary works includes both social and historical perspectives so that students can reflect on multiple interpretations of literature. Students are strongly encouraged to read Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby over the summer months.
Develop practical reading and writing skills for the workplace. Areas of focus include author’s perspective and craft choices in career- and goal-oriented fiction writing, structures of informational nonfiction writing, verbal and written communication, and persuasive writing. Explore how literature can help students make personal and career choices, and practice sharing information from research with others in an engaging way. Construct a personalized resume and cover letter. The capstone of the course is the development of a business proposal that solves a problem or meets a need selected by the student. This course is for seniors
Develop an understanding of fictional works. Explore narrative structure and the impact that narrative elements have on not only the text but the reader as well. Study universal themes in literature and learn to compare texts.
This course exposes students to both fiction and nonfiction works. Through the study of nonfiction, students explore ways in which literature serves as a vehicle for social change. A study of the drama genre allows students to consider questions of personal destiny and corruption of power.
This course prepares students for the Literature Keystone Exam. Students study word skills, vocabulary acquisition, narrative structures, figurative language, and dramatic and poetic elements. Students develop constructed response skills.
Experience the cultures of the world through fiction, poetry, and memoirs. In this course, students read works from Africa, Japan, China, India, Latin America, and the Middle East to compare cultural perceptions of love and marriage, childhood, careers, and justice.rnAvailable Sections: Honors, CP
Literature and Composition 1 – From Prose to Poetry: 1 credit — This course introduces students to a variety of reading and writing skills that will help them become familiar with literary terms, text structures, and reading strategies. Students learn how to develop their writing in response to the literature using narrative, argument, and informational writing. Selections include short stories, poems, nonfiction texts, and drama. Students begin to prepare for the Literature Keystone exam.rnAvailable Sections: Honors, CP, Career
In this course, students finish preparing for the Literature Keystone exam. Students read novels and online texts to show mastery of literature standards for fiction and nonfiction. They apply critical reading and thinking skills to help analyze and evaluate texts. Students continue to develop writing skills in response to the literature.rnAvailable Sections: Honors, CP, CareerrnPrerequisite – Literature and Composition 1 – From Prose to Poetry
This course is designed around the pillars of literacy. It prioritizes reading fluency, reading comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and written expression. The course actively monitors a student’s progression as a reader and a writer.
Electives
Department Requirement: Students are required to complete 3.0 credits in Mathematics, to include 1 course in Algebra during grades 9-12. Students are placed in appropriate courses by their guidance counselor. Courses marked (*) meet the Algebra requirement for this department.
Core Classes
In this Pennsylvania Algebra I Keystone Exam aligned course, students are introduced to linear equations and inequalities in one variable, ratio and proportion, operations with radicals and radical functions, and exponents and exponential functions. The course concludes with the study of linear and quadratic functions, linear models, and graphs of linear equations and inequalities. Students enrolled in this course are required to take the Pennsylvania Algebra I Keystone exam at the conclusion of the course.rnAvailable Sections: Honors, CP
Review the ideas and concepts taught in Algebra 1 and investigate advanced algebraic concepts including: quadratic equations, systems of equations, complex numbers, exponential and logarithmic functions, matrices and determinants, polynomial functions, and radical functions and exponents.rnrnPrerequisite – Algebra 1rnAvailable Sections: Honors, CP
This course is designed to focus on building number concepts and problem solving skills in mathematics. Topics covered in this course include: fractions and decimal numbers, variables, inequalities, algebraic patterns, algebraic expressions, algebraic rules and properties, introduction to algebraic equations, solving different kinds of algebraic equations, introduction to functions, and square roots and irrational numbers. These topics are expended upon by learning how to calculate basic statistics, work with ratios and proportions, work with rates, understand percent, determine surface area and volume of three-dimensional shapes, measure angles, solve algebraic word problems, work with coordinate graphs, and identify nonlinear functions. Students are required to take the Pennsylvania state assessed Algebra I Keystone at the end of this course.
This course is equivalent to a one-semester college calculus course. Students are required to have and use a graphing calculator. Students work with functions represented in a variety of ways, determine limits of expressions, understand the meaning of a derivative in terms of a rate of change and local linear approximation, define the derivative of a function and find the derivative and integral of functions, apply differentiation techniques to the Theory of Extrema to sketch functions, solve related rates problems, optimization problems, and apply the Mean Value Theorem, understand the meaning of the definite integral, apply integration techniques to area between curves, volumes, length of curves, and average value of function, use trigonometric and algebraic substitutions, and solve differential equations.rnrnPrerequisite – Pre-Calculus
This course is designed to prepare students, who have successfully completed AP Calculus AB, for the BC level of the College Board Advanced Placement Exam. It is a college level course that covers material equivalent to a 2nd course in college calculus. This is a rigorous course which requires mastery and recall of all AP Calculus AB topics.rnrnPrerequisite – AP Calculus AB
This course is equivalent to a one-semester college course in statistics. This course is activity driven, with applications in gaming scenarios, population growth, and sports. Students perform exploratory analysis of data, making use of graphical and numerical techniques to study patterns, apply sampling techniques to estimate population statistics, anticipate patterns by producing models using probability and simulation, and make statistical inferences using appropriate models.
This course covers the second half of Algebra 1. This course focuses primarily on systems of linear equations and inequalities as well as exponents and polynomial expressions, and data analysis. Students enrolled in this course are required to take the Pennsylvania Algebra 1 Keystone exam at the conclusion of this course
This course is designed to focus on building number concepts and problem solving skills in mathematics. Topics covered in this course include: the concept of fractions and part-to-whole relationships, magnitude, equivalence, and the addition and subtraction of fractions, multiplication and division of fractions, working with mixed numbers, the concept of decimal numbers, operations on decimal numbers, understanding percent, integers, and operations on integers. These topics are expanded upon by learning how to use fraction models, measure angles, draw and rotate polygons, triangles and quadrilaterals, determine area of two-dimensional shapes, understand probability, find points on a graph, and observe coordinate graphs and transformations.
This Course provides the background to use calculus in sciences, social sciences, and business applications. This course also provides an excellent foundation for further work in calculus. The instructional approach emphasizes both applications and the theoretical basis of calculus. Enrollment subject to seat availability.rnPrerequisite – Pre-CalculusrnAvailable Sections: Honors, CP
This course is a bridge to prepare for college-level math courses. Using topics from Geometry, Algebra 1, and SAT preparations, extend their learning through real world applications of algebraic, geometric, and statistical concepts. The course includes a review of the families of functions (linear, exponential, and quadratic), measures of central tendency, standard deviation, probability, combinations, permutations, properties of polygons, area and perimeter of two-dimensional figures, surface area and volume of three-dimensional figures, algebraic and geometric transformations, and right triangle trigonometry.
This course emphasizes making connections within the concept of plane geometry. Students are introduced to inductive and deductive reasoning, logic and proof including two column proofs, thinking logically and precisely, the basic principles of plane and coordinate geometry, development of problem solving skills, and full integration of algebra and geometry. Additionally, this course prepares students for more advanced work in mathematics in other high school and college courses.rnrnAvailable Sections: Honors, CP
This course is the first of two year-long courses in the alternative Algebra 1 sequence. Focus is primarily on linear relationships, with an emphasis on the algebraic manipulation of linear expressions, equations, and inequalities, as well as graphing and modeling with linear functions.
This course focuses on building number concepts and problem-solving skills in mathematics. Topics covered in this course include: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, factors, primes and composites, common factors and number patterns, and the concept of fractions. These topics are expanded upon by learning how to work with data, find connections to measurement, geometry, and rates, determine area and perimeter, define properties of shapes, observe geometric transformations, and introduce statistics.
This course helps prepare students for the financial challenges they will face in life after high school. Topics covered include the concept of “financial health” which compares the discipline required to maintain financial health to the discipline required to keep physically healthy, budgeting, and banking. The course ends with the “real world” calculator. Students have the opportunity to interact with a hypothetical post-graduation budget based on actual starting salary data for over 40 professional fields.
This course reinforces and extends the topics covered in Algebra 2 and provides an introduction to Trigonometry. Topics covered include equations and inequalities, functions and their graphs, polynomials, rational functions and expressions, radicals, exponential and logarithmic functions. Trigonometric topics covered include the definitions and graphs of the trig functions, identities and equations, and practical applications.rnrnPre-Requisite – Algebra 2rnAvailable Sections: Honors, CP
Electives
Department Requirement: Students are required to complete 3.0 credits in Science, to include 1 course in Biology, during grades 9-12. Students are placed in appropriate courses by their guidance counselor. Courses marked (*) meet the Biology requirement for this department.
Core Classes
Electives
Department Requirement: Students are required to complete 3.0 credits in Social Studies, to include 1 course in Civics (or Government) during grades 9-12. Students are placed in appropriate courses by their guidance counselor. Courses marked (*) meet the Civics requirement for this department.Core Classes
Core Classes
This course is designed to help students become active, productive citizens of the U.S. Throughout the course, students learn what government is, how the American government functions, and what they can do to become an ideal citizen of the U.S. Topics covered include a study of citizenship and the American government.rnrnAvailable Sections: Honors, CP, Career
This course is equivalent to a one-semester college level social studies course. Analyze the United States government and explore economic theory and practice. Examine the underpinnings of the U.S. Constitution, and begin to interpret and apply the Constitution to governmental policy. Develop an understanding of the principles and processes of formal institutions and informal institutions. Develop an understanding of economic indicators and the rolernof government in economic decision-making. Examine civil liberties and public policy from both a legal/theoretical and a practical perspective. The course emphasizes the importance of civic life and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
Study a time period that begins in the early 1500s and continues to the present day including the events, people, conflicts, and ideas that have shaped our modern world. Develop an understanding of modern world history by studying topics such as the Renaissance, exploration, colonization, revolutions, WWI, WWII, and the Cold War.rnrnAvailable Sections: Honors, CP, Career
Investigate the events that occurred in the United States as well as those that impacted the United States during the 1800s through the 1970s. Throughout the course, students explore major events that shaped the future decades and generations of the United States, its allies, and also its enemies. The course highlights the accomplishments and challenges of minorities throughout these periods and their contributions to the development of American history. Learn how to assess historical materials and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented.rnAvailable Sections: Honors, CP, Career
Be a “World Traveler!” Explore the different elements geography and locations around the world. Study the physical and cultural characteristics of these places while learning about the current problems they face. Current events and other ideas will be discussed.
Electives
Department Requirement: This department allows students to explore who they are, what is important to them, and what they would like to do. These classes allow students to develop the tools they need to create the kind of life they want. Classes marked (*) meet the Career and College Readiness requirement for this department.
These courses introduce students to the building blocks necessary to select and prepare for a career. Students explore their interests and abilities, identify career options, and work to develop a high school and college/career plan. Various topics are introduced, including effective speaking and listening skills, cover letters and resumes, and social networking. Students will also create a career portfolio.
This course provides students with a solid foundation to a successful future beyond high school. Students will continue to explore their interests and abilities, identify career options, and work to develop a college/career plan. Topics will include interviewing skills, completing job-related paperwork such as tax forms, planning for SAT/ACT exams and college applications, and skills needed to become a successful adult.
The graduation project is the culmination of knowledge, skills, and experience achieved throughout a student’s high school career. The complete project will be presented to the Graduation Project Advisor who will ensure that all specific project requirements have been completed as mandated by the state and assign a presentation date. The graduation project must be completed in order to fulfill student graduation requirements. Students entering grades 10 and 11 may choose to complete their Graduation Project requirement by doing a career-based project. Completing the career-based project in 10th or 11th grade will mean not having to take the Graduation Project 12 course to complete it during the senior year.
The graduation project is the culmination of knowledge, skills, and experience achieved throughout a student’s high school career. The complete project will be presented to the Graduation Project Advisor who will ensure that all specific project requirements have been completed as mandated by the state and assign a presentation date. The graduation project must be completed in order to fulfill student graduation requirements.
Department Requirement: Students are required to complete 2 credits in Arts and Humanities during grades 9-12.
Department Requirement: Students are required to complete 1.0 credit in Health/Physical Education, to include Health (Wellness) and a PE course to be taken each school year. Physical Education courses do not need to be taken consecutively.
Core Classes
Apply the skill of developing a workout routine and explore how to improve current fitness levels. Students will complete a fitness test and log their progress towards their individual fitness goal.
Studies show that regular physical activity is essential to good health and wellness. In this introductory course, students practice the ten health skills: communication, refusal skills, conflict resolution, accessing information, analyzing influences, practicing healthful behaviors, stress management, decision making, advocacy, and goal setting. Students learn basic fitness terminology as well as how physical activity benefits both the body and mind.
Students continue to practice the ten health skills: communication, refusal skills, conflict resolution, accessing information, analyzing influences, practicing healthful behaviors, stress management, decision making, advocacy, and goal setting. Students learn basic fitness terminology as well as how physical activity benefits both the body and mind.
Students work collaboratively with teachers to design projects that are independently approved and relate to Physical Education. Evaluations are conducted by the teacher upon completion of the class to determine whether class goals and objectives were met and award credit.
Learn to make informed decisions that will assist them both now and in the future. Course work has been developed using scientific evidence that has shown regular physical activity is essential to good health and wellness. Learn basic fitness terminology as well as how physical activity benefits both the body and mind. Research and choose fitness activities that promote lifelong participation.
Practice making informed health and fitness decisions that will show benefit now and in the future. Review basic fitness terminology and benefits. Begin to design a personalized fitness program. Many assignments in this course are based upon research from the American Heart Association indicating that the primary cause of death in the United States, heart disease, can be treated with daily participation in physical activity
Electives
This course is designed to give students an overview of the skills required in first aid and CPR/AED. It will not certify students in these areas, but it will help prepare them for the certification exams through American
In this course, students will complete a variety of scenarios pertaining to emergency situations in order to show mastery of previously learned First Aid and CPR skills.rnPrerequisite – Students must be certified in First Aid and CPR/AED through American Red Cross.
Learn a variety of different styles of Yoga, as well as keep a journal of different poses practiced. Students are provided with a Yoga starter kit (if needed) and are responsible for uploading pictures of themselves practicing Yoga.
Innovation Career Academy is a collection of pathways that provide valuable skills in a STEAM related career. There is opportunity to take multiple courses in a specific pathway or to sample different courses in different pathways to explore different STEAM interests. All students are encouraged to try different courses in the Innovation Academy to help guide them towards a future career interest. The Innovation Career Academy Pathways are:rnrnAdvanced Engineering, Architecture and Construction, Audio Visual Communication Arts, Biomedical, Computer Science, Digital Graphic Arts, Drone Innovators, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Fine Arts, Information Technology, Programming, and Robotics.
Innovation Career Academy Courses
Department Requirement: This program is designed to allow students to earn elective credit for participating in a weekly paid position or a non-paid internship. Students with an Individualized Educational Program should contact their Learning Support teacher for alternative eligibility, pre-requisites, and requirements.
This course will provide students a framework with which to develop their work and career readiness skills. Students who have found paid employment, and who can work a minimum of 60 hours per 9 week quarterly period, will have the opportunity to earn 0.5 credits per quarter. Students will be responsible for weekly check-ins with their teacher (to include adequate progress on their quarterly grade sheet), criteria based on a quarterly assessment (rubric will be provided), and a final presentation of their experience. Students must maintain a passing GPA in their core classes and appropriate school attendance, quarterly, to be eligible to remain in the program for the next quarterly period.rnrnPre-Requisite: Students must be in the 10th grade or 16 years of age.
Courses offered by AHCCS
In this independent study class, students will be provided with all the information needed to earn their driver’s license. Interactive lessons are used to examine up-to-date safe-driving techniques. Students who take this class will enjoy an effective, high-quality driver’s education class that will teach them everything they need to know to become safe, confident drivers. The 24/7 online access is perfect for those students who may not have the time to attend traditional driver’s education classes. Students must be at least 15 years old.
Complete class description can be found in the Arts And Humanities section.
Complete class description can be found in the Arts and Humanities section.
In this course, students will complete a variety of scenarios pertaining to emergency situations in order to show mastery of previously learned First Aid and CPR skills. Prerequisite – Students must be certified in First Aid and CPR/AED through American Red Cross
Complete class description can be found in the Arts and Humanities section.
Complete class description can be found in the Physical Education Department section.
This asynchronous course will allow students to showcase their talents which they have been doing outside of school. These talents can include, but are not limited to artistic forms of expression such as music, dance, painting, cooking, cosmetology, jewelry making, etc.
Third-Party Courses
AHCCS offers its AP courses through FLVS, which is an online school dedicated to personalized learning. They offer dedicated, certified teachers, while AHCCS teachers are on hand to provide support as needed.rn• AP Calculus ABrn• AP Calculus BCrn• AP Environmental Sciencern• AP English Language and Compositionrn• AP English Literature and Compositionrn• AP Statisticsrn• AP U.S. Government and Politics
AHCCS joins more than 20,000 schools and districts around the world that have integrated Rosetta Stone Solutions into their curriculum to support the growing need for language skills. The Dynamic Immersion® method used within this program allows student to engage with the language through images, repetition, and scaffolding without need of English-to-Language translating. Rosetta Stone also offers ease of learning through a mobile application for students on the go. A school facilitator will oversee the students’ progress in this self-paced online course, as well as grade assignments, and help keep students on track to complete their language level in a timely manner. Students must have at least a B in all courses and receive approval from their guidance counselor in order to enroll in an independent language course. Each language typically has 3-5 levels of study available. Completion of a level is equal to one academic credit. The following languages are offered through Rosetta Stone Solutions. Please contact your school counselor if you are interested in taking a language that is not listed below.rnrnArabicrnMandarin ChinesernFrenchrnGermanrnGreekrnHebrewrnItalianrnJapanesernKoreanrnLatinrnSpanish
AP and Honors Courses
Our Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college level courses taught according to syllabi prescribed by The College Board Advanced Placement Program and/or to courses designed to prepare students for College Board AP Tests. Success in AP courses can be an important factor in admission to colleges and universities. Successful performance on AP Tests (a score of 3, 4, or 5 on a 5-point scale) may lead to college credit and/or advanced placement in college courses. AP courses receive appropriate weight when the Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated.
Honors courses allow students to explore topics in greater depth than non-honors courses. Honors students will complete projects that enrich their understanding of topics and the links between them. Honors level courses are listed as such on the students’ transcripts.
Graduation Requirements
Students must successfully complete 21.0 cumulative credits in grades 9-12 as follows:
- 4.0 credits in English to include 1 course in Literature and an English course to be taken each school year
- 3.0 credits in Mathematics to include 1 course in Algebra
- 3.0 credits in Science to include 1 course in Biology
- 3.0 credits in Social Studies to include 1 course in Civics (or Government)
- 1.0 credit in Health and Physical Education, to include Health (Wellness), and a PE course to be taken each school year
- 2.0 credits in Arts and Humanities
- 5.0 credits in electives to include 0.25 credits in Graduation Project. Any course that has not been counted to fulfill other graduation requirements as indicated in this site shall also satisfy this requirement. Two credits in the Innovation Academy are highly encouraged, but not required.
- 21.0 total credits