ACADEMICS
Our Academic Program
Foothills Academy College Preparatory is proud to offer a wide range of curricular offerings which challenge and nurture the interests of each one of our students. All students take a college preparatory curriculum designed to meet the minimum subject requirements of the University of Arizona and Arizona State University systems.
EnglishThe Foothills Academy English Department educates in the belief that all the essential components of life - individual and social, historical and scientific, cultural and spiritual - are experienced through the study of literature. During the eight semesters required, the department is committed to developing students who read, reflect, speak, and write both critically and creatively. The department offers a program whose progression of courses challenges students to develop both oral and compositional skills, as well as an understanding for and appreciation of a variety of lives, cultures, and philosophies.The English Department's Honors and AP Program is designed to provide a rigorous course of study for students who enjoy discussing and analyzing literature. Informed Enrollment is employed for any honors/AP course, meaning that interested students must first solicit feedback from their current teacher, parents and counselor, and secure counselor approval, prior to enrollment.
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MathmaticsMathematics as a subject provides a system for creating abstract models of reality. Systematic examination of the structure of these models helps in beginning to understand the relationships present in our world. The design of FACP math core curriculum focuses on algebra and geometry as these are fundamental prerequisites for advanced high school mathematics. They are also essential preparation for a wide variety of college majors, and they form the basis for an analytical skill set which is important for all citizens. To this end, the faculty of the math department strives to assist every student to:
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ScienceThe Foothills Academy College Preparatory Science Department offers a full range of courses with the belief that a substantial experience in natural science is needed by every college-bound student. A balanced core of three years of lab science is required of all students. All incoming freshmen will be offered the opportunity to take a Placement Recommendation Exam. The results of this exam will help freshmen and their parents determine which of the three options (Earth Science, Biology or Biology Honors) would be the best placement. Students who take Earth Science in their freshman year may take Biology or Biology Honors in their sophomore year and Chemistry or Chemistry Honors in their junior year. All courses provide students with opportunities to develop skills in forming hypotheses, interpreting data, and drawing conclusions. In each course, science as a process is the unifying theme.
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Social StudiesThe Foothills Academy College Preparatory Social Studies Department educates in the belief that the study of this diverse discipline is an integral part of becoming a well balanced scholar. The exploration of history, geography, politics, economics, culture, and human thought creates an appreciation of our world and a sensitivity to its many peoples. The department feels that the study of the Social Studies helps each student to better understand social justice throughout history.
The progression of courses in the Social Studies department seeks to develop the fundamental social studies skills of critical reading, writing, and thinking. In lower division courses, study skills such as efficient note taking, close reading, and proper study strategies are also reinforced. Upper division courses stress research, composition, and oral presentation skills. |
Foreign LanguageFoothills Academy College Preparatory offers three foreign languages that fulfill graduation requirements: French, Latin, and Spanish. Students are required to study two years of the same foreign language.
With the understanding that language is the essential tool of communication, the emphasis of our program will focus on the mastery of communication skills. For French and Spanish, the focus is on speaking, listening, reading and writing. Latin students focus on their ability to read and understand the language of the Ancient Romans. While these skills are important, they are, in fact, the mechanics of any language. We hope to convey, through exposure to other cultures, the beauty of diversity, the creativity of humanity, and the joy of expanded cultural awareness. |
Fine ArtThe Foothills Academy College Preparatory Department of Visual and Performing Arts continues to fulfill a long-standing tradition of arts in partnership with Foothills Theatre. Probably more than any other form of expression, the arts are cross-cultural and transcend all social and economic barriers. We believe that education in the arts is an invaluable tool in building multicultural understanding and self-esteem. By nurturing creativity in young people, the Visual and Performing Arts Department is helping them develop skills and learn methods and techniques they can use throughout their lives.
Students will have the opportunity to explore art through exhibits, performance, workshops, guest lectures, community events, and classes. Active participation in the arts allows each student to develop a unique perspective and experience of the human condition. The department emphasizes personal growth while encouraging students to work both creatively and analytically. |