Standards by the end of 12th grade

Numbers & Computation

Calculate and estimate sums, differences, products, quotients, powers and roots using mental math, formulas and algorithms.

Apply properties and theories of the real number system to everyday situations.

Patterns & Algebra

Add, subtract, multiply and factor polynomials and explain the connection between the algebraic and arithmetic process. Use simple quadratic equations.

Solve systems of two linear equations both algebraically and graphically. Use graphing calculators to solve problems and verify solutions.

Geometry & Spatial Relationships

Solve practical problems using the properties of polygons and elements of circles, such as arcs, chords and tangents.

Solve practical problems using properties of geometric figures such as complementary and supplementary angles, the Pythagorean Theorem and right-triangle trigonometry.

Other

Convert between customary and metric systems, such as converting miles per hour to kilometers per hour, and between monetary systems.

Use and interpret consumer data, such as amortization tables or compound interest charts, for practical uses such as creating a budget.

Explain how and why statistical conclusions can be biased or misleading.

English/Language Arts

Reading

Discern subtle differences between closely related words, such as "thin" and "slender."

Analyze features and rhetorical strategies of different types of primary sources -- policy statements, speeches, debates -- and identify how authors use these features.

Writing

Write a research paper that develops a thesis and contains information from at least 10 sources.

Produce technical writing, such as an instructional manual for a shop project or a field report for science.

Write reflective reports that draw comparisons between specific incidents and broader themes.

Apply rules of usage, grammar and capitalization with few significant errors.

Listening & Speaking

Summarize and evaluate communications that inform, persuade and entertain.

Make formal oral and multimedia presentations using vocabulary and speaking techniques appropriate for the audience.

Justify a position using logic and refute opposing viewpoints.

Research

Evaluate possible sources of information for credibility and usefulness.

Cite sources of information using standard documentation methods.

Organize and present research findings in multimedia format.

Science

Physical Science

Explain that the force of attraction that exists between two masses is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

Explain properties of matter that are intrinsic -- color, odor, density -- and those that are extrinsic -- size, mass, volume.

Life Science

Explain how the human body has a specialized anatomy composed of a hierarchial arrangement of cells.

Describe how plants and animals have mechanisms that allow them to respond to changes in their environment.

Earth & Space Sciences

Describe how rocks and minerals have different properties and characteristics that reflect their origins and use.

Investigate, design and use contour maps.

Explain how uneven heating of Earth's atmosphere produces wind and ocean currents.

Scientific Inquiry: Processes & Skills

Use models to identify and predict cause-and-effect relationships, such as the effect of temperature on the volume of gas.

Evaluate multiple explanations for the same evidence.

Use tables, charts and graphs in making arguments in written and oral presentations.

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