For Middle School students, the combination of our dynamic curriculum, online classes, and caring teachers is strengthened by close collaboration with parents to create an environment for student success. The content of each course is aligned to PA academic standards. Click here to download a printable Program of Studies.
Courses
Electives Description
In this hands-on, project-based course, students will dive into construction and architectural design. You will design homes in a way that keeps human carbon footprints small by using environmentally sustainable practices. Explore dimensioning, measuring, and design by building scale model homes and using a 3D architectural design software. This course also qualifies as an ICA elective. Associated Pathways: Architecture and Construction. Prerequisites: Design and Modeling.
Associated Pathway:
- Architecture & Construction
Department Requirement: Students must complete a core English course. Students are placed into appropriate courses by their guidance counselor.
This course is designed to prepare students for honors and AP courses at the high school level. This course will prepare students to take the 7th grade PSSA. Students will be challenged to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize author’s purpose, points of view, and language development. Students will learn how to effectively write using persuasive, argumentative, expository, and descriptive writing styles. Students will display a mastery of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.
This course will prepare students to take the 8th grade PSSA. This course is designed to prepare students for honors and AP courses at the high school level. Students will be challenged to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize author’s purpose, points of view, and language development. Students will learn how to effectively write using persuasive, argumentative, expository, and descriptive writing styles. Students will display a mastery of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills
This course will prepare students to take the 7th grade PSSA. This course is designed to help seventh grade students explore and respond to literature, including fictional and nonfictional novels, poetry, graphic novels, plays, informational texts, and short stories. Students will use the 6 Traits Writing Program to improve their skills and engage in a creative writing unit that will also address mechanics, conventions, and parts of speech.
This course will prepare students to take the 8th grade PSSA. This course is designed to help eighth grade students explore and analyze literature, including fictional and nonfictional novels, poetry, graphic novels, plays, informational texts, and short stories. Students will be given the opportunity to master the 6 Traits Writing Program through a variety of engaging writing prompts.
This course is specially designed for recent immigrants who have little or no English proficiency. Students in this program develop foundational linguistic skills and receive support as they begin to adapt to their new culture. Furthermore, students begin to build the most basic language skills so that they may reach a level of proficiency where they are able to access state standards in English. This is a year-long course where students meet every school day for a 30-minute synchronous live session and are given 1 assignment to complete asynchronously per school day. Placement in this class is based on scores on the WIDA ACCESS or WIDA Screener and teacher input.
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.
In this course, students will complete both health and physical education assignments. They will cover topics such as nutrition, dealing with stress and conflict, the dangers of addiction and disease, and safety. They will also learn about healthy physical activity, and strategies to track it.
In this course, students will complete both health and physical education assignments. They will cover topics such as drugs and alcohol, self-esteem and body image, mental and emotional health, and other important and relevant health topics. They will also learn about healthy physical activity, and strategies to track it.
This course, designed for the beginning level dancer, introduces basic technique in ballet, modern, and jazz. Students will learn about dance history, explore basic choreography, and improvisation. Emphasis will be placed on technique, movement skills, knowledge, history, and aesthetics of each dance style. This course will allow students to evaluate and analyze various dance forms, enhance their decision-making skills, develop critical and creative thinking skills, and enable them to make informed decisions about dance and the world around them. Enrollment subject to seat availability.
Innovation Career Academy (ICA) provides elective coursework that equips students with valuable skills in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) related careers. The courses are organized into a collection of career pathways. Students may take multiple courses in a specific pathway or sample different courses in different pathways to explore different STEAM interests. All students are encouraged to try courses in ICA to help guide them towards a future career interest. The ICA Pathways are: 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.
This course introduces students to skills that they will need in today’s digital learning environment. They will learn keyboarding, basics of internet safety, copyright respect, acceptable use policy, basic word processing and presentation skills, and an introduction to webpage design.
Associated Pathway:
- Programming
- Computer Science
In this hands-on, project-based course, students will dive into construction and architectural design. You will design homes in a way that keeps human carbon footprints small by using environmentally sustainable practices. Explore dimensioning, measuring, and design by building scale model homes and using a 3D architectural design software. This course also qualifies as an ICA elective. Associated Pathways: Architecture and Construction. Prerequisites: Design and Modeling.
Associated Pathway:
- Architecture & Construction
Be immersed in virtual search and rescue missions performed by drones. Students will learn how drone SAR teams operate to get the job done. Search and rescue is just one of many ways drones will change how we do things - inspections, construction, law enforcement, and agriculture, to name a few. Learn about drones, autonomous flight, and the foundations of the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Exam. Instructor will travel to a variety of locations around the state so that students can have an opportunity to fly a DJI drone.
Associated Pathway:
- Drone Innovators
In part 2, the SAR missions become trickier. How do we complete missions with drone flight safety regulations, FAA flight standards, flight principles, & drone design in mind? This course emphasizes drone flight safety and the law. FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Exam safety and legal questions are discussed. Instructor will travel to a variety of locations around the state so that students can have an opportunity to fly a DJI drone.
Prerequisites:
- Search and Rescue (SAR) by Drones I
Associated Pathway:
- Drone Innovators
Schoolyard Ventures provides students with curriculum, workshops, mentorship, and micro-capital to help them launch their own businesses. Students are encouraged to experiment with various business ideas and progress in the program at their own pace. Instructors and mentors help with this process, as students work to bring their product to market.
Prerequisites:
- Schoolyard Ventures: Entrepreneurship Boot Camp
Associated Pathway:
- Entrepreneurship
Schoolyard Ventures, offered to Achievement House students, is an innovative program that helps teens launch businesses, non-profits and other real-world projects that are meaningful to them. The Entrepreneurship Boot Camp gives students an introduction to the program and helps them develop ideas for starting their own business.
Associated Pathway:
- Entrepreneurship
Department Requirement: Students must complete a core Mathematics course each year. Students are placed into appropriate courses by their guidance counselor.
This course will prepare students to take the 7th grade PSSA. Students will use algebraic expressions, real numbers, proportions, percents, equations, geometry, measurement, data analysis, and probability to solve real-world problems. This advanced level has the students delve deeper into the mathematical concepts listed above in preparation for more rigorous courses in high school
This course will prepare students to take the 8th grade PSSA. Students will authentically apply their learning towards solving problems involving linear equations (including systems) and inequalities, applications of radicals and exponents, geometric transformations, data analysis, and real-world geometry. This course will have students dive deeper into the mathematical concepts required in Algebra
This course will prepare students to take the PSSA. This course will allow students to build computational fluency with all real numbers including fractions, decimals, integers and rational numbers. Students will learn to solve problems involving proportions, percents, measurement, geometry, data analysis and probability. They will explore algebraic expressions and equations. this class also includes problem solving with direct real world applications.
This course will prepare students to take the 7th grade PSSA. It is designed to equip students with a mastery of the standards and prepare them to meet success. Students will authentically apply their learning towards solving problems involving algebraic expressions, real numbers, proportions, percents, equations, geometry, measurement, data analysis, and probability to solve real world problems.
This course will prepare students to take the 8th grade PSSA. It is designed to equip students with a mastery of the standards and prepare them to meet success. Students will authentically apply their learning towards solving problems involving linear equations (including systems) and inequalities, applications of radicals and exponents, geometric transformations, data analysis, and real world geometry.
In this Pennsylvania Algebra I Keystone Exam aligned course, students will be introduced to linear equations and inequalities including models and graphs. This class will continue with the study of systems of linear equations and inequalities as well as exponents, polynomial expressions, radicals, quadratic functions, and data analysis. Students enrolled in this class are required to take the Pennsylvania Algebra 1 Keystone exam at the conclusion of this class. Prerequisite – A score of Advanced on PSSA’s and recommendation from guidance counselor.
Guidance Counselor Approval
Required Course for:
- Keystone
Levels:
- Honors
Department Requirement: Students must complete a core Science course each year. Students are placed in appropriate courses by their guidance counselor.
This course is designed to prepare students for honors and AP courses at the high school level. Students will be challenged to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize informational text, as well as various theories of science. Further, this course will introduce students to fundamental science principles in the fields of biological, physical, and earth and space sciences. Topics covered will include structure and function of organisms, ecology, matter and energy, motion and force, earth features, weather and climate, and astronomy
This course will prepare students to take the 8th grade PSSA. This course is designed to prepare students for honors and AP courses at the high school level. Students will be challenged to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize informational text, as well as various theories of science. Further, this course is designed to support and reinforce mastery of the concepts in the fields of biological, physical, and earth and space sciences, with special focus on the nature of science. Topics include structure and function of organisms, ecological behavior and systems, properties of matter, energy transfer, principles of motion and force, atmospheric processes, and composition and structure of the universe.
This course will prepare students to take the 7th grade PSSA. Middle School Science 7 offers an introduction of science concepts in the fields of biological, physical, and earth and space sciences, with special focus on the nature of science. Topics include the structure and function of organisms, ecology, matter and energy, motion and forces, Earth's features, and astronomy.
This course will prepare students to take the 8th grade PSSA. Middle School Science 8 offers an introduction of science concepts in the fields of biological, physical, and earth and space sciences, with special focus on the nature of science. Topics include structure and function of organisms, ecological behavior and systems, properties of matter, energy transfer, principles of motion and force, atmospheric processes, and composition and structure of the universe.
In this hands-on, project-based course, students will dive into construction and architectural design. You will design homes in a way that keeps human carbon footprints small by using environmentally sustainable practices. Explore dimensioning, measuring, and design by building scale model homes and using a 3D architectural design software. This course also qualifies as an ICA elective. Associated Pathways: Architecture and Construction. Prerequisites: Design and Modeling.
Associated Pathway:
- Architecture & Construction
Department Requirement: Students must complete a core Social Studies course each year. Students are placed in appropriate courses by their guidance counselor.
This course is designed to prepare students for honors and AP courses at the high school level. Students will be challenged to interpret, evaluate, and analyze the role groups and individuals played in the social, political, cultural, and economic development of the United States. Students will compare historical documents and artifacts, which are critical to American history. In addition, students will analyze how continuity and change have impacted the development of the United States. Lastly, students will interpret, evaluate, and analyze how conflict and cooperation among groups and organizations impacted the growth and development of the United States.
This course is designed to prepare students for honors and AP courses at the high school level. Students will be challenged to understand and evaluate the impact of physical and human characteristics upon places and regions. Further, students will understand, analyze, and evaluate the interactions between people and the environment.
This course will guide students through the first half of American history with a special focus on Pennsylvania history. Beginning with the very first people to reach North America and ending around 1900, students will explore a diverse array of historical topics including Native American settlement; colonization; the American Revolution; the founding of the United States; and the Civil War.
This course gives an overview of multiple topics in world history. Students will get a broad understanding of geography, early civilizations, ancient religions, and Egyptian and Roman history among other topics.
This course introduces students to the building blocks necessary to select and prepare for a career. By the end of 8th grade students will complete a career plan. Using the career exploration system, Naviance, 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. The Career Readiness curriculum aligns with the Pennsylvania Department of Education Career Education Standards which include: • Career Awareness and Preparation • Career Acquisition (Getting a Job) • Career Retention and Advancement • Entrepreneurship
This course is a combination of various elective subjects that will help 7th graders explore opportunities available in 8th grade and high school.
This course is a combination of various elective subjects that will expose 8th graders to opportunities available in high school and beyond
Independent Language – 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 a language through images, repetition, and scaffolding without needing translation. Rosetta Stone also offers ease of learning through a mobile application for students on the go. A school facilitator will oversee student 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. 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.
- Arabic
- Mandarin
- Chinese
- French
- German
- Greek
- Hebrew
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Latin
- Spanish