Curriculum Guide

From its beginning, MBA has been about the business of providing a challenging and supportive environment that nurtures and prizes academic excellence. The academic program at MBA is a classical one, structured, progressive, and sequential. The program is extensive in both the number and scope of its offerings. The curriculum is a conduit to encourage sound scholarship, independent thought, discriminating judgment, analytical skills, freedom of expression, creativity, and inquiry.

• Classes are 50 minutes long and meet five times a week, 32 weeks per year. Science labs meet once weekly for an additional 50-minute period.
• Grades are listed by semester, on a scale of 0-100. Mid-quarter and quarter grade reports are sent to parents. Cumulative grade point increments for Honors and Advanced Placement courses reflect the academic challenge of these classes.

The Junior School

The mighty "Microbes" - The Junior School Program is targeted to the needs and interests of the seventh and eighth grader. Curriculum is designed to develop study habits, engage and challenge intellectually, and provide common learning experiences. Writing, scientific experimentation, problem-solving, and logical and creative thinking are emphasized. A caring faculty works closely with each young man. Individualized help is readily available.

Enrichments enhance the traditional curriculum by the inclusion of required and elective courses. These courses encompass band, chorus, orchestra, theater, art, responsible living, speech, forensics, computer skills, and a variety of other educational experiences.

Junior School Athletics engage students four season each year. Available to Junior School students are Cross-Country, Football, Golf, Basketball, Baseball, Soccer, Swimming, Wrestling, Air Rifle, Lacrosse, Tennis, Track, and Intramurals.

Junior School Curriculum

7th Grade	8th Grade
English 7 Vocabulary & Grammar Introduction to Physical Science Pre-Algebra U.S. History Enrichments Physical Fitness Athletics	English 8 Latin I Earth Science Algebra I Cultural Geography Enrichments Athletics

The High School

Twenty-one credits are required for graduation, with one credit awarded for a full year of study, and 1/2 credit awarded for a semester course. Normally credits accrue for courses completed in grades 9-12. Algebra I and Latin I completed during the eighth grade, however, may count toward graduation. Click here for the 2004-2005 Course Registration Workbook (pdf file; requires Adobe Acrobat Reader; click here if you need to download and install the free Acrobat Reader). The required 21 credits include the following:

English Mathematics Science Language History Fine Arts Elective Physical Education

4 credits 4 credits 3 credits 3 or 4 credits 3 credits 1 credit 1 credit 2 credits

A Typical Course of Studies includes five full-year courses, not counting PE/Athletics. Students may elect to take a sixth course if scheduling permits and with the approval of the Academic Dean.

• English and Mathematics: Both disciplines follow a four-year required sequence.
• Science: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics comprise the required sequence.
• Languages: Students either complete Latin III or complete Latin II and the second year of a modern language: French, German, or Spanish. Students entering in the 10th grade or later may fulfill the language requirement with any foreign language taken through graduation.
• History: Three courses must be completed, two of which must be Modern European History and American History, in that order.
• Fine Arts: One credit from the following is required: Jazz Band, Chorus, Theater Arts, Theater Studio (R & P), Art History, Studio Art, Music Theory AP or Music History.
• Electives: An "elective" is any course not required or not taken in fulfillment of a requirement.

A Typical Ninth-Grade Schedule includes English I, Biology, Algebra I or Geometry, Latin I or Latin II, and a fifth course. The choice of a fifth course depends upon projected four-year course of study, graduation requirements, and personal interests, but typically is selected from among the following: Ancient & Medieval History, Computer/Speech, French I, German I, Spanish I, Studio Art I, Theater Arts, Music History, Chorus, or Jazz Band.

Honors Courses provide a greater challenge and cover more material at a faster pace than do regular sections.

Advanced Placement Courses are college-level courses with a prescribed core curriculum. The AP national examination is provided by and graded by the College Board and is administered to AP students in May of each year.

Enrollment in both Honors and Advanced Placement courses is subject to departmental review and recommendation.

MBA High School Curriculum - 2004-2005
Freshman	Sophomore	Junior	Senior
English
English I*	English II*	English III*	English IV English IV AP
Mathematics
Algebra I* Geometry* Algebra II* Computer (½) ‡	Geometry* Algebra II* College Algebra/Trig.* Computer (½) ‡ Statistics AP	Algebra II* College Algebra/Trig.* Calculus (½)/Statistics (½) Calculus AB AP Calculus BC AP Statistics AP Computer (½) ‡ Computer Science AP	College Algebra/Trig.* Calculus (½)/ Statistics (½) Calculus AB AP Calculus BC AP Statistics AP Computer (½) ‡ Computer Science AP
Science
Biology*	Principles of Chemistry*	Principles of Chemistry* Principles of Physics* Physics AP Biology AP Environmental Science AP	Principles of Physics* Astronomy Biology AP Chemistry AP Physics AP Environmental Science AP
History
Ancient & Medieval Hist.	Ancient & Medieval Hist. Modern European History Modern European Hist. AP	American Government (½) Economics (½) Modern European History Modern European Hist. AP American History American History AP	American Government (½) Economics (½) U.S. Government AP (½) Comp. Gov. & Pol. AP (½) American History American History AP World History AP
Foreign Language
Latin I, II* French I, II* German I, II Spanish I, II*	Latin I, II*, III* French I, II*, III* German I, II, III** Spanish I, II*, III AP: Lang.	Latin II*, III* Latin IV/V AP: Lyric Latin IV/V AP: Vergil French I, II*, III* French IV AP: Lang. German I, II, III** German IV AP: Lang. Spanish I, II*, III Spanish III AP: Lang. Spanish IV AP: Lit. Classical Greek**	Latin III* Latin IV/V AP: Lyric Latin IV/V AP: Vergil French I, II*, III* French IV AP: Lang. German I, II, III** German IV AP Spanish I, II*,III Spanish III AP: Lang. Spanish IV AP: Lit. Classical Greek**
Fine Arts
Studio Art I Music History Chorus Jazz Band Chamber/Orchestra (½) Theater Arts Speech (½) ‡	Studio Art I, II Art History AP Music History Chorus Jazz Band Chamber/Orchestra (½) Theater Arts Speech (½) ‡	Studio Art I, II, III, III AP Art History AP Music History Music Theory AP Chorus Jazz Band Chamber/Orchestra (½) Theater Arts Theater Studio (R & P) Speech (½) ‡	Studio Art I, II, III Studio Art III AP, IV AP Art History AP Music History Music Theory AP Chorus Jazz Band Chamber/Orchestra (½) Theater Arts Theater Studio (R & P) Speech (½) ‡
All courses listed are for full credit unless marked (½). *Honors level offered **Honors only ‡Elective only; does not fulfill a departmental graduation requirement.			Senior Seminar
			The Sixties (½)