The K-12 Social Studies program is an integrated program of History and the Social Sciences which is designed to promote civic competence. The four major strands in the History and Social Science Virginia Standards of Learning – history, geography, civics and economics – provide the framework for the local curriculum. Emphasis is placed on applying knowledge and skills from these four areas through hands-on learning in the classroom and participation in field experiences found in the Historic Triangle and surrounding areas. In addition, students participate frequently in special events such as the National Geography Bee, the state Geography fair, National History Day and mock elections.
Middle School Course Offerings
African American History
This course surveys the African American experience from pre-diaspora Africa through today. Topics include the Transatlantic slave trade, the role ...
Civics & Economics – Grade 8
Students in eighth grade social studies conduct a focused, in-depth investigation of the structures and functions of America’s government and ...
United States History: 1865 to the Present – Grade 7
Students in seventh grade social studies focus on United States History from 1865 to present day. Major topics include Reconstruction, ...
United States History to 1865 – Grade 6
Students in sixth grade social studies focus on United States History to 1865. Major topics include the geographic regions, American ...
High School Course Offerings
African American History
This course surveys the African American experience from pre-diaspora Africa through today. Topics include the Transatlantic slave trade, the role ...
Advanced Placement Psychology
The AP Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental ...
U.S. and World Affairs
U.S.& World Affairs is an elective course that focuses on the relationships between national and international events while strengthening geography ...
Sociology
Sociology is the study of human behavior in society.The focus of this course is the shaping of human behavior by ...
Law and Society
This engaging course aims to promote a more detailed understanding of the laws, rules, and regulations that guide our contemporary ...
Law and Debate
This course will introduce students to the federal and state judicial systems, Virginia state law, elements of law, speech and ...
Humanities: United States
This course examines change in America at the turn of two centuries by analyzing and evaluating elements of 19th and ...
Humanities: Global
This course explores the impact of technology on the social and cultural history of the modern world.Students working independently and ...
Advanced Placement Economics
AP Economics is a college-level introductory course in the principles of economics.The challenging design of the course is recommended for ...
Advanced Placement Government & Politics: Comparative – Grade 11 & 12
This is a challenging college-level course available to juniors and seniors.The curriculum consists of an in-depth, critical, examination of different ...
Advanced Placement European History
Students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in four historical periods from approximately 1450 to the present.Students develop and ...
Advanced Placement Government & Politics: U.S. – Grade 12
This is an advanced course available to seniors.The curriculum consists of a study of American Government that includes extensive reading ...
Virginia & U.S. Government – Grade 12
Virginia and U.S.Government emphasizes the function and theory of government and the principles on which the state and U.S.governments are ...
Advanced Placement U.S. History – Grade 11
This course focuses on developing student understanding of American history from approximately 1491 to the present.Students will investigate the content ...
Virginia & U.S. History – Grade 11
Students will examine the American past from the Age of Exploration through the present day. Major topics of study include ...
Advanced Placement Human Geography – Grade 10
This advanced-level course is open to students in Grades 10, 11, or 12 and may be taken in place of ...
World Geography – Grade 10
World Geography is the study of the earth's physical features and their impact on human activity. A special emphasis is ...
World History & Geography: 1500 A.D. to the Present (World History II) – Grade 9
Students will survey the past to understand people and their achievements from the late Renaissance to the modern era, including ...
World History & Geography to 1500 A.D. (World History I) – Grade 9
Students will explore early human societies beginning with hunters and gatherers; progressing through the rise and fall of major world ...
Commonwealth Innovation (CI) – Probability & Statistics and World Geography – Grade 10
This interdisciplinary, co-taught social studies/math course will encourage and enable students to explore human-environmental interactions, world conflicts, and current events ...
Commonwealth Innovation (CI) – Virginia & U.S. Government, Law & Society and Discrete Math – Grade 12
This course is a co-taught, interdisciplinary course that will investigate how government, law, and mathematics interact to create a society.Students ...
Commonwealth Innovation (CI) – Virginia & U.S. History and English 11*
This interdisciplinary, team-taught course is designed to engage students in a thorough study of American History and the arts using ...
Commonwealth Innovation (CI) – English 9*, World History II, and Speech – Grade 9
This interdisciplinary, co-taught course will encourage and enable students to participate in sustained, collaborative inquiry within a global context. Students ...
