AP Art History

This course is the study of 250 works of art and history from prehistoric cave paintings through the postmodern abstract art movement of the 20th Century.

The primary units of study include the works of art of world civilizations from prehistoric to modern times and the cross currents between European and non-European artistic traditions.

The students will demonstrate learning through presentations, group and individual projects, image cards, tests, quizzes and in-class discussion.

AP Studio Art

This course is the study of the practical experience of art.

The primary units of study include those determined by student interest. Students have
the option of creating a portfolio in one of the following areas: drawing, 2-D design, or 3-D design.

The students will demonstrate learning through a portfolio, which shows a fundamental competence and range of understanding in visual concerns and methods.

AP Microeconomics

This course is the study of the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual decision makers, both consumers and producers, within the economic system.

The primary units of study include the nature and functions of product markets including the study of factor markets and of the role of government in promoting greater efficiency and equity in the economy.

The students will demonstrate learning through class participation, written assignments, written and oral projects, as well as written tests and quizzes.

AP English Language and Composition

This course is the study of writing for a variety of purposes and audiences and critical analysis of nonfiction.

The primary units of study include grammar, syntax, rhetorical devices and other elements of effective writing, as well as research techniques and critical reading strategies.

The students will demonstrate learning through a variety of writing assignments, discussions, quizzes, tests and presentations.

AP English Literature and Composition

This course is the study of literature, literary analysis and analytical writing comparable to a college/university course.

The primary units of study include several representative works of literary merit from various genres and periods. In addition, the course will include study in language structure and the writer’s craft in fiction and poetry.

The students will demonstrate learning through a variety of analytical writing assignments, discussions, quizzes, tests and presentations.

AP Computer Science A

This course is the study of object-oriented programming methodology with an emphasis on  problem solving and algorithm development. It also includes the study of data structures and abstraction. This  course will be taught using the JAVA language. 

The primary units of study include computer systems, variables, expressions, input/output, conditionals, loops,  object-oriented programming, arrays, parameters, simple recursion, searching, sorting, and strings. 

The students will demonstrate learning through written programs, handwritten assignments, tests and projects.

AP Calculus AB

This course is the study of how things change and accumulate while providing a framework which scientists, engineers and economists use for modeling dynamic systems in order to make predictions and calculate summations within those systems.

The primary units of study include limits and their properties, differentiation, integration, The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, differential equations, and slope fields.

The students will demonstrate learning through quizzes, tests and voluntary participation in the AP Calculus AB test in May.

AP Calculus BC & Advanced Topics

This course is the continued study of calculus concepts including those found on the AP Calculus BC exam and an introduction to multivariable calculus.

The primary units of study include advanced applications and techniques of integration, convergence and divergence of infinite sequences and series, extending properties of calculus such as differentiation and integration to a broader variety of functions and relations including conic sections, parametric equations, vector-valued functions, the polar coordinate system, and functions with multiple variables.

The students will demonstrate learning through quizzes, tests and voluntary participation in the AP Calculus BC test in May.

AP Statistics

This course is the study of collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data.

The primary units of study include exploring data by observing patterns and departures from patterns, planning a study by deciding what and how to measure, anticipating patterns by producing models using probability and simulations, and using statistical inference by confirming models.

The students will demonstrate learning through quizzes, labs, tests and the AP Statistics test in May.

AP Music Theory

This course is the study of the basic materials of music that are heard or presented in a musical score.

The primary units of study include notation, intervals, scales and keys, chords, metric organization, rhythmic patterns, sight singing, and analysis and construction of four-part compositions.

The students will demonstrate learning through written tests, part-writing assignments, and listening assignments.

AP Biology

This course guides students to a deeper understanding of biological concepts including the “4 Big Ideas”: Evolution, Energetics, Information Storage & Transmission and Systems Interactions.

The primary units of study include: Chemistry of Life, Cell Structure & Function, Cellular Energetics, Cell Communication & Cell Cycle, heredity, Gene Expression & Regulation, Natural Selection and Ecology.

The students will demonstrate learning through class participation, group projects, individual projects, labs, homework, quizzes and tests.

AP Chemistry

Advanced Placement Chemistry is the study of the elements that make-up our world and how they can be combined, arranged and rearranged to modify a substance or create something new. Students will develop skills to answer many types of scientific questions.

The primary units of study include structure of matter, states of matter, chemical reactions, kinetics, equilibria, thermodynamics and electrochemistry.

The students will demonstrate learning through tests, quizzes, daily assignments and laboratory exercises.

AP Environmental Science

This course is the systematic study of earth’s environment and human’s place within it.

The primary units of study include earth systems and resources, the living world, population demographics, land and water use, energy resources and consumption, pollution, and issues of global environmental change.

The students will demonstrate learning through labs, inquiry-based projects, presentations, quizzes, and tests.

AP Physics 1

This course provides a systematic introduction to the main principles of college physics and emphasizes the development of conceptual understanding and problem-solving ability using high-level math skills.

The primary units of study include Newtonian Mechanics (including rotational dynamics and angular momentum), Work, Energy, Power, Mechanical Waves and Sound, Circuits, and Magnetism.

The students demonstrate learning through tests, quizzes, homework, and hands-on labs.

AP Physics 2

This course provides a systematic introduction to the main principles of college physics and emphasizes the development of conceptual understanding and problem-solving ability using high-level math skills.

The primary units of study are thermodynamics, fluid statics and dynamics, electrostatics, steady-state DC and RC circuits, magnetism and electromagnetic induction, geometric and physical optics, quantum physics, atomic physics, and nuclear physics.

The students demonstrate learning through tests, quizzes, homework, and hands-on labs.

AP European History

This course is the study of major world events from 1450 to the present from a Euro-centric viewpoint.

The primary units of study include the Renaissance and Reformation, Absolutism, Scientific Revolution, consolidation of the large nation-states, Imperialism, the world wars, Marxism and the communist world, the Cold War and superpowers, and the collapse of Communism.

The students will demonstrate learning through unit multiple-choice tests, and a variety of essays including Long Essay Questions, Data Based Questions, and Short Answer Questions.

AP U.S. Government & Politics

This course is the study of the forces that helped to shape the American government “experiment” while evaluating both past and present American governmental leaders, using the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence as guidelines.

The primary units of study include a focus on the Constitution, the political parties, the media, the three branches of government and the bureaucracy.

The students will demonstrate learning by tests, quizzes, written and oral reports and in-class discussion.

AP Comparative Government & Politics

This course is the study of the political analysis of six countries:  China, Great Britain, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, and Russia.  It uses comparisons of political and economic institutions and policies of these six different countries to provide both a global perspective and opportunity to apply concepts to real world situations.  Students identify problems and evaluate alternative policy solutions and their consequences.

The primary units of study include: authority and power; political and economic change; and citizen, society and the state.

The students will demonstrate learning by participating in class discussions and debates and by multiple choice and essay tests.

AP Human Geography

This course focuses on analyzing the geographic information and patterns of population, culture, rural and urban development, and globalization.

The primary units of study include geography as a discipline, population, cultural geography, political geography, industrial land use, rural land use, urban land use and globalization.

The students will demonstrate learning through unit tests, quizzes, written and oral reports, maps, diagrams and class discussion.

AP Macroeconomics

This course is the study of the principles of economics that apply to an economic system as a whole while placing particular emphasis on the study of national income and price determination.

The primary units of study include focus on performance measures, economic growth, and international economics. A special emphasis is placed on the analysis of current economic problems and the presentation of several different economic schools of thought.

The students will demonstrate learning through class participation, written assignments, written and oral projects, as well as written tests and quizzes.

AP Psychology

This course is the scientific study of the mental processes of human behavior; and the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice.

The primary units of study include scientific foundations of psychology; biology and behavior; sensation and perception; learning; cognitive psychology; developmental psychology; motivation, emotion, and personality; clinical psychology; and social psychology.

The students will demonstrate learning through tests, quizzes, group work, experiments, individual projects and in-class discussion.

AP U.S. History

This course is the study of United States history.

The primary units of study include the founding, building, and testing of a new nation, forging an industrial society, struggling for justice at home and abroad, and making modern America.

The students will demonstrate learning through multiple-choice, Long Essay Questions, Data Based Questions, and Short Answer Questions.

AP World History

This course is the study of world history from 1200CE to the present.

The primary units of study include early river civilizations, classical civilizations, the rise and spread of major world religions, hemispheric exchange, imperialism, colonialism, both world wars, and globalization.

The students will demonstrate learning through chapter tests, essays, and semester final exams.

Students may take Advanced Placement (AP) courses for an opportunity to receive college credit. Students must achieve a score of a 3, 4 or 5 on the AP test given in the spring to be considered for college credit. However, each college makes a determination whether or not they will accept the credits. These courses are designated throughout the Program of Studies. Generally, Minnesota state colleges accept the credit.

College Board, a non-profit organization dedicated to preparing, inspiring, and connecting students to college, sponsors the AP program. The College Board writes and administers advanced tests and studies in almost 40 subjects from Art to Statistics. These tests, representative of freshman level college knowledge on that subject, form the basis of what is studied in AP courses. Currently, Lakeville offers 23 AP courses with the intent of challenging students and better prepare them for college. Each May, students may choose to take a national test that measures their knowledge in the areas they studied during the year. If a student scores high enough, they will receive college credit at over 4,000 institutions nationwide. Close to 2.2 million students in the US took an AP course last year at one of the 19,000 high schools that offer this option.

Test Registration

Registration for the AP exams occurs in April. Students who wish to take any AP test in May will receive registration information in the AP class and will register online. Students are able to take an AP exam even if they did not take the course. Each year the state pays part of the College Board exam fee, and the student pays the remainder. If a student is taking multiple tests, a separate payment is required for each test. Due to the test-ordering deadline, late registrations will not be accepted. The registration payment is non-refundable after the deadline. College Board predetermines testing dates.

Weighted Grades

Advanced Placement course GPA points equals standard grades points plus one. For example: Letter grade “A” = 5.0

Articulated credit is a way of earning credit at the high school level and college level at the same time. Certain courses taken at the high school in the Business, Family and Consumer Science and Industrial Technology departments are eligible for articulated credit. Eligible courses are identified in the individual course descriptions. Students will receive credit certificates for the number of credits they successfully complete. Some certificates are for partial credit for a college course. When students enroll in the course at college, they will only need to pay for the number of credits not covered by the certificate. The college makes the determination on all credit allocations.

AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a program to prepare students who are in the academic middle for four-year college eligibility. It has a proven track record in bringing out the best in students, and in closing the achievement gap.  

The AVID program is offered at both Lakeville North and Lakeville South all four years of high school. Students are admitted into this program by application only. Contact your Dean for more information.

The AVID Elective – Students are enrolled in rigorous classes, such as honors and Advanced Placement, and in the AVID elective. For one period a day, students learn organizational and study skills, work on critical thinking and asking probing questions, get academic help from peers and tutors, and participate in enrichment and motivational activities that make college seem attainable. The AVID curriculum is driven by the writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading method (WICOR). The specialized curriculum is used in AVID elective classes and in content-area classes.

The AVID Student – AVID targets students in the academic middle who have the desire to go to college and the willingness to work hard. These students are capable of completing rigorous curriculum but are falling short of their potential.

CLEP is a College Board program that allows students to earn college credit by demonstrating their mastery of college-level material in introductory subjects. Students may transfer the credit (“P” letter grade) to the high school transcript. Costs for the exams vary and are incurred by the family. For additional information, go to clep.collegeboard.org.

Concurrent enrollment allows qualified high school students to earn college credit in their high school during the regular school day. Several programs are currently offered: College Now through Southwest Minnesota State University for AP Chemistry at Lakeville South High School, Project Lead the Way though St. Cloud State University for Honors Principles of Biomedical Science and Honors Human Body Systems at Lakeville North High School, and AVID courses through Normandale. Transferability of these credits to other post-secondary institutions is not guaranteed.

Classes are taught by qualified high school teachers and supervised by college faculty members. There is no cost to the student for these courses, providing an outstanding opportunity for students to earn college credit and high school credit at the same time and jump-starting their college careers without incurring additional debt.   There are criteria established by each concurrent enrollment program such as earning a minimum grade in the course, or a certain score on an end of course exam, or paying a fee for application, that need to be met in order for the credit to be transcripted at the college level.

Students can receive credit for any course offered by the district in any subject area if the student is able to demonstrate the outcomes for the course. If the student completes the assessment process in a satisfactory manner, the student’s transcript will show the credit earned and a course grade of A, A-, B+ or B. Depending on the course, students may earn a semester credit, a full year credit, or in the case of a full-year course, a student could be given credit for just one of the semesters.

Credit by Assessment Procedure

1. Student requests application from Dean’s Office (or downloads from website), obtains a parent’s signature and meets with Dean of Students
2. Student meets with the department chair to obtain materials and establish assessment plan
3. Student brings the form with assessment plan back to the Dean’s Office to be copied and filed
4. Student independently studies and/or completes materials needed for assessment
5. Assessment is completed or materials presented for evaluation
6. Credit is awarded if assessment results in a grade of B or higher (83%)
7. A letter grade is awarded (not pass/fail)

Notes

Resources are provided. Tutoring, instruction or remediation is not provided.

Assessment procedures may include paper and pencil tests, portfolios, demonstration of skills, and production of materials or other such methods as agreed upon by the department chair or designated instructor and the student.

Students may not complete credit by assessment for any course in which they have received a passing grade

Upon completion of credit by assessment student has three choices:

• Credit by Assessment grade for high school credit is placed on transcript (in accordance with   State of Minnesota Statute)
• Student may choose to take the course and have the grade earned in the class placed on the transcript
• Student may reattempt the credit by assessment process with a plan in place for relearning

Credit by assessment is offered January, May, and August and needs to be completed prior to the start of a semester.

Students may take one credit per semester on a credit/no credit basis. This option is to encourage students to explore interests in subjects in which they may not be willing to risk getting a low grade. Any student who is interested in taking a course on a credit/no credit basis should discuss arrangements with his/her parents(s), Dean and teacher. Forms are available in the Dean’s or Student Services Office. The deadline for submitting the request to the Dean’s Office is prior to the end of 1st quarter for first semester requests and/or prior to the end of 3rd quarter for second semester requests.  

• Students who are preparing for a career where this course is a prerequisite should take the course and be graded under the conventional system.
• Students must realize that once they sign up for this grading option, they cannot change grading systems (back to an “A” – “F” grading system) during the course.
• All students requesting the Credit/No Credit grading system in a course will continue to take all tests, turn in all regular class work, and receive grades along with other students. Only the final mark is a “P” or “F”.
• Students should complete the form, obtain parent approval, teacher approval, and bring this form to the Deans’ Office. For yearlong courses, the Credit/No Credit option must be requested each semester the student desires to take the Credit/No Credit option.
• If a student earns 60% or higher, the course will not be in computations determining the student’s grade point average or class rank. If a student fails the class, (below 60%), the F grade will be calculated in the grade point average.
• If a student receives a D- or higher, they receive credit for the course. The credit will count toward meeting graduation requirements.  
• Attention student-athletes: NCAA assigns a 1.0 or the equivalent of a “D” for any course taken under the Credit/No Credit (pass/fail) grading option.

The district must be notified prior to the student taking any course in order for it to be considered for future high school credit attainment. The course must be equivalent or beyond Lakeville Area Public Schools course sequence. The course description and syllabus may be requested for review. Students must meet with their Dean prior to registering for the course.

The Pathways program is designed for students that need to recover credits in order to graduate. This allows students to maintain status and graduate with their class. Courses are offered during the day and after regular school hours. Students must meet eligibility criteria in order to enroll. Courses offered are English, social studies, science, math & some elective areas.

Hybrid courses include face-to-face instruction in the classroom part of the time and independent online learning activities the remainder of the time. These courses meet the same Minnesota State Standards and Lakeville Essential Learnings as traditional courses. Schoology is the educational platform used to host the courses. Hybrid courses allow students to experience an online course and develop digital learning skills. Courses that will be offered in the hybrid format are designated throughout the Program of Studies and on the Course Selection Form. Students taking hybrid courses are permitted to leave the building during their hybrid course on non-seminar days. Students staying in the building on a non-seminar day must remain in the assigned hybrid area. Students who do not have access to technology at home will be provided access to technology tools and be provided a time and space to complete work.

Online courses are taught completely online with no face-to-face contact with the teacher. Learners access primary content and instruction from an online environment using a variety of tools including email, chat, discussion boards, web pages, and multimedia technologies. Specific technologies employed will vary by course and instructor.

Students taking online courses are permitted to leave the building during the class period in which the course is scheduled, following the required sign out procedure. Students staying in the building must remain in the assigned online area. Students who do not have access to technology at home will be provided access to technology tools and be provided a time and space to complete work.

Independent Study refers to a course conducted with an instructor as a mentor, enabling the student to explore a topic of interest. Independent Study provides students an opportunity to expand their expertise in a particular area, explore a topic in detail, or develop advanced skills.

Independent Study is available to seniors to earn a semester credit in a course not offered by the high school. An application is required. Upon successful completion of the Independent Study course the student will be issued a “pass” for the semester credit.

Lakeville Online Academy (LOA) is a comprehensive, statewide online school through which students can earn a Lakeville diploma. This academic option is for families and students looking for anytime, anywhere learning that includes individualized instruction, flexibility in pace and schedule, responsiveness to learning styles and self-selection of learning environment. Students who benefit from this option should be self-directed, independent learners. Even though students do their learning outside of a school building, they will receive a high quality educational experience that meets the state and local standards. A student enrolled in more than 50% of their courses through LinK12 Lakeville, becomes a LinK12 Lakeville student, however, upon graduation will be issued a diploma from Lakeville North High School or Lakeville South High School.

Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program that allows 10th, 11th and 12th-grade students to earn high school and college credit while still in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college-level courses. PSEO courses are generally offered on the campus of the postsecondary institution. However, some courses are offered online. Postsecondary institutions are not allowed to charge PSEO students for tuition, textbooks or support services. Students may be charged for equipment that becomes their property when the course or program is completed.

Most PSEO courses are only open to high school students during their 11th and 12th-grade year, with each participating college and university setting their own requirements for enrollment into the PSEO courses and programs. Additionally, there may be opportunities at industrialization centers accredited by any accreditor recognized by the US Department of Education. Students may take PSEO courses on a full or part-time basis.

Many two and four-year colleges and universities in Minnesota offer online courses and some of them offer online degrees and certificates. Through the wide array of online courses offered in Minnesota higher education, it is possible for PSEO students in our state to complete the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum requirements and/or other courses that could result in an award in addition to their high school diploma. School districts must allow a PSEO student reasonable access to the high school building, computers and/or other technology resources during regular school hours to participate in PSEO courses, whether on-line or on campus.

By March 1 of each year, a district must provide up-to-date information on the district’s website, and in materials that are distributed to parents and students, about the program–including information about enrollment requirements and the ability to earn postsecondary credit–to all pupils in grades 8, 9, 10, and 11.

Students must meet the PSEO eligibility requirements and abide by participation limits. However, if a school district determines a pupil is not on track to graduate, she/he may still continue to participate in PSEO.

For current information about the PSEO program, visit:

• Minnesota Department of Education’s Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)

Learn More

Learn more about PSEO by visiting our PSEO webpage.

Students can waive basic state standards by taking courses with higher rigor. The chart below indicates which state standards specific courses can replace. The rigorous course waiver process provides students with opportunities to take additional courses while in high school.

Courses Replaced by AP Course

A middle school student who satisfactorily completes any high school course shall receive secondary course credit and the credit shall count toward the student’s graduation requirements (excluding Algebra 1 in 8th grade). The grade/credit will be reflected on the high school transcript and will be part of the grade point average and class rank.

Students will have the opportunity to take a Technical Skills Assessment (TSA) upon the completion of some Career and Technical Education courses. Currently, upon completion of Foods 3, students may take a ServSafe certification exam and upon completion of Building Construction/Applied Architecture may take an OSHA 10 certification exam. If students earn a passing score on the ServSafe exam, they will earn a food handler certificate from foodservice experts, the National Restaurant Association. The OSHA 10 exam assesses an entry-level construction worker’s general awareness on recognizing and preventing hazards on a construction site.