McCown Curriculum

English

The English Department stresses thinking, reading, writing, speaking and listening. Students read texts for meaning, make connections between texts, and explore how texts relate to the world around them.  Students are prepared for mastery on the English Regents and to take AP courses and College Now courses in the humanities.  Students may take AP Seminar 10th or 11th grade and AP Research in 11th or 12th grades.  Additionally, AP Seminar, AP Research, and E5/6 are also available as an approved dually enrolled courses with St. Francis College.  

 
Students take an English course every semester at McCown. Eight (8) semester credits and a passing score on the Comprehensive Regents Examination in English are required for graduation.
 
Here is the typical course sequence:
  • Grade 9: E1 (fall) & E2 (spring)
  • Grade 10: E3 (fall) & E4 (spring)
  • Grade 11: E5 - AP Seminar (fall) & E6* - AP Seminar (spring)
  • Grade 12: E7 - AP Research (fall) & E8 - AP Research (spring)
*English 5 includes in the Regents exam (January of junior year).
 
Courses
 
E1: English 1 (Fall term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 9
E2: English 2 (Spring term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 9
E3: English 3 (Fall term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 10
E4: English 4 (Spring term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 10
E5: English 5/ AP Seminar (Fall term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 11
  • English Regents in January
E6: English 6/ AP Seminar (Spring term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 11
E7: English 7 / AP Research (Fall term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 12
E8: English 8 / AP Research (Spring term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 12
EJ1: Yearbook (Fall term; 1 credit)
  • Offered to seniors.
EJ2: Yearbook (Spring term; 1 credit)
  • Offered to seniors.

Social Studies

Social studies include history, civics, politics, and economics. Courses in the department require students to analyze arguments, interpret historical documents, and write essays based on recurring themes throughout history.
 
Program
 
Students take a social studies course every semester at McCown. Graduate requirements include the completion of eight (8) semester credits of coursework from the social studies sequence, passing the Global History and Geography Regents Exam, and passing the United States History and Government Regents Exam.  AP US History is available during the 11th grade.  H 3/4, H 5/6 and APUSH are both approved St. Francis College dual enrollment courses and can be taken for three college credits.  
 
Here is the typical course sequence:
  • Grade 9: H1 (fall) & H2 (spring)
  • Grade 10: H3 (fall) & H4 (spring)*
  • Grade 11: H5 (fall) & H6 (spring)** or AP US History
  • Grade 12: H7 (fall) & H8 (spring)
*History 4 culminates in the Global History and Geography Regents Exam (June of sophomore year)

**History 6 culminates in the United States History and Government Regents Exam (June of junior year)
 
Courses
 
H1: Global Studies 1 (Fall term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 9 for students
H2: Global Studies 2 (Spring term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 9 for students
H3: Global Studies 3 (Fall term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 10 for students entering McCown

 H4: Global Studies 4 (Spring term; 1 credit)

  • Grade 10 for students 
  • Course terminates in the Global History and Geography Regents Exam.
H5: U.S. History & Government 1 (Fall term; 1 credit) or AP US History
  • Grade 11 for students 
H6: U.S. History & Government 2 (Spring term; 1 credit) or AP US History
  • Grade 11 for students
  • Course terminates in the United States History and Government Regents Exam or APUSH exam in May
H7: Participation in U.S. Government (Fall term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 12
H8: Economics (Spring term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 12

Mathematics

Mathematics courses provide students with a foundation for mathematical reasoning and an understanding of numbers, operations, modeling, measurement, uncertainty, and patterns.
 
Program
 
McCown students are required to complete eight (8) semester credits in mathematics and pass at least one Regents exam. However, students wishing to earn an Advanced Regents Diploma must pass all three Regents exams: Integrated Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2/Trigonometry Entering freshman generally start in an algebra class, but have the ability to progress at a different pace depending on their strengths and needs.  AP Statistics and pre-calculus are both dually enrolled college courses available for three credits from St. Francis College. 
 
Courses
 
ME21: Algebra 1 of 2 (Fall term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 9
  • Placement based on diagnostic exam
ME22: Algebra 2 of 2 (Spring term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 9
  • Course terminates in the Integrated Algebra Regents Exam
MG21: Geometry 1 of 2 (Fall term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 10; Open to grade 9 students who passed the Integrated Algebra Regents Exam in grade 8.
MG22: Geometry 2 of 2 (Spring term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 10; Open to grade 9 students in advanced mathematics track.
  • Course terminates in the Geometry Regents Exam.
MR21: Trigonometry & Advanced Algebra 1 (Fall term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 11; Open to grade 10 students in the advanced mathematics track.
MR22: Trigonometry & Advanced Algebra 2 (Spring term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 11; Open to grade 10 students in the advanced mathematics track.
  • Course terminates in the Algebra 2/Trigonometry Regents Exam.
 
MS1: AP Statistics 1 (Fall term; 1 credit)
  • Open to grade 11 and 12 students.
MS1: AP Statistics 2 (Spring term; 1 credit)
  • Open to grade 11 and 12 students.
MMP1: Pre-Calculus 1 (Fall term; 1 credit)
 
MMP2: Pre-Calculus 2 (Spring term; 1 credit)
 
MC1X: AP Computer Science 1 (Fall term; 1 credit)
 
MC2X: AP Computer Science 2 (Spring term; 1 credit)

Science

The science department engages students in hands-on laboratory work and fieldwork where students can learn the techniques and approaches that real scientists use through experimentation. Course offering reflect that diversity of disciplines in the natural sciences with Regents courses in biological and physical sciences, as well as electives.
 
Program
 
McCown students are required to complete six (6) semester credits in science and pass at least one Regents exam. The six semester credits must include two (2) semester credits of Living Environment and two (2) semester credits in a physical science (Earth science, chemistry, or physics). Students who are pursuing an Advanced Regents Diploma must pass two Regents exams, including the Living Environment exam. In accordance with New York State education policy, 1200 minutes of laboratory work and 24 satisfactory written lab reports are a prerequisite to sit for any Regents exam in science.
 
Courses
 
SL1/SL1L: Living Environment 1 (Fall term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 9
  • Course consists of four regular class meetings per week and one laboratory period per week.
SL2/SL2L: Living Environment 2 of 2 (Spring term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 9
  • Course consists of four regular class meetings per week and one laboratory period per week. Students will be eligible to take the Living Environment Regents Exam upon satisfactory completion of 1200 minutes of lab work and 24 acceptable lab reports.
SE1/SE1L: Natural Disasters (Earth Science) 1 of 2 (Fall term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 10
  • Course consists of four regular class meetings per week and one laboratory period per week.

SE2/SE2L: Natural Disasters (Earth Science) 2 of 2 (Spring term; 1 credit)

  • Grade 10
  • Course consists of four regular class meetings per week and one laboratory period per week. 
SC1/SC1L: Chemistry 1 (Fall term; 1 credit)
  • Course consists of four regular class meetings per week and one laboratory period per week.
SC2/SC2L: Chemistry 2 (Spring term; 1 credit)
  • Course consists of four regular class meetings per week and one laboratory period per week. Students will be required to take the Physical Setting/Chemistry Regents Exam upon satisfactory completion of 1200 minutes of lab work and 24 acceptable lab reports.
SP1/SP1L: Physics 1 (Fall term; 1 credit)
  • Course consists of four regular class meetings per week and one laboratory period per week.
SP2/SP2L: Physics 2 (Spring term; 1 credit)
  • Course consists of four regular class meetings per week and one laboratory period per week. Students will be eligible to take the Physical Setting/Physics Regents Exam upon satisfactory completion of 1200 minutes of lab work and 24 acceptable lab reports.
SF1: Forensics (Fall term; 1 credit)
SF 2: Forensics (Spring term; 1 credit)
  • Open to students who have passed the required number of Regents-based science courses
  • Open to students who wish to pursue careers in law, government, law enforcement, the military, psychology, the medical field, investigative reporting, among others. 

College Biology (Fall and Spring; 2 credits)

  • Dually enrolled St. Francis College course that will earn students 5 college credits

Psychology

  • Science elective available to 11th and 12th grade students

Physical Education (P.E.)

Health and physical education courses emphasize fitness, healthy decision making, and sportsmanship.
 
Program
 
Students complete four (4) credits of physical education, spread out over four years. Additionally, students take one (1) credit of health education during the fall or spring semester of their junior year.
 
Courses
 
PPE: Physical Education (Fall & Spring terms; 1.2 credits)
  • All students must take at least one semester per academic year.
PHA: Health Education (Fall & Spring terms; 1 credit)
  • Grade 9

Spanish

Because the global market is becoming increasingly competitive, Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School recognizes that there are enormous advantages for young citizens to learn a second language. Spanish language courses focus on four skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
 
Program
 
While McCown only requires two (2) semester credits in Spanish for graduation, most students choose to take additional courses in the Spanish department. In order to obtain the scholarly Advanced Regents Diploma, there are much greater expectations for fluency in Spanish. Graduation with an Advanced Regents Diploma requires the completion of six (6) semester credits in Spanish, as well as a passing score on the Comprehensive Regents Examination in Spanish.
  • Grade 9: FS1 & FS2
  • Grade 10: FS3 & FS4
  • Grade 11: FS5 & FS6
  • Grade 12: FS7 & FS8
Courses
 
FS1: Spanish 1 (Fall term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 9
FS2: Spanish 2 (Spring term; 1 credit)
  • Grade 9
FS3: Spanish 3 (Fall term; 1 credit)
  • Grades 10 & 11
FS4: Spanish 4 (Spring term; 1 credit)
  • Grades 10 & 11

 FS5: Spanish 5 (Fall term; 1 credit)

  • Grades 11 & 12
FS6: Spanish 6 (Spring term; 1 credit)
  • Grades 11 & 12
FSX: AP Spanish Language 1 (fall term; 1 credit)
FSX: AP Spanish Language 2 (spring term; 1 credit)

STEAM - Robotics

McCown offers a two semester course in Robotics and computer science.  Students enter various competitions, liaise with STEAM organizations, and use 3-D printers.        

The Arts

We believe that a well-rounded student excels not only academically, but also artistically. 
 
Program
 
Students must complete two (2) semester credits in the arts for graduation. 
 
Courses
 
Studio Art 1
Studio Art 2
 
Yearbook/Graphic Design (Fall & Spring terms; 2 credits)
  • Open to 12th graders