Curriculum & Departments
Curriculum & Departments
Our rigorous and innovative curriculum will help you explore your interests and chart your own path.
Gain a deep understanding of today’s most pressing global challenges and explore how you can help solve them.
The Porter’s curriculum is grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation spanning science, math, technology, the arts, world languages and humanities. Experiential and interdisciplinary projects and classes go beyond the traditional scope of a high school curriculum to include comprehensive and future-focused offerings.
Required coursework is complemented by a wide range of electives that allow you to personalize your education, dig deep into topics you love and explore new areas that pique your interest. It’s a highly relevant curriculum designed to help you develop essential skills, build confidence and pursue your passions. By graduation, you’ll be ready to take on complex problems with an innovative and collaborative mindset.
Advanced Interdisciplinary Seminar (AIS) Courses
Once you’re ready for a greater challenge in your coursework, you’ll find a variety of AIS courses to choose from. At the intersection of intellectual rigor and applied learning, AIS courses push 11th and 12th grade students to ask thoughtful questions, evaluate information and find connections between related topics.
More immersive and relevant than traditional Advanced Placement (AP) classes, AIS courses aren’t built around a single high-stakes exam. Instead, they emphasize experiential, project-based learning that pushes students beyond what’s required by most AP courses. The result is more critical thinking and a deeper understanding of complex topics.
Curriculum Guide
Take an in-depth look at all of the courses we offer at Porter’s.
Sample Coursework by Year
9th Grade
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese Foundations A | Humanities 9: Global History & Literature | |
| STEM 9: Environmental Lab Science & Conceptual Physics | Algebra 1 | |
| 9th Grade Seminar Program | Studio Art | Intro to Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship |
10th Grade
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| Humanities 10: United States History & Literature | French Intermediate B | |
| Geometry | Biology | Chemistry |
| Free Block | Algebra 2 | Introduction to Journalism |
11th Grade
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| The Heroic Female Voice | AIS Global Intensive (With International Travel) | AIS Chemistry: Advanced Molecular Lab |
| Precalculus | Physics | |
| AIS Museum Studies: Reinvention and Revision in the Art World | Free Block | AIS Latin: Damsels in Distress |
12th Grade
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| AIS Statistics | American Drama & Social Justice | Free Block |
| Civics & Comparative Government | AIS Biology: Evolution and Epidemics | AIS Professional Experience in Economics: Money, Consumerism & Human Behavior |
| Ballet for Athletes | Advanced Topics in Spanish: Sustainability in the Hispanic World |