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Academics & Curriculum
Birmingham Public Schools is committed to providing the highest quality educational experience for all students, with a strong focus on character education, where students are challenged and inspired to make a positive impact on their world. As a result, every decision is based on what is best for our students.
We accomplish this:
- By engaging students, teachers, and the community in district-wide initiatives such as curriculum review cycles, curriculum guide development, assessment selection and the development and facilitation of professional learning.
- Through academic freedom for our teachers, supported by high quality instructional materials that cultivates an educational community where all students can reach their fullest potential.
- With a wide variety of enrichment opportunities that meet students where they are, accelerates their learning and extends their skills and talents beyond the classroom.
We understand our students are unique people with distinct experiences, talents, and social-emotional needs. By keeping the wholeness of our students in mind, hearing their voices, and building partnerships with their families and communities, we cultivate a passion for learning.
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BPS Curriculum Map
Atlas Curriculum Mapping System
Birmingham Public Schools is excited to announce the public launch of the Atlas Curriculum Mapping System. This system allows parents, educators, and students the ability to easily view the curriculum expectations of each grade level and subject area. We believe that this valuable tool will provide a consistent and clear understanding for all stakeholders of the teaching and learning that takes place in our classrooms.
These curriculum maps represent the collaborative effort of Birmingham Public Schools’ K-12 teaching staff and administrators and Oakland Schools. Through BPS’s Teaching and Learning Department, educators, parents, and students worked together in a detailed, multi-year curriculum revision process to make certain that the content provides a 21st-century, standards-based, thorough foundation for all students.
As different subject areas complete their curriculum revision processes, they will be added to this public-access Atlas Curriculum Mapping System. Currently, we have posted our K–12 English Language Arts core curriculum framework. BPS has an ongoing practice of continually updating our K-12 curriculum through a process of review and revision, and we will continue to do so even after all subjects are posted to Atlas.
To view the ELA curriculum maps, access the Birmingham Public Schools Atlas site, and follow the directions below.
Accessing the Birmingham Public Schools Curriculum Framework:
The link above will open the "Browse Unit Calendars" page. In the upper left-hand side of the page, you'll find the Browse Filter, which allows you to search by grade level and/or subject area.
- Filter by Grade Level and/or Subject:
- Click the down-arrow next to Grade or Subject to see the filter options, and click on the grade or subject you'd like to see.
- Click on the Browse button at the bottom of the filter options.
- Click on the link under the Course heading to see the Unit Calendar for that course.
- Click on the name of the unit in the unit calendar to see details of that specific unit.
- You can change the Now Viewing drop-down menu from Unit Calendars to Curriculum Maps, Course Descriptions, or Multiple Category Scope and Sequence.
The Reports button at the top of the BPS Atlas webpage (icon looks like an upward pointing arrow-graph) provides you with various Scope and Sequence information such as Key Concepts, Content Expectations, and Abstracts.
- Click on Scope and Sequence.
- Select the Sort By: Course option.
- Filter by Grade Level and/or Subject.
- Click on the Browse button.
- Click ing the box at the left of the desired course(s) name(s).
- Click on the Close button
- At the top of the page, Select a Report - Scope and Sequence, click on the dropdown menu and Select a Mapping Category (Overarching Questions and Enduring Understandings, Graphic Organizer, Unit Abstract, etc.).
- Click on View Report.
- Filter by Grade Level and/or Subject:
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Grades K-2
Grades K-2
Standards of Quality - Performance Outcomes:
The Birmingham Public Schools Strategic Plan calls for a curriculum which is updated and challenging for all students. An important component is the philosophy of developmentally appropriate practices in which curriculum and instructional strategies should be both age and individually appropriate. Curriculum planning and staff development, incorporating developmentally appropriate practices, occur progressively beginning at the kindergarten level.
Philosophy:
The experiences and knowledge young children bring to school, combined with their natural curiosity, are the foundations for learning in the primary grades. Our program is designed to help develop children's potentials. The emphasis is on learning experiences which help children make connections between existing knowledge and new skills and information. All subject area outcomes are clearly defined, but learning is linked across these subject area boundaries. Classroom experiences are designed to be mutually reinforcing. In this manner, children see the connections between skills learned and their importance in real life.Technology:
Technology has become an integral part of the BPS curriculum. Students utilize technology daily in classrooms and in their school media center for a variety of tasks: exploring answers to questions, collaborating with experts and peers, analyzing and representing data, and authoring documents and presentations. In addition, classroom teachers use technology tools to help students better learn and understand subject-area content through the use of engaging multimedia resources.
Kindergarten Curriculum
Art: Topics include: Engaging in exploration and imaginative play with materials, collaboration, building skills through exploration, creating art, selecting art objects for a portfolio, identifying uses of and interpreting art.
English Language Arts: Topics Include: Reading literature and informational texts - asking/answering questions about key details, retelling familiar stories, identifying characters, settings, major events; Reading foundations - applying grade-level phonics and word analysis to decode words, and reading with accuracy and fluency to support comprehension; Writing - opinion pieces, informational pieces, narrative pieces, and participating in shared research projects; Speaking and Listening - participating in group discussions and asking/answering questions; Language - using standard capitalization, punctuation, and spelling at grade-level.
Health: Utilizing the Michigan Model for Health kindergarten curriculum, children learn accurate and current information on the following units of study: Social and Emotional Health, Safety and Violence Prevention, Healthy Eating & Physical Activity, Tobacco, Alcohol & Other Drugs Prevention, and Personal Health & Wellness.
Mathematics: Topics include: Building a mathematical community, shapes, counting, composing and decomposing numbers, operations and algebraic addition and subtraction, calendar, time, money value and recognition, geometry, and measurement and data.
Music: Topics include: Singing and playing music from a variety of cultures and styles, playing a steady beat, replicating short rhythmic and melodic patterns, and describing music.
Physical Education: Students demonstrate competence in selected fundamental motor skills, aply cognitive concepts in making wise lifestyle choices, actively engage with an appropriate level of effort, and demonstrate respect, responsibility, and kindness.
Science: Topics include exploration through two Science kits: Animals and Plants, and Materials and Motion.
Social Studies: Utilizes variation of Oakland Schools/MC3 Units of Study, trade books, big books, and mentor texts. Students use historical thinking to understand the past, show understanding of geography through use of maps and globes, show understanding of the purposes of government and the role of citizens, show understanding of decision making and citizen involvement, and show understanding of activity in a market economy.
1st Grade Curriculum
Art: Topics include: Using observation and investigation in preparation for making a work of art, exploring uses of materials and tools, demonstrating safe and proper procedures, identifying and classifying uses of everyday objects through drawings, using art vocabulary, comparing images, categorizing subject matter, and classifying artwork.
English Language Arts: Topics include: Habits for reading long and strong, habits for tackling hard words, teamwork, writing small-moments stories, looking at the writer's craft, reading literature and informational texts - asking/answering questions about key details, retelling familiar stories, identifying characters, settings, major events; Reading foundations - applying grade-level phonics and word analysis to decode words, and reading with accuracy and fluency to support comprehension; Writing - opinion pieces, informational pieces, narrative pieces, and participating in shared research projects; Speaking and Listening - participating in group discussions and asking/answering questions; Language - using standard capitalization, punctuation, and spelling at grade-level, understanding word relationships at grade-level.
Health: Utilizing the Michigan Model for Health grade one Curriculum, children learn accurate and current information on the following units of study: Social and Emotional Health, Safety and Violence Prevention, Healthy Eating & Physical Activity, and Tobacco, Alcohol & Other Drug Prevention.
Mathematics: Topics include: Building a math community, understanding place value, addition and subtraction to 20, measuring and estimating lengths in non-standard units, telling and writing time to the half-hour, representing and interpreting data, reasoning with shapes and their attributes, and applying mathematical practices in daily work.
Music: Topics include: Using voice and instrument techniques, singing group melody, playing a variety of rhythmic instruments, reading four or more pitches and notes, and using musical vocabulary.
Physical Education: Students demonstrate competence in selected fundamental motor skills, aply cognitive concepts in making wise lifestyle choices, actively engage with an appropriate level of effort, and demonstrate respect, responsibility, and kindness.
Science: Topics include exploration through three Science kits: Sound and Light, Plants and Animals, and Air and Weather.
Social Studies: Utilizes variation of Oakland Schools/MC3 Units of Study, trade books, big books, and mentor texts. Students use historical thinking to understand the past, show understanding of geography through use of maps and globes, show understanding of the purposes of government and the role of citizens, show understanding of decision making and citizen involvement, and show understanding of activity in a market economy.
2nd Grade Curriculum
Art: Topics include: Brainstorming collaboratively, making/designing art with various materials, using and cleaning art tools, re-purposing objects, categorizing artwork, distinguishing between different materials/techniques, defining mood, using art vocabulary to express preferences, creating works of art about events, and comparing/contrasting cultural uses of art.
English Language Arts: Topics include: Becoming an independent reader, solving tricky words, noticing the authors' craft, reading literature and informational texts - asking/answering questions about key details, retelling familiar stories, identifying characters, settings, major events; Reading foundations - applying grade-level phonics and word analysis to decode words, and reading with accuracy and fluency to support comprehension; Writing - opinion pieces, informational pieces, narrative pieces, and participating in shared research projects; Speaking and Listening - participating in group discussions and asking/answering questions; Language - using standard capitalization, punctuation, and spelling at grade-level, understanding word relationships at grade-level.
Health: Utilizing the Michigan Model for Health grade two Curriculum, children learn accurate and current information on the following units of study: Social and Emotional Health, Safety and Violence Prevention, Healthy Eating & Physical Activity, Tobacco, Alcohol & Other Drug Prevention.
Mathematics: Topics include: Solving problems with addition and subtraction within 100, place value properties for addition and subtraction, measuring and estimating length in standard units, telling and writing time to the nearest 5 minutes, solving problems using money, representing and interpreting data, reasoning with shapes and attributes, and applying mathematical practices in daily work.
Music: Topics include: using developmentally appropriate singing voice, playing melodic instruments, reading music notation and pitch, and using music vocabulary to describe qualities of music.
Physical Education: Students demonstrate competence in selected fundamental motor skills, aply cognitive concepts in making wise lifestyle choices, actively engage with an appropriate level of effort, and demonstrate respect, responsibility, and kindness.
Science: Topics include exploration through three Science kits: Insects and Plants, Pebbles, Sand and Silt, and Solids and Liquids.
Social Studies: Utilizes variation of Oakland Schools/MC3 Units of Study, trade books, big books, and mentor texts. Students use historical thinking to understand the past, show understanding of geography through use of maps and globes, show understanding of the purposes of government and the role of citizens, show understanding of decision making and citizen involvement, and show understanding of activity in a market economy.
Spanish: Topics include: Greetings, colors and class objects, calendar, weather, numbers 0-20, family, animals, Mexico, review and games.
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Grades 3-5
Grades 3-5
Standards of Quality - Performance Outcomes:
The Birmingham Public Schools Strategic Plan calls for a curriculum which is updated and challenging for all students. An important component is the philosophy of developmentally appropriate practices in which curriculum and instructional strategies should be both age and individually appropriate. Curriculum planning and staff development, incorporating developmentally appropriate practices, occur progressively beginning at the kindergarten level.
Philosophy:The experiences and knowledge young children bring to school, combined with their natural curiosity, are the foundations for learning in the primary grades. Our program is designed to help develop children's potential. The emphasis is on learning experiences which help children make connections between existing knowledge and new skills and information. All subject area outcomes are clearly defined, but learning is linked across these subject area boundaries. Classroom experiences are designed to be mutually reinforcing. In this manner, children see the connections between skills learned and their importance in real life.Technology:
Technology has become an integral part of the BPS curriculum. Students utilize technology daily in classrooms and in their school media center for a variety of tasks: exploring answers to questions, collaborating with experts and peers, analyzing and representing data, and authoring documents and presentations. In addition, classroom teachers use technology tools to help students better learn and understand subject-area content through the use of engaging multimedia resources.3rd Grade Curriculum
Art:
Topics include: Elaborating on imaginative ideas, applying knowledge of resources/tools/technologies, creating personally satisfying artwork, safe and proficient use of materials, constructing representations, investigating and discussing possibilities/limitations, identifying exhibit space, speculating about artistic processes used, determining messages communicated through art, interpreting and evaluating art, and developing a work of art based on observations of surroundings.
English Language Arts:
Topics include: Reading literature - determining theme, summarizing text, using details and examples, describing story elements in detail; Reading informational text - summarizing text, using evidence to answer questions, identifying text structure; Reading foundations - reading with accuracy and fluency, applying grade-level phonics and word analysis; Writing - opinion pieces, informational pieces, narrative text, conducting research, creating projects, and sharing knowledge; Speaking and listening - participating in group discussions, asking and answering questions, presenting a topic; Language - using knowledge of language, word relationships and meanings at grade-level when writing, speaking and listening.
Health:
Utilizing the Michigan Model for Health grade three curriculum, students learn accurate and current information on the following units of study: Social and Emotional Health, Safety and Violence Prevention, Healthy Eating & Physical Activity, Tobacco, Alcohol & Other Drugs Prevention, and Personal Health & Wellness.
Mathematics:
Topics include: place value in multi-digit problems, word problems, multiplication, division, fractions, measurement and estimation, time, area and perimeter, graphs, shapes and attributes, and applying mathematical practices is daily work.
Music:
Topics include: Using developmentally appropriate singing voice, singing melodies, playing rhythmic melodies, reading note and pitch notation, and using musical vocabulary.
Physical Education:
Topics include: Routines, rules and expectations, injury prevention, Fitnessgram, soccer, nutrition and physical activity, basketball, jump rope, volleyball, fitness concepts, paddles and racquets, throwing and catching.
Science:
Topics include exploration through three Science kits: Water and Climate, Structures of Life, and Motion and Matter.
Social Studies:
Utilizes the Meet Michigan textbook and supplemental trade books. Students use historical thinking to understand the past as it relates to Michigan, show understanding of Michigan physical and human geography, show understanding of the purposes of Michigan government and the role of citizens, identify and analyze public issues in Michigan, and use fundamental principles and concepts of economics to understand Michigan economic activity in a market economy.
Spanish:
Spanish in our world, comparing cultures and languages; speaking and reading: greetings and introductions, basic commands, daily things in class, numbers up to 30, colors, weather expressions, cycle of the year, and my family.
4th Grade Curriculum
Art:
Topics include: brainstorming multiple approaches to art/design problems, collaboratively setting goals/creating artwork, exploring/inventing art-making techniques, utilizing and caring for materials and tools, revising artwork in progress, analyzing how technologies have impacted art, comparing/contrasting purposes of art museums and galleries, analyzing components in visual imagery, interpreting art by referring to context, creating works of art that reflect community cultural traditions.
English Language Arts:
Topics include: Interpreting characters, the arc of a story, writing realistic fiction, reading the weather, reading the world, writing personal and persuasive essays, reading historical fiction, tackling complex text, reading non-fiction, bringing history to life, making meaning from poems, and writing poetry.
Health:
Utilizing the Michigan Model for Health grade four curriculum, students learn accurate and current information on the following units of study: Social and Emotional Health, Safety and Violence Prevention, Healthy Eating & Physical Activity, and Tobacco, Alcohol & Other Drugs Prevention.
Mathematics:
Topics include: Place value, multiplication with whole numbers, division, equations and word problems, fractions, measurement and data, and geometry.
Music:
Topics include: Singing and playing in small groups with accurate pitch, intonation, and rhythm, playing rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic instruments, reading notes and pitch, and using music vocabulary to analyze and describe music.
Physical Education:
Topics include: Injury prevention, Fitnessgram, soccer, nutrition and physical activity, basketball, jump rope, volleyball, paddles and racquets, throwing and catching, and fitness concepts.
Science:
Topics include exploration through three Science kits: Energy, Environments, and Soils, Rocks and Landforms.
Social Studies:
Utilizes Social Studies Alive! Regions of our country by TCI, and additional trade books and supplemental resources. Students describe ways the United States can be divided into different regions, describe the structure of the federal government, explain the responsibilities of citizenship, develop an action plan to inform about a public issue, and describe some characteristics of a market economy.
Spanish:
Topics include: Start-of-year review, Spanish speakers, daily routine, shopping and clothes, meals, and the ideal home
5th Grade Curriculum
Art:
Topics include: Combining ideas to generate art, demonstrating diverse methods of artistic investigation, experimenting and developing skills in multiple art-making techniques, demonstrate quality craftsmanship, creating artistic statements using art vocabulary, defining roles/responsibilities of a curator, comparing interpretations of art, identifying/analyzing cultural associations suggested by visual images, interpreting art by analyzing characteristics of form and structure, and identifying how art is used to inform or influence beliefs and values.
English Language Arts:
Topics include: Narrative, research and nonfiction, argument, comparative essays, and fantasy.
Health:
Utilizing the Michigan Model for Health grade five Curriculum, students learn accurate and current information on the following units of study: Social and Emotional Health, Safety and Violence Prevention, Healthy Eating & Physical Activity, Tobacco, Alcohol & Other Drugs Prevention, and Personal Health & Wellness.
Mathematics:
Topics include: Place value, operations with multi-digit whole numbers and decimals, fractions, algebraic thinking, geometry.
Music:
- Vocal: Topics include: Singing and playing independently with accurate rhythm, pitch, intonation, singing expressively with appropriate dynamics, reading notes and pitch, and using music vocabulary to analyze, describe and evaluate music.
- Instrumental: Topics include: Understanding good posture, good playing position, pitch, and rhythm, playing an instrument accurately either independently or in a small group, echoing short rhythms and melodic patterns, performing instrumental parts while other students play contrasting parts, reading notes and pitch notation, and using standard musical symbols.
Physical Education:
Topics include: Injury prevention, routines and procedures, Fitnessgram, soccer, nutrition and physical activity, basketball, jump rope, fitness concepts, volleyball, paddles and racquets, throwing and catching, and Diamond Games.
Science:
Topics include exploration through three Science kits: Earth and Sun, Living Systems, and Mixtures and Solutions.
Social Studies:
Utilizes Social Studies Alive! America's Past by TCI - covers American history from the first migrations into the Americas through the 20th century. Intense interaction with the personalities, places, and events that structured our nation leads students to be both keen observers of and informed participants in U.S. History.
Spanish:
Topics include: Start-of-year review, friends, family, community, routine, restaurants, and Spanish-speaking countries.
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Grades 6-8
Middle School, Grades 6-8
In Middle School, there are many opportunities for young teens to explore their skills and talents through academic competitions, mentorships, musical groups, dramatic productions, intramural and interscholastic athletics, clubs and activities, and enrichment programs such as the A & E program at Berkshire (Activities & Enrichment) and the Explore program at Derby. At the same time, middle school students receive individualized attention from teams of teachers dedicated to their success and guidance counselors who remain with each class through its three years. The counselors also facilitate support groups for students, sponsor parent education programs and help introduce new families to the school community.
Technology is infused in the middle school curriculum. Students use technology daily in the classroom and in their school media center to seek answers to questions, connect with experts and peers throughout the world, and explore answers to questions in every subject.
Grade 6 Curriculum
Required Core Courses:
English Language Arts:
Sixth Grade English Language Arts is the integrated study of reading, writing, speaking, listening and following direction skills. Students will increase their ability to analyze and synthesize information, increase their independent reading and become more proficient at writing independently. There will be writing pieces and reading selections in a variety of genres. Resources: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Collections.
Mathematics:
This program is a broad, concept-driven curriculum that reflects the full breadth of relevant mathematics in our society with connections to real life and its interrelationships with technology. The sixth grade curriculum will expand students' knowledge of numbers, computation, estimation, measurement, geometry, fractions, patterns and functions, and the fundamental concepts of algebra. The program is built on five overall goals for students: learning to value mathematics, becoming confident in their ability, becoming a mathematical problem solver, learning to communicate mathematically, and learning to reason mathematically.
Science:
Sixth Grade Science includes units in earth science, life science, and physical science. Science will be taught and reinforced with hands-on and mind-on projects and activities. Topics include: Scientific method; human impact; living resources; ecosystems and populations; geologic time; weathering and soil formation; erosion deposition mapping; plate tectonics; rocks; minerals; earthquakes and volcanoes.
Social Studies:
Social Studies is the integrated study of the social sciences (geography; history; civics; economics). Current events will be incorporated naturally as a way to connect present issues to the past. Topics of study include: The Ancient World, World Religions, The Middle East, Africa, Asia, Mayans and Aztecs.
Required Rotation Courses
Art:
A ten-week class was designed as an exploration of art technologies, skills, artists, and careers. Two and three-dimensional art will be studied throughout this rotation.
Skills for Living:
This popular course features lessons in food preparation, food safety, nutrition, and basic sewing skills.
Physical Education:
Students will participate in seasonal team and individual sports as well as curriculum-related games and team-building activities. Swimming and physical fitness will also be covered.
Engineering Technology:
A ten-week course which introduces students to engineering in a fun and engaging manner. Using a hands-on approach, students are taught the fundamentals of design and manufacturing.
Elective courses (may vary by school):
Choose from world languages (Spanish, French, Chinese; physical education, reading enrichment, and music (Music Stations, band, orchestra, and choir)
Grade 7 Curriculum
Required Core Courses:
English Language Arts:
Develops strength in reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Course units of study: research, mythology, mystery, memoirs, literary analysis, and various genres of study. High interest literature and informational selections are provided, as is systematic instruction in writing, grammar, usage, and vocabulary. Writings will include narratives, informational essays, and argumentative essays. Resources: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Collections.
Mathematics:
This program is a broad, concept-driven curriculum that reflects the full breadth of relevant mathematics in our society with connections to real life and its interrelationships with technology. The program is built on five overall goals for the students: learning to value mathematics, becoming confident in their ability, becoming a mathematical problem solver, learning to communicate mathematically, and learning to reason mathematically. The seventh grade curriculum concentrates on proportional reasoning, including: integers, ratios, mastery of fractions, applying algebraic properties, recognizing and representing linear relationships in a variety of forms, and the fundamentals of algebraic and geometric concepts.
Physical Education (semester or all year every other day if student has a Vocal/Instrumental Course):
Students will experience a higher level of skill development and play with sports such as football, basketball, volleyball, swimming, soccer, and softball. These skills will be used in both competitive activities and non-competitive task-related challenges. Physical fitness activities will also be incorporated into all units, as well as personal/social skills needed to be active for a lifetime. Health curriculum components that focus on decision-making skills, substance use/abuse and reproductive health will be taught in a classroom environment during this course as well.
Science:
The seventh grade science curriculum is aligned with the Michigan Curriculum Framework Science Content Benchmarks and includes units in earth, life, and physical sciences. Major topics include: chemistry, weather factors and patterns, light and sound, elements and the periodic table, and basic biology, discovering cells and cell processes.... and more. Science will be taught and reinforced with an emphasis in many hands-on and mind-on labs/projects/activities.
Social Studies:
Social Studies is the integrated study of the social sciences (geography, history, civics, and economics) to prepare students to become responsible citizens. Course studies include: The Core Democratic Values, Basic Economic Reasoning and Principals, South America, Europe, Russia, Canada, the United States, Oceania, Australia, and Career Planning.
Elective Courses (may vary by school):
Choose from world languages (Spanish, French, Chinese, forensics, skills for living and for success, fashion, art, engineering, strategies, newspaper, theatre arts, and music (band, orchestra, and choir).
Grade 8 Curriculum
Required Core Courses:
English Language Arts:
Develops strength in reading, writing, speaking, listening and viewing skills. With a focus in Science Fiction, Realistic Fiction, and Historical Friction genres, students will increase their ability to analyze and synthesize information, increase their reading ability, and become more proficient writers. Study of the short story as a literary genre, written responses to books, various expository writing skills, as well as lessons on grammar, usage, spelling and vocabulary (as needed) will also be covered. Resources: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Collections.
Mathematics:
This program is a broad, concept-driven curriculum that reflects the full breadth of relevant mathematics in our society with connections to real life and its interrelationships with technology. The program is built on four overall goals for the students: learning to value mathematics, increasing confidence in their ability, developing as a mathematical problem solver, learning to communicate and reason mathematically. The 8th grade math curriculum concentrates on a variety of algebraic functions, recognizing and using multiple representations (tables, graphs, equations), with an emphasis on linear relations; applying algebraic properties to expressions and equations; and continuing the development of geometric concepts.
Science - Earth Systems:
Eighth grade follows the State of Michigan Earth Science high school objectives, which focuses on Earth Systems Science. Major topics include the universe, weather, oceans, climate, natural resources, energy, earthquakes, volcanoes, and more. We focus a great deal on how a change in one of Earth's systems can affect other areas as well. It is a comprehensive course that expands beyond the 6th and 7th grade content with lots of inquiry, technology, and in-depth investigations.
Social Studies - American History:
American History will incorporate the study of geography, civics, current events and economics using figures, events in history. This class will prepare students to become responsible, active citizens in today's world. Course studies include: Core Democratic Values, 19th Century American History, creation and implementation of the Constitution, Growth of the New Nation, The Jacksonian Era, Western Expansion, Civil War, Reconstruction, and the Industrial Era.
Elective Courses (may vary by school):
Choose from world languages (Spanish, French, Chinese, physical education/lifetime activities, Strategies, forensics, skills for living and for success, fashion, art, engineering, yearbook, newspaper, and music (band, orchestra, or choir).
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Grades 9-12
High School, Grades 9-12
Birmingham Public Schools offers students in grades 9-12 two outstanding high schools: Groves and Seaholm. These fine schools offer top-notch academic curriculum, excellent student support services, superior instructional technology, hundreds of involvement opportunities for all students and exceptional parent and community support. These comprehensive four-year schools are accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and enjoy a graduation rate of 98 percent.
Please see the Groves or Seaholm course catalogs for current descriptions of courses which meet BPS graduation requirements.
Outstanding Curriculum
- Advanced Placement and Honors Classes in English, creative writing, literature, French, Chinese, algebra, calculus, geometry, pre-calculus, anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, environmental science, physics, American and European history
- World Languages: Chinese, French, Spanish, Japanese
- Excel (Groves) and Flex (Seaholm) programs: four-year enriched college-prep program combining literature, history, philosophy, anthropology and fine arts in a program of world and American studies, emphasizing reading, writing and note-taking
- Career Technical Education (CTE) Programs, including Oakland Schools Technical Campus (OSTC)
- Fine arts
- Band, orchestra, vocal music
- Many elective choices
Academic Enrichment and Support
- Guidance counseling
- More than 75 percent of professional staff hold advanced degrees
- Trimester scheduling
- Academic competitions
Instructional Technology
- Integrated technology: classroom computers, computer labs, media centers
- Engineering technology: computer-aided drawing and design, automation, robotics
- Business technology: multimedia, Web design, Cisco Networking Academy, desktop publishing
Athletics and Co-curricular Activities
- Approximately 30 athletic programs with opportunities for every student
- Interscholastic teams
- An extensive array of clubs afford students opportunities to grow in areas such as instrumental, vocal and orchestral music, dramatics, journalism, debate, forensics, student government, community service and leadership skills.
