DPA HIGH SCHOOL

DPA High School is a rigorous academic model anchored in college preparatory standards and complemented by a rich advisory program for socioemotional learning. The overarching principle guiding the school's model is the development of 21st century, transferable skills. We offer a comprehensive path to college and career, while building character and citizenship of all of our scholars!
  • AP tests are the benchmark for all academic planning
  • 5 core content areas: Computer Science, English, Math, Science, Social Studies
  • Enrichment requirements: World Languages, Fine Arts, Physical Education, Community Service
  • Opportunities to "double up" to take on more advanced courses or close learning gaps
  • Upperclassmen will have the option to participate in an internship or complete a year-long community-based project

Socioemotional Development

  • Scholars will have one advisor for the length of their high school progress
  • Advisors are the primary point of contact for scholars as well as parents and guardians to communicate with DPA. You will receive at least 1 phone call each week from your scholar's advisor to stay on the same page
  • Advisors will provide scholars with daily social-emotional learning, including developing character skills, discussing current events and planning for the future, and building community with the advisor cohort

Post-Grad College and Career Planning 

  • 9th Grade Orientation will include creating a roadmap to get to a scholar's desired college and/or career
    • Scholars will learn the college application process and backwards plan the classes, clubs, and extracurricular activities they will take on to achieve their goals
  • Advisors and teachers will collaborate with scholars to create a personalized portfolio to best showcase a scholar's talent to prospective colleges and employers

 

Specific Courses Offered

Courses Currently Offered at DPA High School Are: 

Math: DPA utilizes the Open Up Resources curriculum, which provides scholars with rigorous inquiry-based tasks that force them to grapple with complex mathematical concepts and construct their own understanding of theories and ideas. It is also designed to support the key shifts in mathematics that are inherent in the Common Core standards: focus, coherence, and rigor.

  • Algebra I: this course covers sequences; linear and exponential functions; features of functions; equations and inequalities; systems of equations and inequalities; quadratic functions; structures of quadratic expressions; and modeling data.
  • Geometry: this course covers transformations and symmetry; congruence, construction and proof; geometric figures; similarity and right triangle trigonometry; circles; measuring circles, angles and shapes; connecting algebra and geometry; modeling with geometry; and probability.

English Language: DPA utilizes the Guidebooks curriculum which is a rigorous literacy program that focuses on the three instructional shifts in the Common Core standards: complexity, evidence and knowledge.

  • English I: this course builds scholars’ understanding and knowledge through carefully curated text sets, compelling questions, and integrated reading and writing activities.
  • English II: building on English 1, this course further fosters a love of reading and writing by ensuring all scholars can read, understand and express their understanding of complex, renowned texts.

Science: DPA utilizes McGraw Hill science curriculum, which promotes inquiry and real-world problem solving with phenomena and hands-on activities.

  • Biology: this course is organized around major themes, big ideas, and the main ideas of biology, and it offers strong support for reading comprehension. The course’s comprehensive content is made relevant to scholars through engaging real-world contexts.
  • Chemistry: this course is organized around major themes, big ideas, and the main ideas of chemistry, and provides strong problem solving opportunities.  It additionally incorporates interactive chemistry labs.

Social Studies: DPA utilizes the TCI high school curriculum which seeks to give scholars a strong foundation for excelling in college, career, and civic life. This curriculum for high school is robust, engaging, and results-focused. Scholars complete collaborative projects, writing assignments, critical-thinking challenges, and problem-solving group work.

  • World History: this course takes a global approach to the study of world history by exploring inter-regional connections and global themes that connect our world today.
  • US History: this course teaches US history through the use of the founding ideals – liberty, democracy, rights and equality.

Computer Science: DPA utilizes CodeHS curriculum, which teaches scholars applicable computer science skills. With a focus on problem solving and computational thinking skills, scholars learn professional programming languages and the conceptual understanding needed to learn new languages.

  • Computer Science I: this course teaches the foundations of computer science and basic programming, with an emphasis on helping students develop logical thinking and problem solving skills.
  • Computer Science II: this course teaches the fundamentals of computer programming as well as some advanced features of the Python 3 language.

World Language: DPA utilizes the EntreCulturas curriculum to teach Scholars the Spanish language through the lens of interculturality.

  • Spanish I: in this course scholars build the language skills, personal attitudes, and cultural insights necessary to experience life using Spanish to connect with people. Scholars learn grammar and vocabulary both inductively and deductively.
  • Spanish II: this course recycles grammar, vocabulary, and culture with the content introduced and practiced in Spanish I, and leverages communicative practice and comprehensible input strategies so that scholars can acquire new vocabulary and grammar in context.