Response to Concerns about Our Science Curriculum

Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, OPRF replaced its freshman Physics and freshman Biology options with Physics-Chemistry. While not as commonly offered at high schools in our area, this course aligns with state and national learning standards and is offered in other high schools across the country. 

Physics-Chemistry is a science learning progression that is recognized and accepted by colleges and universities across the country. We have yet to find a single one that would not accept this course as satisfying the entrance requirements they have for Physics and Chemistry.

Recently, however, some families have expressed concerns about whether Physics-Chemistry limits students’ long-term options. We’d like to take this opportunity to address them.

Concern: Colleges want a year each of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, which OPRF does not provide. This hurts our students' post-secondary college aspirations.

Response: It’s understandable why this is a concern: Some colleges state on their websites that they look for their applicants to have taken one year each of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. In reality, though, this is not a hard requirement for admissions consideration. In the past, OPRF has had countless students admitted to colleges our community would consider to be prestigious or highly selective without taking any Physics whatsoever. 

So why do colleges say this is a requirement if they don't follow it? What are they actually looking for? Direct conversations with the admissions representatives at these schools have determined that they are looking for a minimum of three years of Science—but not necessarily these three specific courses. Colleges list Biology, Chemistry, and Physics because they are looking for variety in the scientific disciplines a student takes during their high school years. 

Furthermore, these are the most common options that high school students across the country would have access to. We are fortunate to be able to offer our 9th and 10th grade students foundational experiences in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology during their first two years, then access to a wide variety of Science offerings in Advanced Placement, dual credit, and elective courses for their junior and senior years.

A student who takes Physics-Chemistry freshman year, a Biology class sophomore year, and any of our science electives in their junior and/or senior years will have a very strong Science profile for college admissions purposes. In fact, that profile is likely even stronger than a typical science sequence in the past (for example, Biology, Chemistry, Advanced Placement [AP] Biology, and Anatomy) because they will now have some Physics. 

OPRF’s foundational Science sequence—past or present—has never been the deciding factor for admission to STEM programming at selective colleges and universities. Four years of Science, the rigor of Science coursework during junior and senior years, AND demonstration of authentic interest in STEM or the discipline you plan to study through experiences such as project-based coursework in courses like AP Research are much more influential in college admissions decisions than the foundational Science sequence offered at a high school.

Concern: Students are forced to take a year of Physics or Chemistry during their junior or senior year to make up for Physics-Chemistry, eating away at time that could be spent on other disciplines.

Response: This is not true, as explained above. Students can take any Science elective during their junior and senior year and have a strong profile for college admissions decisions. OPRF’s junior/senior Science courses include seven different AP offerings, six electives, and a dual-credit course through Triton College.

Concern: Honors science classes were eliminated during junior year.

Response: For junior year, this is true. Context is important though: Previously, we offered only one honors Science course during junior year, Physics A. This class was so similar to AP Physics 1, however, that it was a disservice to our students to not get AP credit for the Physics A work. Therefore, we eliminated the honors-level Physics course and now offer two different AP Physics courses that students can take junior year, AP Physics 1 or AP Physics C. 

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact Science Division Head Matt Kirkpatrick (mkirkpatrick@oprfhs.org).