we have to know about the past. The
best way to do that is to get absorbed in
it! This class will spotlight: significant
eras, moments, events, and people
in 20th century and contemporary
America. Upon successful completion
of the course, students will understand
major ideas, eras, themes, developments,
turning points, chronology, and causeand-effect relationships in United
States history. This course is designed
for juniors who are seeking additional
challenge in history. Emphasis is placed
on honing students’ ability to analyze
both primary and secondary sources
for accuracy, nuance and perspective.
Extensive reading and research outside
of class will be required.
your life—guaranteed! Through this class
you will gain an understanding of the
banking and credit system, retirement
plans, the power of investing in stocks,
mutual funds, cd’s, bonds, and real estate.
From the start we will be researching
possible investment plans for all stages
of life. You will become familiar with the
political system and issues that are being
addressed here in America. You will
understand the process of government
and see how it is used our everyday lives.
We will become familiar with the local
government policies and officials in the
Saco community and understand the
role, the rights and responsibilities, of
citizens at all levels of government and in
the world today.
AP US History
1 credit
Grades 11 and 12
Prerequisite: Placement by instructor
Great historians ask great questions.
Why did the first American colonists
resort to eating their dead? Was Lincoln
really “The Great Emancipator” or did
the slaves actually free themselves?
Why did the Ku Klux Klan reach 4
million members in the 1920s and
parade through Saco’s Main St.? Was the
dropping of the atomic bomb in WWII
a military necessity or political message?
In tackling these essential questions
and countless others, students in AP
US History will confront the dominant
themes of American history and develop
an understanding of why America has
become the nation it is today. Students in
this challenging college-level course will
prepare for the required College Board
AP US History exam by learning the
critical reading, writing and analytical
skills necessary to develop an advanced
understanding of US history and become
great historians themselves.
Economics
0.5 credit
Grades 11 and 12
How do choices end up determining
what, how, and for whom goods and
services are produced? When do choices
made in the pursuit of self- interest also
promote the social interest? Are we on
the edge of a “fiscal cliff ”? In this class,
we will study how individuals and groups
make decisions with limited resources
in order best to satisfy their wants,
needs, and desires. This course will give
students a greater understanding of
economics ranging from the viewpoint
of the individual consumer or small
business owner to the global economy.
We will study the law of supply and
demand, forms of business, labor unions,
government finances and their influence
on the economy, money and prices,
inflation and deflation cycles. The course
will relate history and psychology to the
study of economics.
ELECTIVES
Students will be able to choose between
a number of courses, some full-year
and some semester long, representing a
wider array of the social sciences.
Civics an Personal Finance
0.5 credit
Grades 11 & 12
Do you want to be an informed voter?
Do you want to retire at the age of 55?
Do you want your money to grow? In
this class students will be educated to
become strong citizens and manage
their finances effectively. We will teach
“who to ask, where to go, and how to
plan for the future.” The skills learned
in the class will be useful for the rest of
22
AP Economics
1 credit
Grades 11 and 12
AP Economics
Students will study how individuals and
groups make decisions with limited
resources in order to best satisfy their
wants, needs, and desires, as well
as gaining a greater understanding
of economics ranging from the
viewpoint of the individual consumer
or small business owner to the global
economy. The course will cover basic
economic concepts of scarcity, choice
and opportunity cost, the production
possibilities curve, comparative
advantage and trade, economic systems,
property rights and the role of incentives,
and marginal analysis. After mastering
the basic concepts, topics will include the
nature and functions of product markets,
factor markets, and market failure and
the role of government. The course will
relate history and psychology to the
study of economics. Students will focus
on both the micro and macro economic
principles in preparation for the required
AP exam.
AP European History
1 credit
Grade 12
Prerequisite: Placement by instructor
Napoleon, Bismarck and Churchill are
but three figures that have left their mark
on the course of modern history yet are
rarely addressed in other history class.
Through an exploration of the events
that have shaped the path of Europe’s
existence, a greater understanding
of global, national and local topics is
possible. Students should expect to be
challenged not just with voluminous
readings but also in the organization
and analysis of new data, through their
writing and verbal skills and in myriad
other ways which will challenge their
und