Helpful information: Biology at the other Madison high schools

LaFollette -- At LaFollette, there are two sections of Honors Biology I each semester, which means that about 100 freshman (out of about 475 -- that's 21% of all freshman) take an honors option in biology each year. (This is because of LaFollette's block system, whereby they do a full year course in a single semester.) Selection is mainly by teacher recommendation (presumably the student's 8th grade science teacher). LaFollette staff (science teachers, guidance counselors) have worked with the feeder middle school staff over the years to help them make appropriate recommendations. Reading scores, math scores, and interest and motivation in science are all factored in. Parents can also request that there child be in honors biology, in which case -- if there is no supporting teacher recommendation -- the student is allowed in and they see what happens. Interestingly, 8th graders occasionally take honors biology; but they have to take a test (one that was developed by the TAG staff downtown). AP science classes taught at LaFollette: Chemistry.

Memorial -- At Memorial, all freshman (except some Special Ed, some ELL, and a "miniscule number"of high end students who go right into Math Chemistry) take Integrated Science (ISP). The most senior teachers teach the 9th grade ISP classes, with the intention of giving students a really strong grounding in science from their first year. Differentiation of classes does not begin in science until 10th grade. At that point, students begin to self-select, according to ability and interest. There are many choices. With regard to biology, students can go right into AP Biology without any previous biology course. Memorial's AP Biology course has been designed to allow for that (unlike the other AP science courses at Memorial, which do require a previous course in the area). Interestingly, at Memorial the average number of years of science taken is 3.75 (though only 2 are required). This is in part because a lot of students take more than four years. Another important and relevant feature of the Memorial experience is that there is a 9th grade integrated TAG class, which roughly 25 students per semester choose to take (i.e., self-selection). English, science and social studies are brought together by, for example, reading David Copperfield while studying the Industrial Revolution and the invention of the steam engine. The class is team-taught and involves a lot of writing. Also, it turns out Memorial does have a freshman core (which preceded the neighborhood restructuring). Every freshman takes English, science and social studies with the same group of 25-30 classmates. The intention is for them to get to know each other better, and for their three teachers to get to know them all better. AP science courses taught at Memorial: Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Environmental Science.

East -- At East, the well-known and well-loved Mr. Paul du Vair has been teaching TAG Biology for years. There are three sections of TAG Biology this year. (I gather from East parents that the number of sections has varied over time, depending upon number of students interested and qualified.) According to Mr. du Vair, "The course follows the Joseph Renzulli Enrichment Triad Model for the education of accelerated students. The selection process is based on 13 distinct criteria and I select all of the students based on those criteria. The selection system works quite well since no one has challenged the efficacy and fairness of the process over the last twenty years. The criteria for remaining in TAG Biology are few. TAG students must maintain at least a C average. If a TAG student were to drop to a D for any grading period, that student would be automatically dropped and transferred to the regular biology curriculum. In addition, if a student cheats, even once, that student is transferred to the regular curriculum. Finally, a student has the right to withdraw from the TAG program on his/her own authority. Parents also have the right to withdraw or transfer their progeny out of TAG Biology. The TAG teacher doesn't have that kind of final authority." AP science classes taught at East: none.

West -- At West, there has been a single section of Accelerated Biology for several years. Interested students take a test during the second semester of eighth grade. In recent years, the top 20 scorers have been admitted to the class, with four additional slots being reserved for filling in the fall (by students new to the district, students who didn't know about the test the previous spring, and students who want to try again). According to the students in the class, the accelerated biology curriculum is essentially the same as in the regular biology classes. What makes the difference is the kids in the class, all of whom want to be there, want to learn, and can be depended on in group work. They have a lot of fun and learn at a high level. In 10th grade, students who want to take science choose between Chemistry (more math) and Chemistry in the Community (less math), though they may also take Biology II or Earth Science. AP science classes taught at West: none.