Key Elements of the Environmental Studies Program include:

• Hands-on experiences at the Fauquier Outdoor Lab, FHS Greenhouse, and off-campus research facilities
• Science-related extracurricular and co-curricular community activities
• Opportunities to collaborate with peers interested in environmental science, sustainability, conservation, and more
   

 

To earn the Environmental Studies Academy Honors Medal and Board of Education Seal for Excellence in Science and the Environment, students must:

• Complete all required courses with a final grade of B or higher
• Complete AP Environmental Science with a final grade of B or higher (unweighted)
• Complete 3 recommended courses
• Complete independent laboratory or field-science research through the Academy Capstone
• Complete a minimum of 50 total hours of voluntary community service or extracurricular activities that involve the application of science by graduation (examples: environmental monitoring, protection, management, or restoration, writing scientific articles, or community outreach events)

To earn the Environmental Studies Academy Graduation Cords, students must:

• Complete all required courses and maintain at least a 2.5 overall GPA
• Complete AP Environmental Science with a final grade of C or higher (unweighted)
• Complete 2 recommended courses
• Complete independent laboratory or field-science research through the Academy Capstone
• Complete a minimum of 30 total hours of voluntary community service or extracurricular activities that involve the application of science by graduation

To earn the Environmental Studies Academy Certificate, students must:

• Complete all required courses and maintain at least a 2.0 overall GPA
• Complete AP Environmental Science with a final grade of C or higher (unweighted)
• Complete 1 recommended course
• Complete independent laboratory or field-science research through the Academy Capstone
• Complete a minimum of 20 total hours of voluntary community service or extracurricular activities that involve the application of science by graduation.

 

ALL Environmental Studies Academy students must maintain a C average 

 

Required Courses for the Environmental Studies Academy:

• Biology or Biology Honors 
  • Academy students should take Biology or Biology Honors in 9th or 10th grade at their base school
• Chemistry
• Environmental Science AP at FHS
  • Students will travel to Fauquier High School to reinforce and elevate their understanding of environmental science through the Advanced Placement Environmental Science curriculum. They will have access to the Environmental Studies Academy Lab, Fauquier Outdoor Lab, and field trip experiences.
• Academy Capstone
  • Students will demonstrate their acquired knowledge and skills through completion of an independent scientific research project in the laboratory or in the field. Results will be presented in a formal, juried setting. *If students take AP Research and conduct scientific research in the lab or in the field, this experience may meet this requirement if approved by the academy director.

Recommended Courses for the Environmental Science Academy:

• Biology AP
• Chemistry AP
• Marine Biology
• Anatomy & Physiology
• Physics
• Physics I AP
• Geology
• Oceanography
• Journalism I
• Media Literacy
• AP Seminar
• AP Research*
• Greenhouse Plant Production & Management
• Horticulture Sciences
• Landscaping
• Technical Drawing & Design
• Intro to Animal Systems
• Small Animal Care
• Computer Science Principles AP
• Computer Math
• Probability & Statistics
• Statistics AP
• Geospatial Science through JMU
• Human Geography AP

*If students take AP Research and conduct scientific research in the lab or in the field, this experience may meet this requirement if approved by the academy director.