Science Department | Biology, Chemistry & Physics at Milton Academy

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ACADEMICS

A Curriculum That
Evolves with the Student

Every school offers physics, chemistry, and biology—but few offer them like we do. To best foster scientific inquiry, communication, and knowledge application skills, Milton has adopted the “Physics First” model of science education. We believe that the visible and pattern-oriented nature of physics grounds students in the habits of data collection, observation, and quality control, while also highlighting the interconnected nature of the academic program; the mathematical, writing, and analysis skills they develop in their other core classes are equally applicable in their science program.

Scientific Inquiry and Advanced Research Skills

After developing a strong foundation in Class IV Physics, students are able to progress into the abstract and nuanced nature of chemical relationships while expanding their experimental and analytical toolkit. The core curriculum culminates in the study of biology where students are asked to engage with literature from the professional scientific community in pursuit of understanding and mastering the complex relationships that exist in the living world.

In tandem with the evolution of the curriculum is the development of student confidence and independence. By engaging socratically, faculty train students to “know what to do when they don’t know what to do.” By the end of Class IV, students are confidently leading their own investigations and presenting their findings to the larger community, prepared for our advanced and elective course offerings.

The science department offers a capstone Design Your Own or “DYO” experience; each full year, lab-based course offered in the department culminates in a 4-6 week long process where students design, execute, and report on a novel experiment of their own choosing.

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Signature Courses and Opportunities

Milton students have an impressive slate of advanced and elective courses to choose from that rival college-level offerings. Some of our science offerings include:

Advanced Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Physics
Marine Science
Molecular Genetics
Neuroscience
Observational Astronomy
Organic Chemistry

Science Beyond the Classroom

Science Symposium

Science at Work in Greater Boston

Nature as a Classroom

Clubs and Student Publications

Ayer Observatory

Sustainability

Our Science Faculty

Milton’s Science faculty bring extensive expertise from academic research fields and industry experience. By sharing and demonstrating their own passions in the classroom, they encourage students to do the same.