Required 9th Grade Courses

 
Urban has three terms of 12 weeks each (fall, winter, spring) and students take four classes per term, plus optional music performance during three E periods throughout the entire year. If a student does not choose a performance music program, the E/activity periods are faculty-monitored study halls, or a combination of co-curricular activities, such as Journalism, a fitness course, Yearbook, dance, mindfulness, etc. Participation on athletic teams is after school, five days a week, including some holidays.


Course descriptions can be found by visiting the Urban Curriculum pages.

English (two terms)
- English 1A – Stories of Us
- English 1B – Journeys

History (two terms)
- Word History A
- World History B

Science (two terms)
- Fundamentals of Science 1A
- Fundamentals of Science 1B

Identity & Ethnic Studies  / 9th Grade Health (each 6 weeks / 1/2 term)

Math (two terms) - Students who have not taken Algebra 1 in 8th grade or who need an additional foundation of algebra and preliminary geometry should select Math 1. If you are planning to take the math placement test, you may choose Math 2 on the form, although the Urban Math Department will make the final determination as to which class is most suitable. Please see Step 2 here for more information on math placement and testing.
* students who have selected Level 2 but do not complete the math placement test will be automatically moved into Level 1.

World Language (two terms) - Choose from Chinese, French or Spanish on the sign-up form, including which course level you believe is appropriate. Students who have never taken  another language or who need an additional foundation of the language of their choice should select Level 1. If you are planning to take the language placement test, you may choose Level 2 on the form, although the Urban Language Department will make the final determination as to which class is most suitable. Please see Step 2 here for more information on language placement and testing.
*students who have selected Level 2 but do not complete the language placement test will be automatically moved into Level 1.

Arts Elective (one term) - You will take one arts course during your 9th grade year. You can see descriptions of these electives on our Curriculum pages here.

If you choose to participate in a music ensemble (jazz band, Urban Singers chorus or chamber orchestra), you must take the "Intro" class for your discipline as your 9th grade arts elective. In future years, you are free to take other Art electives. Please note whether you will participate in music performance, or rank your first, second and third choices of the following classes on the sign-up form:

  • Intro to Chamber Orchestra - required if a student wishes to join the Chamber Orchestra 
  • Intro to Urban Singers - required if a student wishes to join Urban Singers 
  • Intro to Jazz Band - required if a student wishes to join the jazz band

Please see this video for more details on the music program.

Other arts electives for 9th graders include (go here for course descriptions):

  • Theater 1
  • Circus Techniques
  • Essentials of Comedy
  • Music Theory 
  • Painting
  • Drawing/Mixed Media
  • Sculpture
  • Video Production