The Core Curriculum of a Northbrook Academy student includes Math, English, Social Studies and Science.

About Our Math Curriculum
Northbrook is proud to have adopted a math program published by Saxon, an imprint of of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Supplemental Publishers. This Saxon math program is both comprehensive and unique because of its continuous practice and repetition of learned concepts. This revisiting of material empowers students; they KNOW their math skills have confidence in their abilities.

We use a placement exam to determine which math level a student should begin study while at Northbrook. Students in 6th grade usually start with one of the Saxon math books for Math 7/6 or Algebra 1/2. Seventh graders typically are placed into Algebra 1/2 or Algebra 1. Eight grade students are usually studying Algebra 1 or Algebra 2. The wonderful math books are only guides; our curriculum is customized to meet the needs of our students and is enhanced by the small class sizes. Algebra 1 students with strong math skills have usually placed out of Algebra 1 in their chosen high schools. We have encouraged gifted Math students to take the SAT exam in 7th grade for national recognition through the John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. Each year we have had the honor of a number of Northbrook students earn national distinctions for their Math skills.

About Our Science Curriculum
We believe in hands on learning and that science students should be able to get their hands dirty. Whether we are dealing with LIfe Science, Earth Science or Physical Science; we find that students that work on their own experiments are more likely to internalize information. You can lecture about density, but actually measuring out the volume and density using a triple beam balance to find mass leaves a more lasting impression. Our science program uses many texts including those from the Glencoe 15 Book Series, but the curriculum only uses books as guides and is driven by hands on lab work. We might be collecting and analyzing water from a local lake or pond, or dissecting a bullfrog. Students get involved in as much as they can and very often learn important lessons from their mistakes. One thing is certain --in Northbrook science classes, students will have many opportunities to get their hands dirty!

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