STEM Concentration

Women represent only thirty percent of the STEM workforce in the U.S. — and Notre Dame Belmont (NDB) is working to close the gender gap. NDB’s STEM Concentration immerses students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, preparing them for a college-level academic career.

College Structured Science Courses and Labs

NDB is one of the only college preparatory high schools in the country to offer biology and chemistry courses that include a full-length class block in addition to a full-length laboratory block, as practiced at universities.

Who is a STEM Tiger?

A STEM Tiger has an inquiring mind, and may often find themself asking why, how or what. If you tell a STEM Tiger that our rainforests are in danger, they might ask why, quickly followed by, how can I help? A STEM Tiger seeks to understand the world around them and bolster innovations to bring solutions to the world's most complex predicaments.

Virtual Dissection Technology

AP Bio students virtually dissect invertebrates with using a cutting edge, interactive, 3D technology system where the inner workings of animals and life forms come to life with the click of a button.

STEM Concentration Curriculum

If you are a rising sophomore interested in NDB’s STEM Concentration, please keep the requirements below in mind for planning purposes.

Course Requirements

Electives

AP and Honors Courses

*NDB is one of the only college preparatory high schools to offer biology and chemistry courses that include a full-length class block in addition to a full-length laboratory block, as practiced at universities.

AP Biology (meets daily)*
AP Chemistry (meets daily)*
AP Physics 1
AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC
AP Computer Science Principles (counts as a UC Science)
AP Statistics
Algebra II Honors
Geometry Honors
Precalculus Honors
AP Computer Science A
(counts as a UC Math)

Other Requirements

Optional Opportunities

Required Learning Experiences

Independent Experiences: Completion of at least three independent STEM-related experiences outside of NDB

Sample independent experiences may include participating in a STEM activity that has an external or independent competition associated with it, such as the American Math Competition (AMC), International Math Olympiad, California Mathematics League, Tiger Bots Robotics Team, or approved summer programs, just to give a few examples. NDB will provide an updated list of suggestions each year. Additional experiences may also be proposed by students pending prior approval.

Academic Experiences: Attendance at three STEM-related academic lectures, conferences or workshops

Co-curricular Experiences: Sustained participation in NDB co-curricular activities related to STEM during the junior and senior years

Forensics Mock Trial

Forensic students take to the courtroom following mock crime scenes that are staged on campus. Faculty and staff take on the roles of perpetrators, accomplices and witnesses among staged crimes of vengeance on campus! Students evaluate the crime scene using their knowledge of fingerprint and bloodstain pattern analysis. Following crime scene evaluations, students hold an ongoing mock trial in the courtroom as they play out the roles of courtroom judges, lawyers, clerks and more. Various classes on campus attend the trial each day as the jury, along with American Sign Language students translating the courtroom correspondence. Students exude exemplary confidence and poise as they present evidence, record testimony, cross-examine witnesses and more!

Forensics Mock Trial Crime Scene Investigation

Tri-School Productions Build and Tech Team

Go behind the scenes as part of the Tri-School Productions Build and Tech Crew. Students work side-by-side with our team of professional designers to put on all aspects of each show.

Learn sound engineering to set up audio equipment and manipulate audio levels to obtain excellent sound quality.
Work with lighting designers to hang and focus lighting instruments and run light board operations.
Learn to properly and safely use a variety of power tools.
Construct, paint and dress the set using theatrical painting and set techniques.

TigerBots Robotics Team

TigerBots is NDB's award-winning, student-run FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics team that introduces students to engineering, business, marketing and more. The team works together to develop technical skills to design, prototype and build robots and promote their team. The year-long experience culminates by participating in the annual FTC challenge.

Career Examples:

Medical Physician

Engineer

Geologist

Laboratory Scientist

Veterinarian

Marine Biologist

Architect

Astronomer

Computer Programmer

Genetic Counselor

All of my NDB teachers have had a huge impact on me and my desire to pursue STEM. Their knowledge, kindness and passion for science have made the classes I've had with them so enjoyable. NDB has prepared me for my future most of all by building my confidence. Being in such a supportive all-girls environment has allowed me to discover my passions in a comfortable, collaborative place.

Built on the tenets of integrity, compassion and perseverance, my Notre Dame Belmont education as a tuition assistance recipient allowed me to confidently pursue a meaningful career in optometry. Today, I am able to impact hundreds of patients by providing sight-saving medical care.

Notre Dame has prepared me for my future by giving me a strong academic foundation while also helping me to grow as a leader and as a person. The supportive community and close relationships with teachers allowed me to challenge myself and step outside of my comfort zone. Having been in leadership roles at NDB, I was ready to step into the world of college and immerse myself in each and every opportunity it had to offer.

I value the all-girls education that NDB uniquely offers, as the experience enabled personal development by strengthening my confidence and my ability to communicate well with others. I work with researchers, doctors, nurses and all kinds of patients and communicating effectively is very important. An NDB education allowed me to enter college and the workforce with confidence.

Notre Dame instilled in me the conviction to pursue my dream to become a physician. My high school experience gave me the confidence to strive as a woman in the field of science. My Notre Dame roots have helped me to succeed as a compassionate physician, daughter, wife and mother.

I am grateful for an NDB education because no other school could have provided me with the broad exposure to science, the opportunities to demonstrate and grow into leadership roles and the confidence to achieve my biggest goals. The NDB experience is unique and showed me that I am capable of more than I ever thought.

NDB prepared me with many of the foundational tools needed for my career today like the ability to communicate and work with others, act with kindness, and a strong foundation in writing and science.

NDB helped me discover my love for biology. The school's project-based learning curriculum allowed me to explore my niche interests in all of my classes. It was so much fun writing mini plays for Greek Day in English class and dressing up for mock debates in APUSH, but probably the most impactful project was when I got to make a movie about deep sea ecosystems in Mrs. Girard's biology class. Creating this film helped me realize how much I love the ocean and led me towards contacting marine conservation organizations in the Bay Area. I am currently volunteering with the California Academy of Sciences as a SCUBA diver and preparing to apply to medical school. My life would have gone in a completely different direction if I had not caught the biology bug at NDB.