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Basic High School Curriculum Structure
from: Kyle BesserThere is wide variance in the curriculum required in American high schools. Many school districts require that courses in the areas of English, science, social science and mathematics be taken every year. Other school districts set the required number of credits and allow the student some choice as to when the courses will be taken after the 10th grade.
Required Courses
Generally, three science courses are required. Biology, chemistry and physics are standard options. Other science studies may include geology, the environment and forensics.
High school mathematics subjects include topics such as algebra, geometry and trigonometry. Advanced study options can include pre-calculus, calculus and statistics.
English classes are usually required for four years of high school. Many schools allow journalism, public speaking/debate, foreign language, literature, drama and writing (both technical and creative) classes as English/Language classes.
Social science classes often include World History, U.S. History and Civics. Options can include classes in law (constitutional, criminal or international), economics, sociology and psychology.
Two years of physical education (usually referred to as "gym," "PE" or "Phys-Ed" by students) is commonly required, although some states and school districts require that all students take physical education every semester.
Many states require a health course in which students typically learn anatomy, nutrition, first aid, the basic concepts of sexuality and birth control and basic concepts regarding illegal drugs, cigarettes and alcohol. In some schools, the health and physical education class are combined into one class or are offered in alternate semesters.
In some private schools, such as Catholic schools, theology is also required for graduation.
Electives
Public high schools offer a wide variety of elective courses, although the availability of such electives depends upon each particular school's size and financial situation. Common types of electives include:
*Visual Arts - drawing, sculpture, painting, photography
*Performing Arts - choir, drama, band, orchestra, dance, film
*Vocational Education - woodworking, metalworking, automobile repair
*Business Education - word processing, accounting, business management
*Computer Science - programming, graphic design, web design
*Journalism/Publishing - school newspaper, yearbook, television production
*Foreign Languages - French, German, Italian, and Spanish are most common
*Family and Consumer Science/Health - home economics, nutrition, child development
Some high schools offer drivers education during school as a regular course for a credit. Other schools only offer driver education courses after school.
Advanced Courses
Many high schools provide Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. These courses are special honors classes where the curriculum is more challenging and lessons are more aggressively paced than standard courses. AP or IB courses are usually taken during the 11th or 12th grade of high school.
Also, in states with well-developed community college systems, there are often mechanisms by which gifted students may attend community college courses during the summer and the school year. The units earned this way can often be transferred to later to a college or university and facilitate early graduation. Early college entrance programs are a step further, with students enrolling as freshmen at a younger than traditional age. This is the usual chronicle of higher education.
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