Curriculum Overview

The curriculum for the middle and high school program at APU International School is modeled after the California State Curriculum, one of the most rigorous in the US. By emulating this system, our school ensures that students receive not just an American education but also a competitive one.

The faculty at our school seeks to provide students with a robust yet diverse education through instruction in four core subjects—language arts, mathematics, science, and social science—as well as supplemental and peripheral subjects such as English Language Development (ELD) and computer science.

Within each subject, students are taught and challenged with specific topics in order to develop knowledge and competencies that will not only prepare them for university education in the United States but also serve as the basis for further academic scholarship.

Specifics of the core academic departments can be found below.

Language Arts | Mathematics | Science | Social Science | Foreign Language

Language Arts

The Language Arts program at APU International School offers a tailored, integrated approach to both discovering classic English language literature and developing varied and useful academic writing skills. The department aims to give students greater cultural and intellectual awareness through the reading and study of both fiction and nonfiction. Students undertake writing projects in response to topics and themes generated by the literature. In this way, they gain experience writing in varied academic forms, learning to organize original thought and evidence in a structured and appropriate way. In addition, presentation and drama are used to enhance student confidence in the verbal expression of complex topics. The development of these skills will produce APU graduates who are well-equipped for high achievement at the university level.

Curriculum:

  • Language Arts I
  • Language Arts II
  • Language Arts III
  • Language Arts IV
  • Language Arts V

Mathematics

The Mathematics program at APU International School provides students with the skills necessary to both solve mathematical problems encountered in day-to-day life and prepare them for university study. Students are taught to conceptualize Mathematics in both abstract and concrete means as well as the procedures necessary for solving related problems. Students learn a wide range of mathematical concepts and capabilities, including fundamentals, visualization, communication, reasoning, and proofs.

Curriculum:

  • Algebra I
  • Geometry I
  • Algebra II
  • Precalculus
  • Calculus
  • Statistics

Science

The Science program at APU International School teaches students to be adept researchers, knowledgeable in multiple branches of science, and prepared with the critical-thinking skills necessary for conducting research at the university level. Students develop an understanding of the foundation of science by learning about its history and real world implications. Through combinations of lectures and hands-on demonstrations, students conduct and learn about scientific concepts across Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

Curriculum:

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Astronomy
  • Earth Science
  • Engineering
  • Oceanography

Social Science

The Social Science program at APU International School develops students who are able to contribute to their communities by having a global perspective and understanding the views of those from diverse backgrounds and the impact of past events on their lives. The Social Science curriculum provides students with historical backdrops to current affairs in addition to frameworks for interpreting other cultures, with particular emphasis on the United States.

Curriculum:

  • Modern World History
  • US History
  • World Geography
  • Principles of Economics
  • Model United Nations
  • Advanced Economics
  • Art History

Foreign Language

The Foreign Language program at APU International School offers students the opportunity to study two foreign languages, one East Asian and one European: Mandarin and French. While English remains the language of instruction within the school, the need to understand the backgrounds and languages of other cultures remains critical in helping students develop global awareness.