Upper School Curriculum

The First Academy Upper School course of study reflects a traditional liberal arts core curriculum. There is sufficient flexibility in the curriculum to allow students the opportunity to work and study in areas of interest and ability.

Our curriculum is designed to develop students along lines of reasoning, research, expression, and critical thinking in order to prepare them for collegiate rigor. Teachers are our Living Curriculum and are at the core of our academic programming. Teachers model and mentor as they set standards of excellence for our student body. Our goal is to cultivate inquiring intellects that seek wisdom beyond scholarship, service before self, character before career, and participation as a way of life.

The Upper School curriculum features more than 100 courses that include dual enrollment with Valencia Community College as well as eight College Board Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

Course Distribution Requirements

English: All students are required to have 4.0 credits in English to graduate. AP Literature, AP Language. 

Mathematics: All students must have 4.0 credits in mathematics to graduate. The minimum requirements include Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II. Some students may begin ninth grade enrolled in Geometry. For these students the minimum may also include Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry or Pre Calculus. AP Calculus A, AP Physics.

Social Sciences: All students must have 3.0 credits in social science courses to graduate. These include courses in history, economics, geography and government. AP US History, AP World History, AP European History, AP Government.

Foreign Language: All students must have 2.0 credits of a foreign language in order to graduate. Some students may begin ninth grade enrolled in a second year of a language. For these students a third year of the same language would be necessary in tenth grade. AP French, AP Spanish.

Science: All students must have 3.0 credits of science courses to graduate. AP Biology, AP Chemistry.

Christian Studies: All students must have 2.5 credits of Christian Studies courses. These include Foundations in Theology, Worldview, Apologetics, and Spiritual Formation.

Physical Education: All students must have 1.0 credit in Physical Education*.
* 0.5 Personal Fitness (which students may test out of by passing a Physical Education fitness test); 0.5 Credits in a PE elective. 

Fine Arts: All students must have 1.0 credit in an art elective.

Transfer Students

All students transferring to The First Academy must meet the minimum criteria above. An exception to this would be the Christian Studies requirement that may be waived for a student transferring to our campus after grade 9.