(contd.)

English 3, Inf Geometry or Geometry,

Physical science/ chemistry/ Biology,

Elective, Band or orchestra,

US history, Physical education.

Level 2 :

English 3 CP, Algebra 1B or Geometry H,

Biology H / chemistry H, Foreign Lang 2,

Band or orchestra, World history or H,

Physical education.

Level 3 :

English 3H, Algebra 2H or Precalculus H,

Chemistry AP / Biology AP, Foreign Lang 3 or 4 H,

Band or orchestra, US history AP,

Physical education.

Level 4 :

English 3H, Precalculus H or Calculus AP,

Chemistry AP/ Biology AP, Foreign Lang 3 or 4 H,

Band or orchestra, US History AP, Physical education.

Grade XII

Level 1 :

English 4, American Govt and Economics,

Marine Science/ Forensic Science Chemistry,

Band or orchestra, Elective, Physical education.

Level 2 :

English 4, American Govt and Economics,

Elective, Marine Science / Forensic Science/ Chemistry,

Band or orchestra, Physical education.

Level 3 :

English 4 AP, Precalculus H or

Calculus AP or Statistics AP,

Physics H or AP/ Chemistry AP/

Environment Science AP,

Foreign lang 4 H or 5AP,

Band or orchestra, American Govt,

economics AP, Physical education.

Level 4 :

English 3H, Calculus AP or Statistics AP, Physics H or AP / Chemistry AP, Foreign lang 4 H or 5AP, Band or orchestra, American Govt, Economics AP, Physical education.

The four-year schedule is for a typical school in Orange County, California. There are specialized schools concentrating on individual subjects. For example, there are school in Los Angeles, which concentrate on art of filming. They have lots of electives based on their area of concentration. Another example is a school specializing in western classical music. These specialized schools are
for students who have already decided their career early.

There are students who have been playing sports for a few years. They play the sport of their interest during the season. The numbers of sports offered are more compared to middle school. Sports they offer range from football, soccer, swimming, water polo, tennis, badminton, hockey, basketball, track and field, baseball, golf etc. For taking some sports you have to pay nominal fee. Children who are in sports have the last period as physical education so that they can stay longer after school for practice. They have regularly scheduled matches played against other high school teams in the county.

AP classes are taken by students who do very well academically. These are all college level courses and are tougher. Apart from exams in school, students have to take a college level board exam to pass. If they pass in the exam then they get credit in the college and do not have to repeat this course again in college. The grade point allotted for this course is 5.0 instead of the typical 4.0.

There are several community colleges in each County. (A State is divided into several counties similar to districts). These colleges offer education at a cheaper rate if you are a resident of that state. They have courses for all majors in BS level for first two years. You earn a BA or BS if you finish 4 years of college education, but you can get an AA (Associate degree) if you finish two years of college education. These are also meant for people who have to work during the day and can take classes during the night to further their education. So to get a bachelors’ degree you need not pay exorbitant fees for 4 years in a university, instead, study for two years in a community college and transfer the credit for the courses done to the university after two years.

(concluded)