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High School
A Competitive Edge for University Admissions
A rigorous UC A–G curriculum, 31 AP courses, and a 1:8 teacher-to-student ratio (1:4.7 counting all staff) — preparing graduates for top universities and real-world challenges.
UC A–G Aligned Diploma31 AP Courses1:8 Teacher–Student RatioFree ESL
High School in Motion
Life in High School
Our students in their own words — and the showcase they put on.
Student Voices🔊 Tap for soundMy teachers are always willing to help and make learning engaging. Because we have flexibility in choosing some courses, I was able to take Health Science to prepare for my goal of studying Nursing.
Performing Arts🔊 Tap for soundI used to be shy and unsure about speaking up. Now I'm involved in student council and regularly volunteer at school events. I'm more confident in myself and comfortable being who I am.
31
AP Courses
1:8
Teacher–Student Ratio
18
Average Class Size
90%
Admitted to Top-50 Universities
A–G
UC-Aligned Diploma
College Outcomes · Classes of 2023–2026
Results Families Can Count On
100% of our graduates are admitted to Top 100 U.S. universities, 90% to the Top 50, with an average SAT of 1280+.
90%
Admitted to Top 50 U.S. universities
100%
Admitted to Top 100 U.S. universities
1280+
Average SAT (CA average: 1115)
A+
Niche Rating — Top 2.5% of U.S. private schools
31
AP courses offered
View The Full Class Of 2023–2026 Admissions List (60+ Universities)
National Universities · U.S. News 2026 Ranking
| U.S. News 2026 | University | Admitted |
|---|---|---|
| #5 | Yale UniversityTOP 10 | 1 |
| #6 | Duke UniversityTOP 10 | 1 |
| #6 | Northwestern UniversityTOP 10 | 1 |
| #10 | University of PennsylvaniaTOP 10 | 1 |
| #11 | Cornell UniversityTOP 25 | 3 |
| #11 | University of ChicagoTOP 25 | 1 |
| #13 | Brown UniversityTOP 25 | 1 |
| #13 | Columbia UniversityTOP 25 | 2 |
| #15 | UC Los Angeles (UCLA)TOP 25 | 12 |
| #17 | UC BerkeleyTOP 25 | 6 |
| #18 | Rice UniversityTOP 25 | 2 |
| #21 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityTOP 25 | 2 |
| #22 | UNC–Chapel HillTOP 25 | 1 |
| #24 | Emory UniversityTOP 25 | 2 |
| #24 | University of VirginiaTOP 25 | 5 |
| #27 | USCTOP 50 | 9 |
| #29 | UC San DiegoTOP 50 | 31 |
| #30 | New York UniversityTOP 50 | 11 |
| #30 | University of FloridaTOP 50 | 1 |
| #30 | UT AustinTOP 50 | 1 |
| #33 | UC IrvineTOP 50 | 35 |
| #33 | UC DavisTOP 50 | 42 |
| #33 | UIUCTOP 50 | 17 |
| #39 | UC Santa BarbaraTOP 50 | 18 |
| #39 | Wisconsin–MadisonTOP 50 | 3 |
| #41 | Boston UniversityTOP 50 | 5 |
| #41 | Ohio State UniversityTOP 50 | 19 |
| #41 | Rutgers–New BrunswickTOP 50 | 16 |
| #44 | University of RochesterTOP 50 | 10 |
| #46 | University of WashingtonTOP 50 | 9 |
| #51 | Case Western Reserve | 9 |
| #51 | Virginia Tech | 1 |
| #54 | Northeastern University | 2 |
| #54 | Minnesota–Twin Cities | 1 |
| #58 | Stony Brook University | 5 |
| #58 | UC Merced | 13 |
| #58 | UMass Amherst | 1 |
| #63 | Brandeis University | 5 |
| #63 | Michigan State University | 2 |
| #63 | Penn State–University Park | 4 |
| #63 | Santa Clara University | 3 |
| #63 | University of Miami | 2 |
| #70 | University of Connecticut | 2 |
| #72 | Indiana–Bloomington | 1 |
| #76 | Stevens Institute of Technology | 1 |
| #76 | UC Riverside | 15 |
| #80 | Pepperdine University | 2 |
| #80 | UI Chicago | 3 |
| #80 | Rutgers–Newark | 2 |
| #84 | UC Santa Cruz | 17 |
| #91 | Fordham University | 1 |
| #148 | Parsons School of Design (The New School) | 1 |
Liberal Arts Colleges · U.S. News 2026 Ranking
| U.S. News 2026 | University | Admitted |
|---|---|---|
| #19 | Grinnell CollegeTOP 25 | 1 |
| #31 | Franklin & Marshall CollegeTOP 50 | 7 |
| #36 | Denison UniversityTOP 50 | 6 |
| #36 | Skidmore CollegeTOP 50 | 5 |
Global Universities · QS 2026 World Ranking
| QS 2026 | University | Admitted |
|---|---|---|
| #2 | Imperial College LondonTOP 10 | 2 |
| #3 | University of OxfordTOP 10 | 1 |
| #5 | University of CambridgeTOP 10 | 3 |
| #9 | University College LondonTOP 10 | 1 |
| #14 | Peking UniversityTOP 25 | 1 |
| #20 | Tsinghua UniversityTOP 25 | 1 |
| #25 | University of TorontoTOP 25 | 1 |
| #38 | University of British ColumbiaTOP 50 | 1 |
| #80 | Durham University | 1 |
TOP 10 / 25 / 50 badges reflect each university's own U.S. News 2026 (U.S.) or QS 2026 (global) ranking.
Why Choose SHA High School
Eight Reasons Families Choose Our High School
The results speak first — and behind them, a system that carries every student from Grade 9 to a college they're proud of.
Proven College Results
90% of graduates admitted to Top-50 universities and 100% to Top-100 — with a class SAT average of 1280+.
See where grads go1:1 Counseling & a 4-Year Plan
A dedicated counselor guides every student from Grade 9 along a clear four-year roadmap — course choices, essays, and applications.
How we guide youSmall Classes · 1:8
An average class of 18 and a 1:8 teacher-to-student ratio — every student known by name, with parent conferences each report card.
UC A–G + 31 AP
A UC A–G aligned diploma and 31 AP courses — the rigor top universities look for, offered in person, hybrid, and online.
See the coursesAP Capstone
A two-year College Board research program offered at fewer than 1 in 20 U.S. high schools — a standout credential on any application.
Learn moreAI & STEM
Five hands-on labs plus everyday work with Google Gemini and Claude — students build with AI, not just learn about it. New for 2026–27.
Explore AI & STEMFree ESL
Structured ESL is included in tuition with no separate fee — so students from any background keep pace and reach mainstream and AP courses.
Learn moreCareer-Ready Pathways Coming Soon
A hands-on Building & Construction pathway with job-ready certifications — graduate ready for college, paid work, or both.
Explore pathways
College Counseling
Guided One-on-One, From Grade 9
College counseling here starts in Grade 9 and never lets up. With a 1:8 ratio, every student is known by name — a dedicated counselor walks each student, one year at a time, from course choices to the final acceptance letter.
- A dedicated counselor for course choices, essays, and applications
- On-campus SAT & AP testing — students sit exams in a familiar place
- Every student, not just the top — real attention for the whole class
The Four-Year Plan
The Roadmap We Walk Together
From the first day of 9th grade to the last college decision in 12th — here is the plan your counselor builds with you. Tap any year to see the milestones.
9
- Build a strong GPA across the UC A–G core courses
- Move into Honors classes wherever you're ready
- Join clubs and commit to one or two activities you love
- Meet your college counselor and take the Holland (RIASEC) interest assessment
10
- Take your first AP course
- Begin AP Capstone with AP Seminar
- Sit your first AP exams in May
- Take the PSAT
- Go deeper in one or two activities
11
- Add more APs — two, three, or more
- Continue AP Capstone with AP Research
- Take the SAT or ACT in spring
- Sit AP exams in May
- Build your college list and begin formal college planning
- Step into leadership roles
12
- Finalize essays and request transcripts (Sept–Oct)
- Submit Early Action / Early Decision applications (November)
- Submit Regular Decision applications (January)
- Weigh offers and decide (December–April) — and finish your final AP exams
The Diploma Path
A Direct Path to UC A–G Admissions
Complete 24 courses over four years — or as few as three with an accelerated course load — to earn an SHA High School Diploma that meets the UC A–G Admissions Requirements — paving the way to top universities.
- UC A–G aligned graduation requirements
- Honors and AP tracks in every core department
- An official on-campus AP exam center — students test right here, no scrambling for an outside seat
Support for English Learners
Free ESL, Built Into the School Day
Students who need to strengthen their English get structured ESL support — at no extra cost, included in tuition — so learners from any background keep pace in every class and move into mainstream and AP courses.
- ESL 1 — core vocabulary, grammar, and everyday conversation for newcomers
- ESL 2 — advanced grammar and writing, the bridge into mainstream English
- Included, not extra — no separate fee, part of every student's day
UC A–G Requirements
Built Around the UC A–G Pathway
These are the University of California A–G subject requirements — the gateway to UC, CSU, and competitive universities nationwide. SHA's diploma meets every one. Open any subject area to see the courses we offer; AP marks an Advanced Placement course.
AHistory & Social Science2 years requiredOur courses
World History Track
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U.S. History Track
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Government Track
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Also Offered
World History — A survey of human civilization from the ancient river valleys through revolutions, industrialization, and the modern global order. Students map trade routes, debate turning points, and write short analytical essays grounded in maps and primary documents. The course builds the reading and note-taking habits students carry into U.S. History and beyond.
World History Honors — The same global sweep at a faster pace and greater depth, tracing how empires, belief systems, and economies shaped one another across continents. Students work extensively with primary sources, lead seminar discussions, and write thesis-driven essays on a regular cycle. Honors World History prepares students directly for AP-level history and college seminar work.
AP World History: Modern — A college-level study of global history from 1200 CE to the present, organized around themes such as state-building, trade networks, revolution, and decolonization. Students practice sourcing, contextualization, and comparison while writing document-based and long essays weekly. The course culminates in the May AP exam, where qualifying scores earn college credit.
U.S. History — America's story from the colonial era through the present — founding ideals, sectional conflict, reform movements, and the nation's changing role in the world. Students analyze speeches, letters, and photographs, stage structured debates, and build research projects on local and national history. The course lays the groundwork for Government and for informed citizenship.
U.S. History Honors — An accelerated pass through American history with heavier reading, richer historiography, and a focus on how historians argue from evidence. Students write document-based essays, defend positions in Socratic seminars, and complete an independent research paper. The course is the natural springboard into AP U.S. History and AP Government.
AP U.S. History — A college-level survey of American history from pre-Columbian societies to the twenty-first century, built around themes of identity, politics, work, and America in the world. Students interrogate primary and secondary sources, craft historical arguments, and write timed DBQs and long essays throughout the year. It leads to the May AP exam, where qualifying scores earn college credit.
U.S. Government & Politics — An examination of how American government actually works — the Constitution, the three branches, federalism, elections, and the rights and duties of citizens. Students track current legislation, simulate congressional hearings and mock elections, and write position papers on live policy questions. Seniors leave ready to vote, argue, and engage as informed citizens.
U.S. Government & Politics Honors — An accelerated study of American political institutions, public policy, and political behavior, with close attention to landmark Supreme Court cases. Students brief and argue cases, analyze polling and election data, and write policy memos on issues they choose. The course prepares students for AP Government and for college political science.
AP U.S. Government & Politics — A college-level course centered on the Constitution, the foundational documents, required Supreme Court cases, and how institutions, interest groups, and voters shape policy. Students argue both sides of constitutional questions, interpret real polling and election data, and complete an applied civics research project. The year culminates in the May AP exam, where qualifying scores earn college credit.
AP European History — A college-level journey through European history from 1450 to the present — Renaissance and Reformation, revolutions, world wars, and the making of modern Europe. Students analyze art, treaties, and political writings as evidence, and write document-based essays that connect ideas across centuries. The course ends with the May AP exam, where qualifying scores earn college credit.
AP Comparative Government & Politics — A college-level comparison of six political systems — the UK, Russia, China, Mexico, Iran, and Nigeria — asking why states are organized so differently and with what results. Students build country case files, analyze real election and economic data, and defend comparative arguments in writing and debate. It culminates in the May AP exam, where qualifying scores earn college credit.
AP Human Geography — How humans organize the Earth: population and migration, culture and language, political territory, cities, and land use. Students learn to think spatially with maps, data, and case studies — a College Board social science that rewards curiosity about why places look the way they do, and a popular first AP for underclassmen.
BEnglish4 years requiredOur courses
Language Support
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Core Sequence
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Honors & AP
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Also Offered
ESL 1 — For students new to English: core vocabulary, essential grammar, and everyday conversation built through interactive exercises, role-play, and multimedia practice. Students gain the confidence to navigate classes, friendships, and daily life in English quickly.
ESL 2 — For students with a foundation who are ready to work toward grade level: advanced vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and complex grammar through reading comprehension, essay writing, and oral presentations — the bridge into mainstream English courses.
English 1 — The foundation year — short stories, novels, poetry, and drama paired with systematic instruction in grammar, vocabulary, and paragraph craft. Students write narratives and literary analyses, deliver speeches, and learn to back every claim with textual evidence. English 1 sets the reading and writing habits students build on for the next three years.
English 2 — A tour of world literature — voices from many cultures and eras — with a sharpened focus on analytical reading and structured essay writing. Students trace themes across texts, lead discussion circles, and revise multi-draft essays with peer and teacher feedback. Strong sophomores often step from here into the Honors track or AP English Language.
English 3 — American literature from early voices to contemporary writers, paired with the study of rhetoric and a formal research paper. Students analyze how authors and speechmakers persuade, write in a range of modes, and learn to cite and synthesize sources responsibly. The course sharpens the argument and research skills colleges expect of incoming freshmen.
English 4 — A capstone in British and world literature — from Shakespeare and the Romantics to modern global voices — with college-level composition at its center. Seniors write personal statements, analytical essays, and a substantial final paper, and lead seminar discussions of major works. Students leave prepared for the reading and writing load of freshman year in college.
English II–IV Honors — The accelerated track through the core sequence, with more demanding texts, faster pacing, and higher expectations for independent analysis. Students engage in Socratic seminars, write frequent thesis-driven essays, and complete honors-level research and creative projects. The track is designed to feed directly into AP English Language and AP English Literature.
AP English Language & Composition — A college-level course in rhetoric and argument, reading essays, speeches, journalism, and other nonfiction to see how writers move real audiences. Students analyze rhetorical choices, synthesize multiple sources into original arguments, and write and revise constantly under both timed and extended conditions. The course culminates in the May AP exam, where qualifying scores earn college credit.
AP English Literature & Composition — A college-level immersion in fiction, poetry, and drama, where close reading turns great texts into arguments about meaning, structure, and craft. Students annotate deeply, debate interpretations in seminar, and write timed and process-based literary analysis essays across the year. It culminates in the May AP exam, where qualifying scores earn college credit.
Creative Writing — A workshop course in fiction, poetry, and personal narrative where the goal is finding — and trusting — your own voice. Students draft weekly, share work in a supportive workshop circle, study craft moves from published writers, and polish pieces for a class anthology and submission to contests. Many students leave with a portfolio ready for college applications.
CMathematics3 years required · 4 recommendedOur courses
Core Sequence
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Statistics Track
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Also Offered
Algebra — A full-year foundation in linear and quadratic equations, inequalities, systems, exponents, polynomials, and an introduction to functions. Students solve multi-step problems daily, translate word problems into equations, and learn to check and defend their reasoning. The habits built here - precision, persistence, clear notation - carry students directly into Geometry and every math course that follows.
Geometry — A course in reasoning as much as shapes: congruence, similarity, right-triangle trigonometry, circles, area, and volume, all built on definitions, postulates, and theorems. Students write two-column and paragraph proofs, construct figures, and justify every claim with evidence - learning to argue logically, not just compute. Geometry prepares students for Algebra II and the proof-based thinking colleges expect.
Precalculus — A thorough study of the functions calculus is built on - polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric - plus sequences, vectors, and analytic geometry. Students model real situations with functions, analyze graphs from multiple representations, and sharpen the algebraic fluency that calculus demands. Successful completion leads directly into AP Calculus AB or AP Statistics.
Precalculus Honors — Covers the full precalculus curriculum - advanced functions, trigonometry, vectors, sequences, and limits - at an accelerated pace with greater depth and less scaffolding. Students tackle non-routine, multi-step problems, present solutions to peers, and begin working with limit concepts that preview calculus. This is the recommended path for students aiming at AP Calculus BC and STEM majors.
AP Precalculus — The College Board’s newest math AP — a rigorous precalculus year covering polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions, plus mathematical modeling, ahead of the AP exam each May. It is the natural bridge between Algebra II–level work and calculus, taught with college-course expectations. Students finish ready to enter AP Calculus AB or BC with real momentum.
AP Calculus AB — A college-level Calculus I course covering limits and continuity, differentiation, applications of derivatives, integration, and differential equations. Students connect graphical, numerical, algebraic, and verbal representations, justify conclusions in writing, and apply calculus to motion, optimization, and accumulation problems. Students sit for the AP exam in May; qualifying scores earn college credit at most universities.
AP Calculus BC — Covers everything in AB and extends it with parametric, polar, and vector-valued functions, advanced integration techniques, and infinite series - the equivalent of college Calculus I and II. Students work through demanding multi-part problems, test series for convergence, and build Taylor polynomial approximations. On the May AP exam, qualifying scores can earn a full year of college calculus credit.
Statistics — A practical, non-AP introduction to working with data: study design, graphical displays, measures of center and spread, correlation, and basic probability. Students collect their own data, build and critique charts, and use statistics to answer real questions about sports, health, and school life. The course prepares students for AP Statistics or for the data reasoning expected in college coursework across majors.
AP Statistics — A college-level course in the four pillars of statistics: exploring data, designing studies, probability, and statistical inference. Students design and run their own surveys and experiments, simulate probability models, and carry out hypothesis tests and confidence intervals on real data - always writing conclusions in context. Students take the AP exam in May; qualifying scores earn credit for introductory college statistics.
AP Computer Science A — A college-level programming course in Java covering objects and classes, control structures, arrays and ArrayLists, inheritance, and recursion. Students spend most of class writing, testing, and debugging real programs, then trace and analyze code the way the exam demands. The course culminates in the May AP exam, where qualifying scores earn credit for a first college programming course.
DLaboratory Science2 years required · 3 recommendedOur courses
Biology Track
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Chemistry Track
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Physics Track
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Environmental Track
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Also Offered
Biology — A full-year survey of life science: cell structure and function, genetics and heredity, evolution, ecology, and human body systems. Students work at the lab bench regularly - using microscopes, modeling DNA, and running dissections - and write formal lab reports that connect evidence to claims. Biology satisfies a UC lab-science requirement and opens the door to Chemistry and honors-level science.
Biology Honors — Covers the full biology curriculum at greater depth and speed, with added emphasis on molecular genetics, biochemistry, and data-rich labs. Students design portions of their own investigations, analyze quantitative results, and defend conclusions in formal written reports. This course is the strongest preparation for AP Biology and for students already planning on pre-med or life-science majors.
AP Biology — A college-level course organized around four big ideas - evolution, energetics, information storage and transmission, and systems interactions - from molecules to ecosystems. Students spend roughly a quarter of class time in inquiry labs, designing experiments, collecting and statistically analyzing data, and arguing from evidence. Students sit for the AP exam in May; qualifying scores earn credit for introductory college biology.
Chemistry — An introduction to matter and its transformations: atomic structure, the periodic table, bonding, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, gases, and solutions. Students work hands-on with real reactions - measuring, titrating, and observing - then write formal lab reports that link data to chemical principles. Chemistry builds the quantitative habits needed for Physics, AP Chemistry, and any lab-based college major.
Chemistry Honors — Covers the full chemistry curriculum with heavier emphasis on the mathematics - multi-step stoichiometry, thermochemistry, equilibrium, and acid-base problems. Students carry out quantitative labs where measurement precision matters, evaluate error, and defend results in formal reports. This course is the direct on-ramp to AP Chemistry and a strong signal of readiness for engineering and science majors.
AP Chemistry — A college-level course covering atomic structure, intermolecular forces, reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics, equilibrium, and acids and bases. Lab work is central: students design their own procedures, run guided-inquiry experiments such as titrations and calorimetry, and justify conclusions with quantitative evidence. Students take the AP exam in May; qualifying scores earn credit for first-year college chemistry.
Physics — A concrete, algebra-based study of how the physical world works: motion, forces, energy, momentum, waves, electricity, and magnetism. Students test predictions in hands-on labs - timing carts, building circuits, measuring collisions - and learn to reason from data rather than intuition. Physics rounds out the three-science foundation colleges like to see and prepares students for AP Physics.
AP Physics 1 & 2 — A two-year, algebra-based college physics sequence: mechanics, energy, and waves in the first year; fluids, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, optics, and modern physics in the second. Students design their own experiments, argue from lab data, and write clear scientific justifications - the skills the exams reward most. Students sit for the May AP exam each year; qualifying scores earn college physics credit.
AP Physics C (Mechanics / E&M) — Calculus-based college physics in two parts - mechanics, then electricity and magnetism - taken alongside or after AP Calculus. Students derive relationships with calculus, run quantitative labs on rotation, oscillation, and circuits, and solve the kind of problems engineering programs assign in the first year. Each part has its own May AP exam; qualifying scores earn credit toward the physics sequence engineering majors require.
Environmental Science — A study of how Earth systems work and how humans depend on and change them: ecosystems, biodiversity, energy resources, pollution, and climate. Students get outside and into the lab - testing water and soil quality, tracking local species, and analyzing real environmental data sets. The course prepares students for AP Environmental Science and builds the systems thinking behind fields from policy to engineering.
AP Environmental Science — A college-level, interdisciplinary course connecting ecology, earth science, chemistry, and policy to real environmental problems - land and water use, energy, pollution, and global change. Field and lab work anchor the course: students design investigations, collect and graph environmental data, and evaluate solutions with evidence. Students take the AP exam in May; qualifying scores earn introductory college science credit.
Forensic Science — Scientific investigation applied to crime scenes: students use observation, hypothesis, data collection, and testing to analyze ballistics, evidence handling, and investigative procedure — then apply the same methods to historic cases such as the JFK assassination. A hands-on course in critical thinking where the scientific method has real stakes.
AP Computer Science Principles — A college-level introduction to the breadth of computing: programming, algorithms, data and abstraction, the internet, cybersecurity, and computing's impact on society. Students build their own apps, analyze large data sets, and complete a performance task - a working program they design and document themselves. That task plus the May AP exam determine the score; qualifying scores earn college credit, and no prior coding is required.
ELanguage Other Than English2 years required · 3 recommendedOur courses
Spanish Track
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Also Offered
Spanish I — An introduction to Spanish built around the situations students actually meet: greetings, family, school, food, and daily routines, with the core grammar to support them. Class time is active - students speak in pairs from day one, act out short dialogues, and write simple messages about their own lives. By spring they can handle everyday exchanges with confidence and are ready for Spanish II.
Spanish II — Students move from survival phrases to real communication: narrating past events, describing plans, and expressing opinions across a widening range of everyday and cultural topics. Daily speaking practice, presentations, journals, and readings from the Spanish-speaking world push all four skills forward together. The course completes the two-year requirement and prepares students for AP Spanish Language & Culture.
AP Spanish Language & Culture — A college-level course conducted almost entirely in Spanish, organized around themes such as family, global challenges, science, and identity. Students interpret authentic articles, podcasts, and film; converse and write emails in simulated real-life exchanges; and deliver formal presentations comparing Hispanic cultures with their own. Students sit for the May AP exam, where qualifying scores earn college credit.
AP Spanish Literature — A seminar-style survey of essential works from Spain and Latin America, from Golden Age poetry and Don Quijote excerpts to Garcia Marquez and contemporary voices. Students discuss and write critical essays in Spanish, closely analyzing theme, style, and historical context across genres. The course caps the Spanish sequence and culminates in the May AP exam, where qualifying scores earn college credit.
French I — Greetings, family, hobbies, travel, and daily life — vocabulary, grammar, and culture presented in context with regular speaking practice. Students build the verb system, adjective agreement, and past tense while exploring Francophone cultures within and beyond Europe.
French II — Students communicate with growing confidence in formal and informal settings, adding vocabulary in cooking, geography, and architecture. Grammar deepens into present- and past-tense forms, negation, and object pronouns — alongside the history, literature, and contemporary life of the French-speaking world.
AP German — A college-level German course built on authentic materials - news, film, literature, and conversation with real-world tasks. Students speak, present, and write daily, moving from concrete topics to argument and cultural comparison across the German-speaking world. Offered for students with prior German background; the course leads to the May AP exam, where qualifying scores earn college credit.
AP French — A college-level French course taught in French, exploring themes from family and identity to science and global challenges through authentic media and texts. Students debate, record spoken responses, write persuasive essays, and compare Francophone cultures with their own. Offered for students with prior French background; it culminates in the May AP exam, where qualifying scores earn college credit.
FVisual & Performing Arts1 year requiredOur courses
Music
Visual Art
Music Technology — A hands-on studio course in how modern music is actually made: recording, MIDI sequencing, mixing, and arranging with digital audio workstations. Students produce original tracks each unit, critique one another's mixes, and refine their strongest work over the year. Graduates leave with a portfolio of finished recordings and the production skills that carry into AP Music Theory or college media programs.
Music Appreciation — A hands-on musicianship course built around the keyboard: students learn and master pieces individually and in small groups, alongside notation and music theory. Designed both for beginners developing first playing skills and for experienced students expanding what they already have — individual responsibility is part of the course.
Concert Band — A performing ensemble for wind and percussion players of all levels, rehearsing daily toward real concerts throughout the school year. Students sharpen tone, technique, and sight-reading while learning the discipline of listening and blending within a group. Performances at school concerts, chapels, and community events build stage confidence and a record of sustained commitment that colleges notice.
AP Music Theory — A college-level study of how music works - scales, harmony, voice leading, and form - paired with intensive ear training and sight-singing. Students analyze scores, complete part-writing exercises, dictate melodies by ear, and compose short original pieces. The course prepares performers and producers for college study and culminates in the May AP exam, where qualifying scores earn college credit.
Art Appreciation — An introduction to looking closely: how line, color, and composition create meaning in works from ancient temples to contemporary street art. Students practice formal analysis, lead discussions and critiques, and complete short studio exercises that let them test each concept by hand. The course satisfies the arts requirement and builds the visual literacy that supports every field, from design to marketing.
Art of Hip Hop — An exploration of hip hop as an art form - its roots in the Bronx, its four elements, and its global influence on music, visual art, dance, and language. Students analyze lyrics as poetry, study graffiti and design aesthetics, and create their own written and visual pieces in response. The course sharpens cultural analysis and creative voice while fulfilling the arts requirement.
Studio Art 3-D Design — A making-centered studio in sculpture and three-dimensional design, working across clay, wire, cardboard, found objects, and mixed media. Students plan, build, and revise pieces through regular class critiques, learning to think about form, space, and craftsmanship like working artists. Each student finishes the year with a documented portfolio ready for advanced art study or college applications.
AP Art History — A college-level journey through 250 landmark works, from prehistoric caves and classical temples to global contemporary art. Students learn to analyze form, context, and meaning; write comparative essays; and defend interpretations in seminar discussion. The course builds the critical writing colleges prize and culminates in the May AP exam, where qualifying scores earn college credit.
GCollege-Prep Elective1 year requiredOur courses
AP Capstone Program
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Electives
AP Seminar — Year one of AP Capstone, recommended for grade 10. Students investigate real-world issues from multiple perspectives, learning to evaluate sources, weigh competing arguments, and build a defensible position. Assessment happens through a team project, an individual research essay, and presentations delivered to a live audience, plus the May AP exam - qualifying scores earn college credit and open the door to AP Research.
AP Research — Year two of AP Capstone, recommended for grade 11. Each student designs and carries out a year-long original research project on a question they choose, mastering method design, data collection, and scholarly writing. The course ends with an academic paper and oral defense scored by the College Board; success completes the AP Capstone Diploma pathway and gives students a genuine research credential for college.
Journalism / Yearbook — A working newsroom where students report, interview, photograph, and design their way to a published product: the school yearbook. Staff members pitch stories, meet real deadlines, and learn layout and editing software while managing pages from concept to press. Editors gain genuine leadership experience, and every student graduates with published work to show colleges.
Public Speaking — A practical course in commanding a room: speech structure, persuasion, vocal delivery, and reading an audience. Students speak nearly every week - informative talks, persuasive addresses, impromptu rounds, and debates - with structured feedback after each performance. The confidence built here pays off in class discussions, college interviews, and every presentation that follows.
Economics — An introduction to how markets, prices, and incentives shape everyday decisions, from a family budget to national policy. Students run market simulations, track real companies and current events, and debate policy questions using data. The course builds the economic literacy expected of business and social science majors and provides a base for AP Economics.
Sociology — An examination of how groups, institutions, and culture shape the way people think and act - family, media, religion, class, and social change. Students design mini fieldwork projects, analyze real data and case studies, and present findings on questions they care about. The course develops the research and analysis skills that anchor college social science work.
Psychology — A first course in the science of mind and behavior: learning, memory, personality, development, and mental health. Students run classic experiments on themselves, analyze case studies, and apply findings to their own study habits and relationships. The course gives a rigorous foundation for AP Psychology and for one of the most popular college majors.
AP Psychology — A college-level survey of psychological science, from the biology of the brain to cognition, development, personality, and disorders. Students design and critique studies, apply research methods to real data, and connect theory to daily life through labs and demonstrations. The course culminates in the May AP exam, where qualifying scores earn college credit at most universities.
AP Macro/Microeconomics — College-level economics on two scales: how consumers and firms make decisions in markets, and how growth, inflation, and policy shape whole economies. Students model real scenarios with graphs and data, debate Federal Reserve and trade decisions, and follow live economic news throughout the year. The sequence leads to the May AP exams, where qualifying scores earn college credit and a head start on business and economics majors.
PE — A movement-based course rotating through team sports, individual fitness, and lifetime activities from basketball and volleyball to strength training. Students set personal fitness goals, track measurable progress across the year, and learn the habits of training safely and well. The course fulfills the physical education requirement while building teamwork and consistency that carry far beyond the gym.
Fitness & Nutrition — A science-based look at how the body responds to training, fuel, sleep, and stress - exercise physiology and nutrition made personal. Students design their own training and meal plans, test them over multi-week cycles, and analyze the results with real data. The course equips athletes and future health science majors alike with evidence-based habits for life.
Exploring Computer Science — A first course in computing that assumes no experience: programming fundamentals, data, web design, and how computers solve problems. Students build working projects every unit - games, apps, and simple websites - and learn to debug and iterate like developers. It is the natural on-ramp to advanced computer science and a practical credential in any college application.
Business, Marketing & Finance — A practical introduction to how businesses start, sell, and stay solvent - entrepreneurship, marketing strategy, and personal finance in one course. Students develop a real business plan, pitch it to an audience, run marketing campaigns for school events, and build a personal budget and investing framework. The course gives future business majors a portfolio-ready project and every student the money skills adulthood demands.
Introduction to Entrepreneurship — How a business actually starts: spotting a market opportunity, writing a business plan, budgeting and financing, and pitching the idea. Hands-on projects — from developing a product concept to building a marketing strategy — train the entrepreneurial mindset of creativity, risk management, and decision-making.
Principles of Health Science — An introduction to health-care careers: the structure of the health system, professional pathways from emergency medicine to nutrition, and day-to-day skills like medical records, communication, and infection control — plus an overview of physiology and medical terminology. Ideal for students exploring pre-med, nursing, or allied health.
College Board · Fewer Than 1 in 20 U.S. High Schools
AP Capstone
A two-year College Board program where students investigate real questions, build evidence-based arguments, and present like college researchers — a rare, standout credential on any application.
- Year One — AP Seminar (Grade 10): investigate, argue, and present
- Year Two — AP Research (Grade 11): a year-long independent study you design
- Earn the AP Capstone Diploma — score 3+ on both, plus four more AP exams
Signature Program · New for 2026–27
AI & STEM, Built Into the Diploma
High schoolers choose from five hands-on labs — autonomous vehicles, drones & AI hardware, Unity game development, embedded systems, and soft robotics — taught with university-trained engineers. Google Gemini and Claude are woven into everyday coursework, so students build with AI, not just learn about it.
Earn College Credit in High School
Dual Enrollment
Take real college courses while still in high school — earning transferable credit and exploring a major early. Open to every college-bound student.
Up to ~30 Credits
As much as a full year of transferable college credit before you set foot on campus.
College Courses, SHA Support
Real college courses on platforms like Canvas, with SHA teachers supporting you throughout.
1:1 Credit Planning
A counselor maps credits to your target universities and major, so every course counts.
For Every Student
Strengthen your application, get ahead on your degree, and test-drive a field early.
Coming Soon · Career Pathways
College-Bound — or Career-Ready on Day One
We are building a hands-on Building & Construction pathway, so students can graduate ready for paid work — while every course stays UC A–G aligned, keeping college fully open.
Job-Ready Certifications
Industry credentials like OSHA-10 that employers accept on a real jobsite.
Real Mentors & Projects
Design-and-build projects with working architects, builders, and engineers.
Stackable Credentials
Trade certifications that stack toward apprenticeships — plus Dual Enrollment credit.
Straight to Paid Work
A direct line into paid apprenticeships and skilled-trade careers after graduation.
Plan Your Path to College
Meet our counselors and map out the four-year journey.
Get In Touch
Request Information
We're offering Scholarships for qualifying High School students and Sibling Discounts — ask us how to apply.
We respond within one business day. Prefer to talk? Call +1 (626) 919-2000 or email admissions@shacademy.org.