High School Course Paths
How to choose the right courses for your high school student
Diplomas & Course Paths
Students seeking a diploma in four years should plan to complete at least 6 credits per year, but may take up to 8 credits. See the course paths below for our recommendations. Note: 24 credits are required for graduation.
We encourage all students and parents to work closely with our school counselors, Kate Chaney (last names A-L) and Shauna Larsen (last names M-Z), to build a graduation plan.
Some students want to pursue their diploma in three high school years instead of four. If your student would like to pursue this path, please contact their school counselor to build a plan, then register accordingly.
Please see this page for credit types and graduation requirements.
Notes on selecting courses:
- Students may also take Concurrent Enrollment college courses or courses through their local Tech Schools to satisfy high school credits.
- Any excess required courses will be counted as elective credits
- Course selection can include Independent Study, Funded Independent Course, or Adventure Fridays
9th Grade
Recommended Path
- Personal Leadership (includes Computer Tech & Fitness for Life)
- Writing & Rhetoric
- High School Math (Choose from Math 1, Math 2, Math 3)
- Science (Choose from Earth Science, Astronomy, or Biology)
And Choose Two of the Following
- Friday Outdoor Adventures (Fall Semester) – In-Person
- Friday Leadership Adventures (Winter Semester) – In-Person
- Physical Education: Independent Study PE
- Fine Arts: Any offering
- Any Elective
10th Grade
Recommended Path
- Social Leadership
- U.S. History
- American Literature
- High School Math (Choose from Math 2, or Math 3)
- Science (Choose from Earth Science, Astronomy, Biology, or Chemistry)
And Choose One of the Following
- Friday Outdoor Adventures (Fall Semester) – In-Person
- Friday Leadership Adventures (Winter Semester) – In-Person
- Physical Education: Independent Study PE
- Fine Arts: Any offering
- Any Elective
11th Grade
Recommended Path
- Professional Leadership (Fall) & Financial Leadership (Winter)
- Government & Economics
- Political Literature (Fall) & Short Stories (Winter)
- High School Math (Choose from Math 3, or Pre-Calculus)
- Chemistry or Physics
And Choose One of the Following
- Friday Outdoor Adventures (Fall Semester) – In-Person
- Friday Leadership Adventures (Winter Semester) – In-Person
- Physical Education 1
- Fine Arts: Any offering
- Any Elective
1 Optional if 2 years Independent Studies PE completed
12th Grade
Recommended Path
- World Civilizations (Fall) & Geography & World Events (Winter)
- World Literature
- Pre-Calculus1
- Chemistry or Physics2
- Mind & Body Stewardship (Self-Paced)
And Choose Two of the Following
- Friday Outdoor Adventures (Fall Semester) – In-Person
- Friday Leadership Adventures (Winter Semester) – In-Person
- Fine Arts3
- Any Electives: 2.5 credits
1 Optional if 3 years of math completed
2 Optional if 3 years of science completed
3 Optional if 2 years of fine arts completed
Other High School Course Selection Guidelines
- High school students must enroll in at least five courses. Seniors on track for graduation who want to take less than five classes should contact their school counselor to discuss options.
- Most live online courses are offered at multiple days/times. Select the sections that work best for your student.
- For the most engaging school experience, LAU recommends students registered in online-only courses take a minimum of 2 live courses per semester.
- Online Social Studies, Writing, and Literature courses are available in Classic and Honors. Both Classic and Honors students in the these courses meet together in the same live class sessions but Honors courses are roughly 30% more challenging. Students have 28 calendar days from the first day of the semester to move from one version to another.
- Many online high school courses are offered in both “live” and “self-paced” formats. Most Fine Arts, PE, and Electives are offered exclusively in the self-paced format.
- If your student is advanced in math or writing, you may enroll them in a more advanced course. If they have already earned accredited high school credit for a recommended course, they should work with a school counselor to decide which course to take instead. If you have already developed an official graduation plan, simply stick to that plan when enrolling in courses.
- Students considering split or dual enrollment, see this Q&A page on the LAU website.
- Students may choose from live online, Outdoor Adventures, self-paced, and/or funded and non-funded courses. Please contact a school counselor if you have any questions.
State Core Requirements for Grades 9-12
Grade 9:
- Language Arts (Writing & Rhetoric A/B)
- Mathematics (High School Math 1 A/B)
- Science Foundations (Earth Science A/B)
Grade 10:
- Language Arts (American Literature A/B)
- Mathematics (High School Math 2 A/B)
- Science Foundations (Biology A/B)
- Social Studies Foundations (US History A/B)
Grade 11:
- Language Arts (Political Literature/Short Stories)
- Mathematics (High School Math 3 A/B)
- Science Foundations (Chemistry A/B)
- Social Studies Foundations (Government & Economics A/B)
Grade 12:
- Language Arts (World Literature A/B)
- Mathematics (Pre-Calculus A/B)
- Science Foundations (Physics A/B)
- Social Studies Foundations (World Civilizations/Geography & World Events)
*Courses in parenthesis satisfy the state requirement
You can view specific high school course descriptions on the Williamsburg Learning website.