Courses and Descriptions
The Upper School provides a well-balanced education for some 890 students in Grades 6-12, delivered by 92 faculty members. While there is no separation between Middle School and High School, developmentally appropriate practices and accommodations are made at each grade level, with the majority of faculty teaching across all grade levels.
For detailed course descriptions, select a grade level from one of the choices below and then click on the desired course name within each frame.
Grading Criteria in the Upper School
The following grading scale (1-7) is used for students in Grade 6-12, and is based on IB Diploma criteria.
7 – Outstanding work, in which you apply relevant skills, knowledge and concepts almost faultlessly, with sophistication. Your work shows exceptional judgement, maturity, insight and analysis; it also shows marked independence, originality and flair.
6 – A very thorough application of relevant skills, knowledge and concepts. Your work shows very sound judgement, maturity, insight and analysis with independence and originality.
5 – A thorough application of relevant skills, knowledge and concepts. Your work, on the whole, shows sound judgement, insight and analysis with some independence and originality.
4 – An adequate application of the main relevant skills, knowledge and concepts. Your work shows some evidence of reasonable judgement, insight and analysis.
3 – A partly successful application of the main relevant skills, knowledge and concepts. There has been little evidence of reasonable judgement, insight or analysis. Your work may show clear difficulties in some areas and you may need extra support.
2 – A very limited application of the main relevant skills, knowledge and concepts. Your work has not shown evidence of judgement, insight or analysis. Your work shows marked difficulties in several areas, even with extra support.
1 – Little or no evidence of any ability to understand or apply the basic skills, knowledge and concepts, even with extra support. Your work has not shown evidence of judgement, insight or analysis.
FIS Graduation Requirements
All students who graduate from FIS will finish with the equivalent to an American High School Diploma. Graduation requirements are as follows:
- English – 4 credits
- Mathematics – 3 credits
- Non-English Language – 2 credits
- Social Sciences – 3 credits
- Experimental Sciences – 3 credits
- Physical Education – 1 credit
- Academic elective courses – 8 credits
- Creativity Action Service (CAS)
One credit is awarded for completing a full-year academic course. Students are expected to complete a minimum of 6 credits per year, 24 credits in Grades 9-12
Grade 6-8 Curriculum Content Overview
Courses that count as a full credit:
- English language and literature or ESL
- Mathematics: number, algebra, geometry, statistics and probability, discrete mathematics
- Science: physics, chemistry, biology (each year)
- Humanities: geography and history
- German: native/fluent or as a foreign language
- Spanish or French: foreign language only
- Dutch, Japanese, Korean or Swedish: native/fluent only
- ESL or Learning support
Courses that count as a partial credit
- Physical education and health
- Band, Choir, Music
- Drama
- Visual Arts
- Design and Technology
- Junior Media and Journalism
- Product Design
- 3D Art
- Digital Media and Broadcasting
- Computer Technology
- Print Making
Grade 6
Arts (Performing and Visual)
English/Humanities
Enhanced Learning
- Students learn and develop a range of skills they will find useful in all other classes Download a description here.
Languages (or electives*)
Dutch
English as a Second Language for students new to English
French
German
Korean
Spanish
Mathematics & Science
*Electives offered in lieu of language course include:
- Junior Media and Journalism
- Product Design
- 3D Art
Physical Education and Health
Grade 7
Arts (Performing and Visual)
English/Humanities
Enhanced Learning
- Students learn and develop a range of skills they will find useful in all other classes Download a description here.
Languages (or electives*)
Dutch
English as a Second Language for students new to English
German
French
Korean
Spanish
*Electives offered in lieu of language course include:
- Junior Media and Journalism
- Product Design
- 3D Art
Math & Science
Physical Education and Health
Grade 8
Arts (Performing and Visual)
English/Humanities
Languages (or electives*)
Dutch
English as a Second Language for students new to English
French
German
Korean
Spanish
*Electives offered in lieu of language course include:
- Digital Media and Journalism
- Computer Technology
- Print Making
Math and Science
Physical Education and Health
Grade 9 Curriculum Content Overview
Courses that count as a full credit:
- English language and literature or ESL
- Mathematics: number, algebra, geometry and trigonometry, statistics and probability, discrete mathematics
- Science: Biology, Physics or Chemistry
- Humanities: one semester each of geography and history
- German: Native/fluent or as a foreign language
- Students may take one of the following as their elective: Spanish or French, foreign language only
- Dutch, Japanese or Korean: native/fluent only
- ESL or Learning support
- Computer technology
Courses that count as a half credit:
- Physical education and health
- Students choose three of the following:
- Music
- Drama
- Dance
- Visual Arts
- Design & Technology
Grade 9
Arts (Performing and Visual)
English/Humanities
Languages
Dutch
English as a Second Language for students new to English
French
German
Japanese
Korean
Spanish
Mathematics & Science/Computer Science
Physical Education
Grade 10 Courses
Arts (Performing and Visual)
English/Humanities
Electives (One Semester each)
- Environmental Science and Societies
- Sports Science
- Business
- Economics
Languages
Dutch
English as a Second Language for students new to English
French
German
Japanese
Korean
Spanish
Mathematics & Science/Computer Science
Physical Education and Health
- Physical Education
- Health (Semester1)
- Exploratory Workshops (Semester 2), which includes topics like leadership, ethics, critical thinking, relaxation, mindfulness, how the brain works and more.
Grade 10 Curriculum Content Overview
Students enroll in nine classes (PE and Health count separately). All classes are year-long, full-credit courses except for PE and Health, which are 0.5 credits each.
Required Courses
- English 10 or ESL
- Mathematics
- Science (one of the following):
- Biology
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Humanities (one of the following):
- World history
- History of the Americas
- Geography
- Physical Education/Health
- German: Native/fluent or as a foreign language
Students choose two of the following electives:
- ESL
- Learning support
- Spanish or French: foreign language only
- Dutch, Japanese or Korean: native/fluent only
- Music, Theater Arts, Visual Arts, Dance
- Media Studies, Creative Writing/Journalism
- Biology, Chemistry or Physics
- World History, History of Americas, Geography, Business/Economics, Psychology, Computer Technology, Graphics Programming, Design Technology
Grade 11 Courses
Arts (Performing and Visual)
English/Humanities
Business
Creative Writing/Journalism
Economics
English
- English College Prep
- IBDP English Literature Standard Level, Year 1 and Year 2
- IBDP English Literature High Level, Year 1 and Year 2
- IBDP English Language and Literature Standard Level, Year 1 and Year 2
- IBDP English Language and Literature High Level, Year 1 and Year 2
- IBDP English Lit and Performance, Year 1 and Year 2
- IBDP English B Standard Level, Year 1
- IBDP English B High Level, Year 1 and 2
Geography
History
Media Studies
Psychology
Theory of Knowledge
Languages
ESL
French
German
- German 1
- German 2
- German 3
- German B Prep
- IBDP German A: Language and Literature Standard Year 1
- IBDP German A: Language and Literature High Year 1
- IBDP German A: Literature Standard Year 1
- IBDP German A: Literature High Year 1
- IBDP German ab initio Year 1
- IBDP German B Standard Year 1
- IBDP German B High Year 1
Japanese
Korean
Spanish
Mathematics & Science
Biology
- Biology 10-12
- IBDP Biology High Level, Year 1 and Year 2
- IBDP Biology Standard Level, Year 1
Chemistry
Computer Science
Design & Technology
Environmental Science
- IBDP Environmental Systems and Society
Math
Physics
Sports Science
Grade 12 Courses
Arts (Performing and Visual)
- Dance 10-12
- IBDP Dance Standard Year 2
- Foundations of Art
- Media Production
- Music General 10-12
- IBDP Music Standard/High Year 2
- Theatre Arts 10-12
- Theatre (IBDP English Lit and Performance, Year 1 and Year 2)
- IBDP Visual Arts Standard, Year 2
- IBDP Visual Arts High, Year 2
English/Humanities
Business and Economics
Creative Writing/Journalism
English
- English College Prep
- IBDP English Literature Standard Level, Year 1 and Year 2
- IBDP English Literature High Level, Year 1 and Year 2
- IBDP English Language and Literature Standard Level, Year 1 and Year 2
- IBDP English Language and Literature High Level, Year 1 and Year 2
- IBDP English Lit and Performance, Year 1 and Year 2
- IBDP English B Standard Level, Year 1
- IBDP English B High Level, Year 1 and 2
Geography
History
Media Studies
Psychology
Theory of Knowledge
Languages
ESL
French
German
- German 1
- German 2
- German 3
- German B Prep
- IBDP German ab initio Year 2
- IBDP German B Standard Year 2
- IBDP German B High Year 2
- IBDP German A: Language and Literature Standard Year 2
- IBDP German A: Language and Literature High Year 2
- IBDP German A: Literature Standard Year 2
- IBDP German A: Literature High Year 2
Japanese
Korean
Spanish
Mathematics and Science
Biology
- General Biology 10-12
- IBDP Biology High Level, Year 1 and Year 2
- IBDP Biology Standard Level, Year 1
Chemistry
Computer Science
Design & Technology
Environmental Science
Mathematics
Physics
Sports Science
AAIE