American High School Diploma

The MSA-CESS accredited program of ACS Athens requires that a student must fulfill the academic requirements of an American Diploma curriculum in order to complete his/her studies at the school.

The American Community Schools of Athens requires twenty-six Carnegie Units to be earned over a minimum of eight semesters for the Academy Diploma. These will include the following:

  1. Four English credits. Classes are taken each semester in grades 9-12. The following courses or their equivalents must be taken.
    • English 9: Literature or Language and Literature (Regular or Honors)
    • English 10: Literature or Language and Literature (Regular or Honors)
    • English 11: Humanities or a year of IB English Literature or IB English Language and Literature year 1.
    • English 12: Humanities, or a year of IB English Literature or IB English Language and Literature year 2.
  2. Three Years of Greek and/or Modern Language, two years must be in the same language. (It is recommended that students take four years.)
  3. Three years of Mathematics including Geometry with Algebraic Topics (It is recommended that students take four years.).
  4. Three years of Science. (It is recommended that students take four years.)
  5. One semester of Health, preferably in grade 10.
  6. Two semesters of Computer Technology.
  7. Four Social Studies credits. Classes are taken in grades 9-12, including:
    • European History: grade 9 requirement (Regular or Honors)
    • American Studies: grade 10 requirement (Regular or Honors)
    • Plus two full years of Social Studies classes in grades 11-12.
  8. Two semesters of Visual and Performing Arts. Students may elect courses from the Visual Arts and Performing Arts.
  9. Three semesters of Physical Education. All 9th graders must take Physical Education. A third semester must be taken for graduation, preferably in Grade 10.
  10. The remainder of the credits is to be earned through the various elective courses offered in grades 11-12.