College Prep Curriculum For High School

    College Prep Curriculum For High School

    Find Your Path at Hillcrest Academy

    Ready to shape your future? Hillcrest Academy offers a wide range of courses allowing you to design a path that’s perfect for your passions and talents. The full High School Curriculum Guide is your map to a future as unique as you are. Explore below and discover where your Hillcrest journey can take you.

    high school curriculum guide

    Graduation Requirements 

    Hillcrest Academy requests students to plan their courses of study to meet the prescribed requirements for graduation of Hillcrest and the Iowa State Board of Public Instruction. A minimum of 210 units of credit must be earned for graduation. The minimum course requirements are as follows:

    • Bible – 5 units for each year of attendance
    • English – 40 units
    • Mathematics – 30 units
    • Science – 30 units
    • Social Studies – 30 units
    • Physical Education – 1.25 units for each semester of attendance
    • Health – 5 units
    • Freshman Art/Music – 5 units*
    • Personal Finance – 5 units
    • Elective – 50 units

    * Students entering Hillcrest Academy after grade 9 may satisfy the Art/Music requirement by taking one semester of art or music. 

    The following courses are typically taken in this sequence: 

    Grade 9  Grade 10
    New/Old Testament Survey New/Old Testament Survey
    English I English II 
    Physical Education Physical Education
    Math Math
    Biology Science
    World History  American History
    Intro to Art/Music  
    Health*  
       
    Grade 11 Grade 12 
    Church/Anabaptist History Christian Family Living or
    English III Christianity in the World Arena
    Physical Education English IV
    Math** Physical Education
    Science** American Government 
    Social Science elective Social Science elective***
      Personal Finance


    *  Health may also be taken during one’s sophomore year. 
    ** The third year of Science or Math may also be taken during one’s senior year. 
    *** The Social Science elective may also be taken during one’s junior year. 

    All course requirements must be met prior to graduation. Students who are five (5) units or less short of meeting graduation requirements may participate in graduation exercises with a brief comment included during the diploma presentation noting the credit needed. Students who need more than five (5) units to complete graduation requirements will not participate in graduation exercises (except in exceptional circumstances determined by the principal and guidance counselor and approved by the Operating Board). 

    Hillcrest Academy offers College Board certified Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Each course functions as an advanced study of the course material. Current AP courses offered at Hillcrest include Calculus, Chemistry, English Literature and Composition, and Music Theory.

    Online AP Courses taken through the University of Iowa (see page 26) have included: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Statistics, US Government and Politics. Each course culminates in an AP exam which students may take in the Spring. Success on the AP exam results in college credit. The fee for the AP exams is $95.

    Kirkwood Community College Concurrent courses are available both on our campus, at Kirkwood Regional Centers, and online.  Courses offered on our campus include U.S. History to 1877, U.S. History from 1877, and Survey of the Animal Industry.  Full Hillcrest Academy tuition applies.