At SCLS, we pride ourselves in offering a rigorous yet balanced curriculum. While many schools seek to specialize students, our curriculum focuses on a holistic view of student growth. From core academics to artistic development, students are able to explore their own interests as well as embark on a path of college readiness. In middle school, students take classes from seven different disciplines, each designed to provide a foundation for the rest of their academic career. These subjects are all designed to engage students while simultaneously presenting unique and interesting problems to promote both content knowledge acquisition and skill development. As students progress into high school, they will begin to have the opportunity of taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses. While they are electives, there will be options from virtually all disciplines. From studio art to chemistry, students will be able to supplement their compulsory curriculum.
A unique element of the curriculum is our focus on languages and language development in all classes. Starting in grade 6, all students take an additional foreign language, with options currently being Spanish and French. In addition to this opportunity, all SCLS teachers think of their course as a language course. Whether it is math, science, English or health, teachers and students are actively using a variety of language skills. It is based on that principle that teachers design lessons to ensure that they are being appropriate challenged in both language development and disciplinary related skills and content.
Being the language of instruction (with the exception of world languages and Chinese), English courses represents a cornerstone of of the SCLS program. Students are provided with a wide range of both literary experiences and authentic opportunities for academic practice. As they move through the program, students will be exposed to a variety of texts, from fiction and mythology, to academic articles and novels. Their writing skills will be developed, learning to compose thoughtful personal narratives to thoroughly-researched argumentative essays. In the process, students learn to ask critical questions, openly discuss difficult topics, and engage in collaborative group processes. Through active practice of these skills, students are provided a foundation that will enable growth across the curriculum.
At SCLS, social studies is more than just history; it is a study of both people and society around us. Staring in grade 6, students start their career by participating in a special program called Global Scholars, where they digitally collaborate with students from around the world. In grade 7, students learn more about the complex social ecosystems that affect everyone through a unique human geography course. In grade 8, students learn the value of independent research, authentic document analysis, and evidenced-based writing through History in Perspective. Once in high school, students continue through a two-year world history course before being offered a plethora of electives, with AP options like psychology and economics as well.
From being able to understand complex ideas to the nurturing of academic curiosity and exploration, science and science education are important to lives of students all around the world. More than just knowledge, science should revolve around both the acquisition of content as well as the development of key skills like collaboration, problem solving, and inquiry. Aligned with the rigorous NGSS standards, SCLS science courses are focused on just that: coupling academic content with hands-on learning. No matter students’ future aims, they will be provided with an experience that is both academically advanced as well as enjoyable. Students spend their middle school years receiving foundational courses in physics, chemistry, earth science and biology. Once in high school, the rigor begins to accelerate as they take more advanced coursework, while also having the option of AP Chemistry, Physics, and more.
A core curricular value at SCLS is a holistic view of education. The Arts department is one of the ways we accomplish this vision, by providing students a variety of courses that allow them to explore their inner creativity and artistic talent. This journey begins in grade 6, students spend the year experiencing a rotation of classes from the Arts, with each lasting half of a semester. By the end of the year, they will have had the opportunity to explore what interests them. In 7th grade, they can commit the entire year to the Arts class of their choice, which include theatre, choir, visual arts and string orchestra. Students can change their preferred arts each year or continue to specialize as they move into high school.
An important distinction between our curriculum and others is our focus on languages and language development. Starting in grade 6, all students select an additional language, currently either French or Spanish. These courses are all taught with the expectation the students have received no prior knowledge of the language. From there, students receive three years of their world language instruction in middle school, and an additional two in high school. Eventually, students will be able to take an AP course in their chosen language. While this is entirely optional, it will allow them to complete the language requirement of the AP International Diploma.
More than just memorization of formulas, a high-quality math curriculum involves deeper understanding, application of ideas, and justifying answers. At SCLS, our math program aims to accomplish just that. Based on accelerated American math standards, students take pre-algebra in grade 6 before progressing through algebra and geometry on the way to high school. Once there, they will take pre-calculus and have the option of adding Advanced Placement courses like AP Calculus AB, Calculus BC, and Statistics. Throughout this progression, students will have abundant opportunities to ask questions, test ideas, and develop strategies on the way to a more comprehensive understanding.
Healthiness is more than just the body. It is a constant evaluation of one's emotional, social, and physical wellbeing. At SCLS, students have the opportunity to learn about all three through our PE and Health program. Each year, students take coursework designed to regularly challenge them as well as provide opportunity to reflect on their decisions, both internally and externally, in order to be a healthy, well-informed student. Through PE class, they learn valuable risk prevention skills while participating in healthy competition. Through health class, they study a wide range of topics related to socio-emotional issues and self-management. Both PE and health are taught in tandem, ensuring students receive age-appropriate information and skill development each year in both areas.
Another core element in our language focus, Chinese at SCLS is divided into both native-speaker and additional language tracks. Classes for native speakers are based on national curriculum standards for both middle and high school. These are designed to promote literary comprehension and complex written analysis. The additional language curriculum, however, is created for those with little or no background in the language. Focusing on both receptive (listening and reading) and production (writing and speaking) skills, students will progress towards the goal of complete fluency.
The International Division organizes and supports students' participation in major international competitions such as AMC, Waterloo Math, Math League, IMMC, USAD, Battle of Book, National History Day as well as contests in robotics, speech and debate. Our students won the world's top 2%, first prize and other outstanding awards in those well-known international competitions.
Middle School and High School of International Division have almost 20 Extra-Curricular Activities can be chosen in the fields of academic, sports and arts like drama, choir, photography, orchestral music, floor ball, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, frisbee, paper crafts, Battle of Book, robotics, debate, meditation, calligraphy, etc. Students can choose according to their own interests and hobbies.
SCLS ID High School is authorized to offer the “AP Capstone Diploma Program” by the US-based College Board. This diploma goes beyond the demands of AP courses, helping students develop key skills that they will use over and over in college, such as research, analysis, evidence-based arguments, collaboration, writing and presenting, and has been recognized by world-top universities such as Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. SCLS ID High School is certified as an AP & SAT Test Center by the College Board, which enables International Division students to take AP, PSAT, SAT, SAT2 exams on campus.
International Division Secondary School Curriculum Standards follow the American Curriculum. At present, a wealth of AP courses have been offered, taught by senior teachers from the UK and the US. In May 2020, students have taken 25 times and 13 AP exams, ranging from humanities AP Music Theory, AP Painting, AP Modern World History, AP Computer Science, AP Environmental Science and so on.
Our cooperative credit courses with UCLA include: Human Geography, Macroeconomics/Microeconomics, American History, etc., taught by UCLA professors.
The courses we offer in partnership with Wake Forest University (WFU) include Academic Writing, Academic Inquiry. Academic Writing, Biotechnology, Drama, Leadership, Educational Developmental Psychology, and Global Competitiveness in Education are taught by the Director of the WFU Academic Writing Center.
MSHS Vice Principal
Head of Librarian
Director of Curriculum
English Teacher
Social Studies, Math Teacher
MSHS Art Teacher
English Teacher, HoD
Social Studies Teacher
PE Teacher
Math Teacher
EAL Teacher
PE Teacher
College Counselor
Computer Science
English Teacher
Math Teacher
Social Studies Teacher
PE Teacher, HoD
English Teacher
English Teacher
Spanish, Social Studies Teacher
PE Teacher
French Teacher
Art (HoD), Math Teacher
Social Studies Teacher
Spanish Teacher, HoD
Art Teacher
French Teacher
Math Teacher
Science Teacher
Art Teacher
Spanish Teacher
Frence , Spanish Teacher
Social Studies Teacher, HoD
Science (HoD), Math Teacher
Art Teacher
Science Teacher
English Teacher
MSHS Principal, Director of College Counseling
MSHS Chinese Vice Principal - Academics, HoD
School Counselor
Principal's Assistant & Accreditation Specialist
MSHS Registrar
Director of Faculty Support Center & Student Service Specialist
Librarian
Chinese History Teacher
Office Assistant
Chinese Teacher
Chinese Teacher
College Counselor
Math (HoD), Science Teacher
Art Teacher
Chinese Teacher
College Counselor
Chinese Teacher
Chinese Teacher
Science Teacher
Chinese Teacher, HoD
Chinese Teacher
Math Teacher
Teaching subject
Basic chemistry, biology, AP biology, project-based subject courses
Teaching subject
Basic chemistry, biology, AP biology, project-based subject courses
