High School Curriculum

Northern Academy nurtures within students academic prowess, artistic excellence, and strength of character. Northern Academy provides students with the skills, discipline, and confidence they need to be successful in college and in life.

Northern Academy’s rigorous education imbues a philosophy of lifelong learning. While every student fulfills a complete college preparatory curriculum, co-curricular activities are compulsory activities that are important for every student to participate in at Northern. These activities are designed and balanced with the academic curriculum so that every student gets to learn beyond subjects. Co-curricular activities are meant to bring social skills, intellectual competence, moral values, personality progress, and character appeal to students. Northern Academy co-curricular programs include athletics, cultural events, academic activities, dance, fine arts, meditation, and music. A student choosing a co-curriculum concentration in a semester takes two classes of his/her concentration daily in addition to the commonly required academic, PE and art classes.

All of Northern Academy’s education programs are grounded in classical perspective and crowned by an emphasis on real-world application. Our low teacher to student ratio allows for individualized education that is flexible and responsive and has resulted in students achieving above average SAT scores. The Academy offers a wide range of elective courses for high school students including Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

In addition to the academic and co-curricular education students receive, Northern Academy’s approach to character development aims to guide students to become healthy, upright people who know right from wrong, and who want to make good choices based on strong reasoning founded in respect for their own lives and the lives of others. We call this the Northern Way.

Download the latest Course Guide (PDF)

Download a list of Academic and Arts Electives (PDF)

Academic classes offered at different grade levels are outlined below, where one credit is equivalent to 180 days of instruction. In addition, the school provides additional learning opportunities and/or arts training, which enhances students’ overall career goals.

These classes are designed to meet or exceed all U.S. High School diploma requirements. High school students are required to take the following courses:

  • English Language Arts (4 credits)
  • Social Studies (4 credits)
  • Science (3 credits)
  • Mathematics (3 credits)
  • Academic Electives:
    • World Languages (3 credits in one world language)*
    • Other Academic Electives (3 credits)
  • Dance, Fine Arts, Music, Theatre (1½ credits, with at least 1/2 credit in music and 1/2 credit in fine arts)
  • Health and Life Skills (1/2 credit)
  • Ethics and Etiquette (3/4 credit)
  • Physical Education (2 credits)

See Graduation Requirements

A unique feature of health education at NA is its emphasis on developing students’ knowledge, skills, and habits in order to achieve a healthy body, mind, and spirit. Students are encouraged to maintain that sense of well being throughout their lives. Students are gaining the know-how and ability to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment and learn to manage their personal and community resources as responsible citizens.

Included in the life skills classes are highway safety and traffic regulations, fire drills, fire/arson prevention, and the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse. The importance of conserving natural resources is also taught.

Through physical education, students in all grade levels acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to establish and maintain overall fitness.

See Graduation Requirements