Upper Arlington High School administers Advanced Placement (AP) exams in May each year. There are a wide range of Advanced Placement courses reflected in many disciplines. Advanced Placement courses, because of their academic rigor, are assigned a weighted grade factor of 1.2 x letter grade. Students can also choose to challenge any AP exam, without having taken the course.

Acceptable AP scores enable students to earn college credit by demonstrating competence in freshman college-level coursework. Students who earn at least a score of a 3 on the AP test are guaranteed college credit at all Ohio Public Institutions of Higher Education. The number of credits and how they apply towards a degree vary depending on the test and the college. Private universities and universities outside of Ohio have specific policies in place for receiving credit.

Be advised that students can only receive credit if they take the AP exam and taking the AP exam is a UAHS requirement. The Upper Arlington School district will pay the AP testing fee, but students are required to pay any additional fees that are incurred.  Should a student choose not to take the AP exam, the "weighted average" will also be removed from the students' transcript.

Students and parents should be very sensitive to the demanding nature of Advanced Placement courses. Students will be asked to be involved in college level activities, particularly in the areas of writing skills, reading, and test taking. Advanced Placement courses place a high degree of emphasis on the student’s own self-motivation, study skills, and the ability to self-direct his or her own learning.

More information on Advanced Placement (AP) can be found at: www.collegeboard.org,
or feel free to contact Cynthia Ballheim at 614-487-5240 ext. 2736 or [email protected]

COLUMBUS CAREER CENTERS - A contractual agreement between the Upper Arlington and Columbus Boards of Education allows a student at Upper Arlington High School the opportunity to attend Career Centers on a half-day basis for career tech education programs not offered at Upper Arlington High School.

Students apply during their sophomore year and attend during their junior and senior years. For complete information, contact your school counselor. Students can combine their chosen career center choice with the International Baccalaureate Career Related Programme.

Programs take place at Columbus Downtown High School or Fort Hayes Career Center. For information about available programs, please visit the "Columbus Career Centers Career-Technical Education Pathways".

College Credit Plus (CCP) is a program that gives high school/middle school students in grades 7–12 an opportunity to be enrolled in both high/middle school and college course work at the same time. Students must qualify academically and be accepted to participate in College Credit Plus. The tuition will be paid by Upper Arlington City Schools. By taking college credits, students will earn high school credit while taking college courses.

During the 2023-2024 school year, the following CCP courses were offered at Upper Arlington High School: ENGL 1100 Composition I, ENGL 2367 Composition II, FOTO 1140 Intro Digital Photography, Math 1152 Calculus II and Math 2153 Calculus III. Additional information concerning each of these courses can be found in the associated department course descriptions.

English Learners (E.L.) is designed for limited English-proficient students for whom English is not their first language.

The focus of instruction is to help students develop and improve skills in the four communication areas: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Students receive intensive review of English grammar as well as instruction in vocabulary building, essay writing, multicultural literature, and oral presentations. Eligible students may elect this course in lieu of a regular English course for a maximum of two academic years.

We have developed and implemented a state-mandated “flexible credit” option for our students. With flex credit, students will be able to show what they know and move on to other more advanced classes or take elective courses in other departments. They will be able to earn course credit in ways not limited to “seat time” or the walls of our school building. They will be able to customize aspects of their learning around their interests and needs, which might include flexible scheduling, a choice of modalities (i.e. online learning and community-based projects), as well as options to pursue niche interest areas, combine subjects, or even graduate early. All high school students have the opportunity to submit an application for flex credit. Graduation requirements must be taken for a letter grade. Electives may choose letter grade or pass/fail. Seniors must complete all flex credit by the end of first semester. 

With flex credit, students can earn credit in three ways, or in a combination of these ways: 

The IB Diploma Programme is a rigorous, two-year comprehensive curriculum for grades 11 and 12 that seeks to prepare students for post-secondary study through courses and instructional techniques that emphasize: critical thinking; effective self-expression in presenting and defending one’s point of view; application of knowledge; and, an international focus.

Students complete coursework in IB subjects, complete all internal assessments, and sit for external examinations. To receive the IB Diploma, students must successfully take one course from each of six groups, three courses at Standard Level (one or two year courses) and three or four courses at Higher Level (two-year courses). These courses are chosen from the six different groups listed below. This requirement ensures a broad exposure across the liberal arts spectrum. Students who do not wish to earn the IB Diploma may also take individual IB courses for which they will earn certificates upon successful completion of all IB components.

Group 1: Language A1 (language of instruction) - English Language & Literature HL.
Group 2: Language B (modern foreign language) - French SL, Spanish SL, German SL. French HL, Spanish HL, German HL, French ab initio, German ab initio, and Spanish ab initio are also available based on the proficiency of the student.
Group 3: Individuals and Societies -  World History with a focus on Africa and the Middle East, Business Management SL & HL, Psychology HL, World Religions SL, Cultural Anthropology HL (via LABS program mentioned below) .
Group 4: Experimental Sciences - Environmental Systems and Society SL, Physics HL, Sports Exercise & Health Science HL, Computer Science HL
Group 5: Mathematics , Mathematics Applications and Interpretation SL, Mathematics Analysis & Approaches SL (UAIB Calculus) and HL
Group 6: IB Fine Arts - Visual Arts SL & HL, Music SL & HL,, Film SL, or a second course from Groups 2, 3, and/or 4 above.

Pamoja Education offers the opportunity to take some IB Courses on-line at Upper Arlington High School, when schedules do not allow access. Arrangements are made with the programme coordinator in order to take this option.          

In addition to the above coursework, IB Diploma candidates must successfully complete three additional core components to earn the IB Diploma:

THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE - Grade 11 & 12 (0.5 credit each year)

Theory of Knowledge is a course taken over the junior and senior years. Sometimes called “the jewel in the crown,” the purpose of Theory of Knowledge is to engage the learner in ways of knowing while also exploring areas of knowledge. By fostering the skills of inquiry, analysis, and critical thinking. TOK aims to lead the student to processes and activities that stimulate independent thinking. The objective of including several areas of knowledge (Natural Sciences, Human Sciences, History, the Arts, Ethics, Independent Knowledge Systems, Mathematics, Religious Knowledge Systems, Indigenous Knowledge), as well as ways of knowing (Emotion, Reason, Language, Imagination, Faith, Intuition, and Sense Perception), is to guide a student to a balanced understanding of his/her world. This blended course meets, on average, once a week beginning in the second semester of a student’s junior year and ending after the first semester of senior year. TOK leads to both a formal presentation and a formal paper.      

EXTENDED ESSAY – Grade 12 (0 credit)

The Extended Essay represents the culmination of a student’s work in the Diploma Programme. The Extended Essay is an independent research project on a topic of a student’s choice and related to one of the IB courses that he/she has studied. The upper limit is 4000 words. The process begins in the second semester of grade 11 and concludes by the end of February of the student’s grade 12 year. Members of the teaching staff at UAHS mentor students preparing for their essays, while the IB English Teacher serves as the Extended Essay Coordinator.  The Extended Essay, TOK, and CAS are a diploma candidate’s Capstone Project.

CREATIVITY, ACTIVITY, SERVICE (IB CAS) - Grades 11 & 12

The IB goal of educating the whole person and fostering a more compassionate citizenry comes alive through the CAS requirement. CAS requires students to reach beyond them-selves and their books and encourages them to share their energy and special talents with others in the junior year and continue through the students’ senior year. A system of self-evaluation and reflection enables students to critically evaluate the understanding and insight that they acquire. CAS is graded on a Pass/Fail basis and concludes with a final presentation where students give evidence that they have met all learning outcomes, which includes a service learning component.

This program is designed for students interested in pursuing a career-related education through either Fort Hayes, the Columbus Downtown School, or the Project Lead the Way Engineering career pathway and combining their experience with at least two IB courses that are relevant to their chosen career related course of study.  These courses can be from any group (or even the same group)  and at either the Higher level or the Standard level.  IBCP students also participate in the Core – consisting of a Personal and Professional Skills course, Service Learning opportunities, and a Reflective Project (which serves as a students’ Capstone experience).  

There are many aspects to the IBCP Advantage.  The program enables students to: Follow their chosen education and career pathways in life, combine academic classes with personal and profession interests and skills, think critically and creatively, communicate clearly and effectively in a variety of situations, effectively work independently and in collaboration with others, develop greater self-confidence and self-awareness, and apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios and situations. The program combines academic, employability, service learning, and career-related skills in an innovative framework that is recognized and respected globally. For more information about the Career-related Programme, visit www.ibo.org. We are, currently, the only high school in the state of Ohio that offers this program.

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is the nation’s leading provider of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. PLTW programs can be found in more than 6,500 schools nationally. In PLTW Engineering, students engage in open-ended problem solving, learn and apply the engineering design process, and use the same industry-leading technology and software as are used in the world’s top companies. Students are immersed in design as they investigate topics such as ethicists, sustainability, mechatronics, forces, structures, aerodynamics, digital electronics and circuit design, manufacturing, and the environment, which gives them an opportunity to learn about different engineering disciplines before beginning postsecondary education or careers (https://www.pltw.org/).

Upper Arlington High School offers a multi-year Project Lead the Way engineering pathway beginning with "Introduction to Engineering Design". More information can be found in the Industrial Technology & Engineering course descriptions.

Additional Information and Course Descriptions 

The Upper Arlington College Jumpstart Network is a partnership between Upper Arlington City Schools and Columbus State Community College. Students can earn 25 hours of college credit during their high school career. An estimated savings of $13,000 for students and their families.

This program is designed for the student who wants to experience higher education during their high school career. Through partnerships with Columbus State Community College, a student will be able to enroll in college level courses, participate in dual enrollment courses on-site, and/or earn college credits prior to graduation. This program is truly for the student who wants to personalize their learning by getting a jumpstart on their college career.

The two year comprehensive dual enrollment experience will allow Upper Arlington City School students the opportunity to graduate with 25 credit hours from Columbus State Community College:

The Early IT program is an innovative initiative that removes barriers to college access. It is an ecosystem of K12 districts, community colleges, the industry, and the University of Cincinnati. The goal of the Early IT initiative is to transform the economic health of individuals and communities through growing the quality, diversity, and number of technology talent.

The basic idea is to deliver the first year of the undergraduate program during high school. The performance of the student in those classes becomes the admission criteria to the undergraduate program. On one hand, the program gives students focus on developing their knowledge, abilities, and skills in the career of their choosing. On the other side, the student no longer needs to worry about college admission and can benefit from completing the courses required for their Bachelor degree during high school, which reduces the overall cost of their college degree.

The courses include 6 college-level IT courses and 3 college-level academic courses as outlined below:

IT 1050 Fundamentals of Information Technology
IT1090C Computer Programming I
IT1080C Computer Networking
IT2040C Fundamentals of Web Development
IT1081C System Administration
IT2060C Database Management I
ENGL1001 English Composition
MATH1021 College Algebra or MATH1026 Pre-Calculus
COMM 1076 Intro to Interpersonal Communication (or History/Social Sciences/Fine Art)