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Graduation requirements

Graduation requirements

What it takes to graduate from High Bluff Academy — and what we recommend for students headed to four-year colleges.

Two tracks. One catalogue.

Every HBA student earns the same diploma. The basic diploma column below is the minimum we require to walk at graduation. The college-bound column is what we recommend for any student planning to apply to four-year colleges — it lines up with UC A–G and the typical selective college admissions baseline.

Basic diploma

The path to a high school diploma — the foundation every HBA student completes.

College-bound

The recommended course load for four-year college applicants. Add AP and honors for selective schools.

Edited by HBA office

Requirements below are maintained in our SIS, so what you’re reading is what every advisor and student sees.

Subject areaBasic diplomaCollege-bound

English

  • Four years of English recommended for college-bound students. Includes AP Lang / AP Lit.
3 years4 years

Math

  • Two years of math required for the HBA basic diploma.
2 years3 years

Science

  • Two years of science required for the HBA basic diploma.
2 years3 years

Social studies

  • Two years of social studies required for the HBA basic diploma.
2 years3 years

World languages

  • Two to three years of a single world language recommended for college-bound students.
0 years2 years

Visual & performing arts

  • One year of art required. An academic year of a foreign language can substitute — admin grants the substitution per student.
1 year1 year

Physical education

  • Two years of PE required unless an exemption is approved by school administration.
2 years2 years

One credit = one full academic year of a course meeting four to five periods a week. Half-credit courses meet on a lighter schedule. Physical-education exemptions and art ↔ foreign-language substitutions are evaluated case-by-case by school administration.

Which courses fulfill which requirement?

Each course in the HBA catalogue counts toward one subject area. AP and honors courses appear first in each list.

English

9 courses
  • AP English Language and CompositionAP
  • AP English Literature and CompositionAP
  • AP ResearchAP
  • AP SeminarAP
  • English 10
  • English 11
  • English 12
  • English 9
  • English Support

Math

16 courses
  • AP Calculus ABAP
  • AP Calculus BCAP
  • AP PrecalculusAP
  • AP StatisticsAP
  • Group Theory and Abstract Algebra (H)Honors
  • Integrated Math 1 (H)Honors
  • Integrated Math 2 (H)Honors
  • Integrated Math 3 (H)Honors
  • Linear Algebra (H)Honors
  • Mathematics of Machine Learning (H)Honors
  • Multivariable Calculus (H)Honors
  • Set Theory and Real Analysis (H)Honors
  • Integrated Math 1
  • Integrated Math 2
  • Integrated Math 3
  • Intro to Calculus

Science

13 courses
  • AP BiologyAP
  • AP ChemistryAP
  • AP Environmental ScienceAP
  • AP Physics 1AP
  • AP Physics 2AP
  • AP Physics C: Electricity and MagnetismAP
  • AP Physics C: MechanicsAP
  • Biology (H)Honors
  • Chemistry: In the Earth System (H)Honors
  • Biology: The Living Earth
  • Chemistry: In the Earth System
  • Environmental Science
  • Physics of the Universe

Social studies

16 courses
  • AP African American StudiesAP
  • AP Business with Personal FinanceAP
  • AP Comparative Government and PoliticsAP
  • AP European HistoryAP
  • AP Human GeographyAP
  • AP MacroeconomicsAP
  • AP MicroeconomicsAP
  • AP PsychologyAP
  • AP United States Government and PoliticsAP
  • AP United States HistoryAP
  • AP World History: ModernAP
  • Economics
  • Personal Finance
  • Psychology
  • United States History
  • World History

World languages

15 courses
  • AP Chinese Language and CultureAP
  • AP French Language and CultureAP
  • AP Spanish Language and CultureAP
  • Chinese 1
  • Chinese 2
  • Chinese 3
  • Chinese 4
  • French 1
  • French 2
  • French 3
  • French 4
  • Spanish 1
  • Spanish 2
  • Spanish 3
  • Spanish 4

Visual & performing arts

4 courses
  • AP Art HistoryAP
  • AP Music TheoryAP
  • Digital Art
  • Studio Art

Physical education

3 courses
  • PE Fitness
  • PE Golf
  • PE Hiking

Computer science

5 courses
  • AP Computer Science AAP
  • AP Computer Science PrinciplesAP
  • Digital Art
  • Intro to Programming
  • Intro to Robotic Engineering

Elective

20 courses
  • AP Art HistoryAP
  • AP Music TheoryAP
  • Art | Poetry | Prose Magazine
  • Community Service
  • Cooking
  • Creative Writing
  • Health
  • Intro to Programming
  • Intro to Robotic Engineering
  • Journalism
  • Logic and Philosophy
  • Model UN
  • PE Fitness
  • PE Golf
  • PE Hiking
  • Personal Finance
  • Psychology
  • Public Speaking
  • Studio Art
  • Yearbook

Questions about course selection?

Our advisors help every student map a four-year plan that fits graduation requirements and college aspirations.

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