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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

(A) History / Social Science

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

(B) English

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

(C) Mathematics

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

(D) Laboratory Science

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

(E) Language Other Than English

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

(F) 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

Other (non-UC)

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

HBA awards 5 credits per semester completed, so a year-long course is worth 10 credits. 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.

(A) History / Social Science

8 courses
  • AP African American StudiesAP
  • AP Comparative Government and PoliticsAP
  • AP European HistoryAP
  • AP United States Government and PoliticsAP
  • AP United States HistoryAP
  • AP World History: ModernAP
  • United States History
  • World History

(B) English

6 courses
  • AP English Language and CompositionAP
  • AP English Literature and CompositionAP
  • English 10
  • English 11
  • English 12
  • English 9

(C) Mathematics

20 courses
  • AP Calculus ABAP
  • AP Calculus BCAP
  • AP Computer Science AAP
  • 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
  • Intro to Calculus (H)Honors
  • Linear Algebra (H)Honors
  • Mathematics of Machine Learning (H)Honors
  • Multivariable Calculus (H)Honors
  • Set Theory and Real Analysis (H)Honors
  • Algebra 1
  • Algebra 2
  • Geometry
  • Integrated Math 1
  • Integrated Math 2
  • Integrated Math 3

(D) Laboratory 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

(E) Language Other Than English

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

(F) Visual & Performing Arts

5 courses
  • AP 3D Art and DesignAP
  • AP Art HistoryAP
  • AP Music TheoryAP
  • Digital Art
  • Studio Art

(G) College-Preparatory Elective

17 courses
  • AP Business with Personal FinanceAP
  • AP Computer Science PrinciplesAP
  • AP Human GeographyAP
  • AP MacroeconomicsAP
  • AP MicroeconomicsAP
  • AP PsychologyAP
  • AP ResearchAP
  • AP SeminarAP
  • Creative Writing
  • Economics
  • Intro to Programming
  • Intro to Robotic Engineering
  • Journalism
  • Logic and Philosophy
  • Personal Finance
  • Psychology
  • Public Speaking

Other (non-UC)

14 courses
  • ACT Prep
  • Advanced ELD
  • Art | Poetry | Prose Magazine
  • Community Service
  • Cooking
  • English Support
  • Ethnic Studies
  • Health
  • Model UN
  • PE Fitness
  • PE Golf
  • PE Hiking
  • Seminar
  • 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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