The American Curriculum: A guide for parents in London

Whether you’re relocating to the UK from America or you’re an international family already living in London, one of the primary considerations when looking for the best schools for expats is which curriculum your child should study. Most, if not all, expats opt for an international curriculum, which enables students to enjoy a continuous education no matter where in the world they might be studying next.

The American Curriculum is a credible and highly respected alternative to A Levels for those seeking something other than the traditional routes to higher education. Globally mobile families looking for a broad-based, student-centred approach tend to favour the American Curriculum because of its widespread recognition by universities around the world.

At ACS International Schools, the American Curriculum is a core part of our offer across Cobham, Hillingdon and Egham campuses, with all students graduating with the US High School Diploma. At Cobham and Hillingdon, we take this a step further by offering Advanced Placements (APs) that can be undertaken separately or in combination with International Baccalaureate (IB) courses.

In this article, we’re taking a deep dive into the American Curriculum to help you understand how it works and why it’s a great choice for expats in London, as well as families seeking credible alternatives to A Levels.

What is the American Curriculum?

The American Curriculum is the broad educational term for a pathway that is designed to suit international families (whether they’re from America or anywhere else in the world). It’s a globally recognised system with a flexible, student-centred approach that fosters critical thinking, creativity and personal growth across diverse subjects.

Every student taking the American Curriculum will study for the US High School Diploma, so let’s take a closer look at that first.

The US High School Diploma

A core part of the American Curriculum is the US High School Diploma, which provides students with a well-rounded, rigorous and challenging academic experience. It’s available across all three of our campuses (Cobham, Hillingdon and Egham), and prepares students for success at university and beyond. Because it’s internationally recognised, the High School Diploma strengthens university and college applications no matter where in the world they want to continue their education.

The High School Diploma is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), and it’s an entrance qualification required by most North American universities. The High School Diploma can be taken alongside the International Baccalaureate (also a popular choice for those looking for global mobility), and at our Hillingdon and Cobham campuses it can also be taken alongside the Advanced Placement (AP).

The Advanced Placement (AP)

As part of the American Curriculum, and alongside the US High School Diploma, students at our Hillingdon and Cobham campuses can pursue the rigorous, college-level Advanced Placement (AP) pathway.

The Advanced Placement (AP) is a globally recognised academic programme offering university-level courses across seven disciplines: arts, English, social studies, mathematics and computer science, sciences, world languages, and interdisciplinary studies. AP courses are designed to provide students with the same learning environment, academic rigour, and pace as a first-year university-level course.

These are one-year, exam-based courses which are typically taken in Grades 11 and 12 (equivalent to UK Years 12 and 13), although some students may begin as early as Grade 10 (UK Year 11). Because they’re only one year each, the idea is that, alongside the High School Diploma, students can leave with five or six APs as well, which gives students credits towards their High School Diploma and further strengthens international college and university applications.

Students can opt to study as many subjects as they want, and it’s a particularly useful pathway for students who already have a clear idea of what they want to do next. Whereas the IB has a broad curriculum spanning many subjects, APs offer students the opportunity to focus on a smaller handful of subjects (minimum of three) in more depth, as opposed to the IB, where you choose six subjects.

AP courses involve a combination of coursework, class assignments and a final AP exam, which is standardised and administered by the College Board. Students must take a minimum of three AP courses to fulfil college and university entry requirements, and each AP course culminates in an exam during a two-week testing period at the end of each academic year. The AP exams are graded on a scale from 1-5, and many universities consider ‘3’ (Qualified) as a successful demonstration of understanding equivalent to passing a university-level course in the subject.

Who is the Advanced Placement for?

Each year, it’s estimated that more than 2.6 million high school students take Advanced Placement (AP) examinations globally. The AP suits students who perform well with an exam-based curriculum and are planning to attend a US college or university.

But the AP isn’t only for students looking to further their studies in the US; one of the AP’s many benefits is that it’s increasingly being recognised by Russell Group universities and other top universities across more than 75 countries worldwide. More and more UK and European universities are respecting AP courses as markers of academic ability (120 UK universities now use AP courses for admissions).

Increasing numbers of students are now using AP qualifications to enter top UK universities, including Oxbridge; one of our ACS students was accepted into medicine at Oxbridge based on their APs alone.

Can you study an AP alongside an IB?

Yes! Some of our students complete an AP in year 10 and then go on to complete the full IB diploma. You can also do a mix of AP and IB courses, although in that case, you won’t be awarded the full IB Diploma, so most students tend to choose one or the other.

Students looking for a broad curriculum tend to prefer the IB, which is more structured and covers six subjects including maths and a language, whereas those who seek depth and an exam-based approach in their chosen subjects tend to prefer the AP courses.

Why study the American Curriculum at ACS International Schools?

As a leading international school for expats in London, ACS’s approach is to offer students a well-rounded and academically rigorous education in a setting that helps them feel welcome and accepted across our three campuses. Each is located conveniently close to Central London with plenty of bus options for ease of access.

With a strong focus on ‘readiness’, we’re experts at preparing students for studying abroad. We place a strong emphasis on student and staff wellbeing, with a comprehensive range of services and initiatives designed to support students holistically as they move through their education. We also offer a university and college counselling service, which helps to guide students through their choices.

At ACS International Schools, our purpose is to inspire the world’s next global thinkers and doers. We educate over 2,400 students, aged 2 to 18, day and boarding, from more than 70 countries, across three campuses. All three schools are non-sectarian and co-educational.

If you’d like to know more about the Advanced Placement as part of the American Curriculum or simply want to get to know us better, we’d be delighted to help. Get in touch via our admissions page, or book a campus visit at our Cobham, Hillingdon or Egham sites.