The American curriculum

By the Editorial team · Checked October 2026

American international schools follow US standards, usually the Common Core for English and mathematics and the Next Generation Science Standards for science, from kindergarten to Grade 12.

Structure

Elementary school usually covers kindergarten to Grade 5, middle school Grades 6 to 8 and high school Grades 9 to 12. There are no national exams. Students earn a high school diploma by completing required credits.

Credits and GPA

High school students earn credits for each course they pass. Grades are combined into a grade point average (GPA), which universities use alongside the transcript. Ask how the school calculates GPA, including whether harder courses are weighted.

Advanced Placement

Many American schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses, college-level classes run by the College Board, with exams each May scored from 1 to 5. Universities in the US may give credit for high scores, and universities elsewhere often accept several AP exams as part of their entry requirements. Some American schools offer the IB Diploma instead of, or alongside, AP.

Accreditation

Since there is no national inspection, accreditation matters. In Asia, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is the most common accreditor for American schools. Cognia and the Middle States Association are others.

Applying to university

The American system leads naturally to US universities through the Common App, with essays, recommendations and, at some universities, SAT or ACT scores. Students applying to the UK or Europe should check the AP or SAT requirements, which differ by course.