Academic Options

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 cballheim@uaschools.org

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 2026-2027 school year, the following CCP courses will be offered at Upper Arlington High School: ENGL 1100 Composition I, ENGL 2367 Composition II, Math 1152 Calculus II and Math 2153 Calculus III, EDUC 2201, and EDUC 2220. Additional information concerning each of these courses can be found in the associated department course descriptions.

Additional College Credit Plus Information and Requirements

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: 

1. Complete traditional coursework
2. Credit through testing out: Testing occurs twice a year – December during exam week (deadline to register is October 15) and May, also during exam week (deadline to register is April 15). The week after registration closes, students will receive a course information sheet and any pre- exam assignments. Requirements vary by course. Most have exam portion coupled with a written paper or lab activity. You may only take a flex credit exam once per subject.
3. Credit by educational option: Available in the summer or fall (deadline to register is April 15) and the spring (deadline to register is December 1). Consists of a student developing his/her own proposal describing in detail how they will demonstrate mastery of the academic content standards/ grade level indicators of the identified course. Examples may include but are not limited to – distance learning, educational travel, independent study, internship, music, arts or non-school sponsored athletics. Physical Education proposals must cover state standards and include the following five areas of fitness – cardiovascular, endurance, flexibility, nutrition and strength. Student develop a product (for example, portfolio or video) of evidence and present to a committee of school counselors and multiple content area teachers. 

Additional Flex Credit Overview and Application

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.

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 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.

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.

During the 2026-2027 school year, all Upper Arlington High School students will have the opportunity to enroll in online courses through Upper Arlington Schools. Online courses will be offered through the Upper Arlington Online Academy (a la carte) as an asynchronous course supported by an Upper Arlington teacher.

Rationale for the Online Course Option: 

This equips students with essential skills for navigating digital learning environments, a necessity for postsecondary education and modern careers. By engaging in online coursework, students will enhance their self-discipline, time management, and proficiency with digital tools, better preparing them for the technological demands of higher education and the workforce. This will also provide students with flexibility in their learning and the structure of their school day.

Guidelines for Upper Arlington Online Courses: 

1. Students may enroll in a maximum of two online (a la carte) courses as Upper Arlington High School students per semester.
2. Students must enroll in any online course within the first three (3) days from the start of the semester.
3. Students enrolled in an online course and not concurrently attending an in-person class during that period may be assigned to a “Forum” and/or permitted to leave Upper Arlington High School (i.e. “Late Arrival” or “Early Release”).

*denotes a semester-length course

Upper Arlington High School offers multiple modes of course delivery, including in-person, online, and workshop learning. Beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, UAHS will introduce the Workshop Learning Model, a personalized approach that emphasizes student agency and flexible use of time and space. In this model, students take greater ownership of their learning pace and daily schedule within a morning or afternoon block, rather than following a traditional bell schedule. Students enroll in integrated learning blocks that include either Math and Science or English and Social Studies, with the option to participate in all four core subjects within a collaborative, open learning environment. Teachers are consistently present as mentors and guides, providing one-on-one support, small-group instruction, and targeted direct teaching while closely monitoring individual progress and growth.

The Workshop Learning Model will be introduced intentionally to ensure quality and success. In 2026–2027, students may enroll in Algebra and Physical Science or English 9 and American History, with the option to take one or both blocks. Expansion is planned for 2027–2028 to include Geometry, Biology, English 10, and Government. Participation in The Workshop does not limit access to other courses, as students may continue to enroll in any electives or curriculum offerings outside the workshop space. Enrollment is open to students of all ability levels, with no cap on participation, and special education support will be integrated as needed. All instruction is teacher-designed and delivered through varied interactions, with technology serving as a support tool rather than the primary instructor. Report cards and transcripts will remain unchanged, listing courses by their standard titles with no indication of learning modality.