Academics

ACADEMICS

Excelsior School is a small, boarding high school that offers a rigorous, college-preparatory education. Our school, a WASC accredited institution, has established an excellent track record of graduates matriculating at distinguished colleges and universities. Our alumni have attended many of the prominent colleges in California and other states, including Berkeley, UCLA, USC, Brown University, Pepperdine University, New York University, and Syracuse University., among others. Our school’s curriculum is designed to develop an awareness of student potential. Commitment to community service and individual responsibility are also strongly emphasized to raise responsible members of the community. An in-depth, enriched curriculum and a growing number of extracurricular activities allow students to become critical thinkers and productive communicators. A close-knit community forms due to the low student-to-teacher ratio.

The Excelsior School curriculum is varied and challenging, providing a strong college-preparatory program in various fields of study: English, history, mathematics, computer science, science, foreign language, art, performing arts, and physical education. Advanced Placement preparation is available in English, History, Math, and Science. The Excelsior faculty employs a wide variety of teaching methods. All courses emphasize reading, writing, and research skills, and some courses include educational field trips to local museums, theaters, and historical sites. The visual and performing arts are an integral part of the Excelsior experience. Each student is required to enroll in at least one full-year studio art course and one music course before graduation, and many students choose to take additional electives in these fields.

The college counseling program is committed to the careful matching of each student with a school that is particularly appropriate for each individual. Excelsior recognizes that each student is unique — that student has his/her own educational and professional goals, academic strengths, financial resources, and preference for certain geographical locations. Each student is advised to pursue a course of study that emphasizes his/her particular talents and strengths. SAT prep is provided for all students. Students have access to teachers and administrators to go over all aspects of the college application process. Help with personal statements is also part of the curriculum for seniors. The school arranges for universities to come to visit and talk about their corresponding schools. We arrange visits to universities for interested students as well. Our goal is for all students to attend the college of their choice.

Tutoring
Science Teacher
English Class
Graduation Picture
Science Lab
Painting
Physical education
theater arts

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

High School

Graduation
Requirements

Minimum Credits for
Graduation

Recommended for
College Bound

Subject

Course Requirements

Required Semester
Credits

Required Semester
Credits

English:

4 years of English

40

40

Social Science: 

3 years of social
science

1 year of World
History

1 year of United
States History

1 semester of
American Government

1 semester of
Economics

30

40

Mathematics:

 

3 years of math

Algebra 1/Integrated
Math 1 and Geometry

Algebra II/Integrated
Math 2 or higher level courses.

30

40

Science:

 

2 years college prep
laboratory science

Including both
biological and physical sciences

20

20

Fine Arts:

1 year of fine arts

10

10

Foreign Language:

2 year foreign
language

20

20

Physical Education:

2 years of physical
education

20

20

Electives:

50 units of credit

Student may select
elective courses in the following areas: art, business, consumer and
homemaking education, English, foreign language, mathematics, music,
industrial technology education, physical education, reading,
science, and social science.

50

50

TOTAL:

220

240


Pass the high school proficiency examinations

 CREDITS

Five semester credits are granted for successfully passing a course one semester.  No credit is earned for courses which are repeated if credit has been previously granted or for courses in which an “f” grade is received.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ENTRANCE REQUIREMENT

University of California
Requirements
(starting 2003)
(A-G Requirement)
A-F/G Subject Requirements:

a) College Prep English: 4 years
English that includes frequent and regular writing and reading of classic and modern literature. Not more than two semesters of ninth–grade English can be used to meet this requirement.
b) Mathematics:
3 years (4 recommended) (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II)
c) History / Social Science: 2 years required
Includes one year of U.S. History and one year of World Studies.
*d) Lab Science: 2 years (3 recommended)
CP Integrated Science I, II, and III (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), physiology
e) Language (other than English): 2 years (3 recommended) (Must be the same foreign language)
f) Visual and Performing Arts: 1 year
Students must complete a year-long approved course from a single visual and performing arts subject area (dance, music, visual arts, or drama/theater.)
g) College Preparatory Electives (1 year required)
Additional courses taken in subject requirement a-f above. They are to be chosen from the following subject areas: social science, English, advanced math, laboratory science, foreign language, and visual and performing arts. Also selected elective courses listed on the UC approved list.

SAT I or ACT required
Students must submit test scores for either the SAT 1 or ACT.

* The Science College Requirements must satisfy 1 year life science and 1 year physical science.

University of California
Brown University

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE REQUIREMENT

California State University
Requirements (starting 2003)
(A-G Requirements)

 

Students must complete the following minimum requirements:

a) College Prep English: 4 years
English that includes frequent and regular writing and reading of classic and modern literature. Not more than two semesters of ninth–grade English can be used to meet this requirement .

b) Mathematics : 3 years
(Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II)

c) History / Social Science : 2 years required
Includes one year of U.S. History and one year of  World Studies.

*d) Lab Science : 2 years
Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physiology

e) Foreign Language : 2 years
2 years same language

f) Visual and Performing Arts : 1 year
Students must complete a year-long approved course from a single visual and performing arts subject area (dance, music, visual arts, or drama/theater.)

g) Elective Course: 1 year
(includes any subjects a-f above and selected college prep elective courses

SAT I or ACT required
Other requirements include:
• Graduation from high school
• An eligibility index that places applicants among the top one-third of California’s public high school graduates.

GPA                       SAT                        ACT
Above 3.0              qualifies with any score
2.80                         660                          14
2.60                         820                          18
2.40                         980                          22
2.20                         1140                        26
2.0                           1300                        30

EXCELSIOR SCHOOL

UC/CSU-Approved Courses List

a-History / Social Science – 2 years required Two years of history/social science, including one year of World History, Cultures or Geography; and one year of US History or one-half year of US History and one-half year of American Government/Civics
Course Title Transcript Abbreviation(s) Category Honors Type Course Notes
AP European History AP Euro World History / Cultures / Historical Geography AP
AP Government and Politics United States AP GovPol US Civics / American Government AP
AP Human Geography AP Human Geography World History / Cultures / Historical Geography AP
AP United States History AP US Hist U.S. History AP
AP World History AP World Hist World History / Cultures / Historical Geography AP
Honors American Government Hon Gov Civics / American Government H Semester
Honors American History Hon US Hist U.S. History H
Honors World History Hon World Hist World History / Cultures / Historical Geography H
U.S. Government & Politics U.S. Gov Civics / American Government Semester
U.S. History AB US Hist U.S. History
World History A&B World Hist World History / Cultures / Historical Geography
b-English – 4 years required
Four years of college preparatory English. Students may only use 1 year of ESL/ELD, SDAIE, or Sheltered English.
Course Title Transcript Abbreviation(s) Category Honors Type Course Notes
AP English Language and Composition   AP Eng Lan English AP
AP English Literature and Composition   AP Eng Lit English AP
English 10AB English
English 11AB English
English 12AB English
English 9AB English
English AB (H) English H
c-Mathematics – 3 years required, 4 years recommended
Three years of college preparatory mathematics that includes the topics covered in Elementary Algebra/Algebra 1, Geometry and Advanced Algebra/Algebra 2. Approved Integrated Math courses may be used to fulfill part or all of this requirement.
Course Title Transcript Abbreviation(s) Category Honors Type Course Notes
Algebra IAB Algebra 1
AP Calculus AB   AP Calculus AB, Calculus AB Advanced Mathematics AP
AP Statistics   AP Stat Statistics AP
AP Calculus BC   AP Calc BC, Calculus BC Advanced Mathematics AP
AP Computer Science A   AP Computer Science A Advanced Mathematics AP
Geometry AB Geometry
Intermediate Alg./Trigonometry AB Algebra 2
Math Analysis AB Advanced Mathematics Pre-Calculus
Pre-Calculus A&B Pre-Calculus Advanced Mathematics
d-Laboratory Science – 2 years required, 3 years recommended
Two years of laboratory science, including two of the three fundamental disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. This requirement can also be met by completing the latter two years of a 3-year Integrated Science program.
<
Course Title Transcript Abbreviation(s) Category Honors Type Course Notes
AP Biology   AP Bio Biology / Life Sciences AP
AP Chemistry   AP Chem Chemistry AP
AP Computer Science Principles   AP Computer Science Principles Computer Science AP
AP Environmental Science   AP Env Sci Interdisciplinary Sciences AP
AP Physics 1   AP Physics 1 Physics AP
AP Physics 2   AP Physics 2 Physics AP
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism   AP Physics C: E & M Physics AP
Biology AB Biology Biology / Life Sciences
Chemistry AB Chem Chemistry
Honors Biology   Biology (H) Biology / Life Sciences H
Honors Physics   Physics (H) Physics H
Physics – Lab Physics Physics
e-Language Other than English – 2 years required, 3 years recommended
Two years of the same language other than English.
Course Title Transcript Abbreviation(s) Category Honors Type Course Notes
Chinese I AB Chinese I AB LOTE Year 1
Chinese II AB Chinese II AB LOTE Year 2
French IAB French I LOTE Year 1
French IIAB French II LOTE Year 2
French IIIAB French III LOTE Year 3
Latin I IAB Latin I LOTE Year 1
Latin II IIAB Latin II LOTE Year 2
Spanish IAB Spanish I LOTE Year 1
Spanish IIAB Spanish II LOTE Year 2
Spanish IIIAB Spanish III LOTE Year 3
f-Visual & Performing Arts – 1 year required
Course Title Transcript Abbreviation(s) Category Honors Type Course Notes
Advance Video Production Theater
Advanced ACTING Theater
AP Music Theory Music AP
Art History & Analysis AB Visual Arts
Basic Video Production Theater
Beginning ACTING Theater
Beginning Painting Visual Arts
Digital Media Visual Arts
Digital Photography Visual Arts
Drawing AB Visual Arts
Intermediate ACTING Theater
Intermediate Video Production Theater
Introduction to Music Theory Music
Photojournalism Visual Arts
Theater Arts 1 Theater
g-Elective – 1 year required
One year (two semesters), in addition to those required in “a-f” above. All courses must be listed under “a-f” above with the exception of courses marked with a blue diamond () in Mathematics, Language Other than English, and VPA; plus the following:
Course Title Transcript Abbreviation(s) Category Honors Type Course Notes
Academic English Language Development (AELD) AELD English as a Second Language (ESL) / English Language Development (ELD)
Accounting Mathematics
AP Macroeconomics History / Social Science AP Semester
AP Microeconomics History / Social Science AP Semester
AP Psychology History / Social Science AP
Art Appreciation Interdisciplinary
Art History Interdisciplinary
Basic Web Design Interdisciplinary
Computer Science (Programming) AB Mathematics – Computer Science
Creative Writing AB English
Economics History / Social Science Semester
Environmental Science Science – Biology / Life Sciences
Film and Television Visual & Performing Arts
Financial Literacy Mathematics
Honors Economics History / Social Science H Semester
Intro. to Anthropology History / Social Science
Introduction to Business Interdisciplinary
Java Script Interdisciplinary
Journalism English
Physical/Earth Science AB Science – Physical Sciences
Psychology History / Social Science
Introduction to Sociology History / Social Science
Web Development Interdisciplinary
World Geography and Cultures History / Social Science
Excelsior School
Social Studies
English Honors
Pre-Calculus
AP Calculus (AB)
AP Physics 1
Spanish 3

UNIVERSITY ACCEPTANCES

Excelsior School helped me achieve my dreams and get into the university of my choice.

UCLA
UC Berkeley
Brown University
New York University
UC Irvine
University of Southern California
Columbia University
Ohio State University

Excelsior School students have been accepted to many acclaimed universities throughout the United States. Below is a list of just some of the schools students from Excelsior have attended.

  • Brown University
  • Columbia University
  • University of California Berkeley
  • University of California Irvine
  • University of California Los Angeles
  • University of California Riverside
  • University of California Santa Barbara
  • University of Southern California
  • University of Colorado
  • Cal Poly Pomona
  • Pennsylvania State University
  • New York University
  • Michigan State University
  • The Ohio State University
  • University of Rochester
  • Pepperdine University
Cal Poly Pomona
Syracuse University
Pepperdine University
Cap

COLLEGE COUNSELING

The college counseling program is committed to the careful matching of each student with a school that is particularly appropriate for each individual. Excelsior recognizes that each student is unique — that student has his/her own educational and professional goals, academic strengths, financial resources, and preference for certain geographical locations. A full-time college counselor directs an intensive counseling program which begins as soon as a student enrolls in the Upper School. Each student is advised to pursue a course of study that emphasizes his/her particular talents and strengths. All sophomores and juniors take the PSAT. SAT I and SAT II tests are taken when appropriate in the sophomore, junior and senior years. During the spring of the junior year and fall of the senior year, students meet in a monthly class with the counselor to go over all aspects of the college application process.

Early in the senior year, there is a college night for senior parents. In the fall, seniors visit colleges, arrange interviews and prepare applications and essays.

Students also have access to extensive computer resources for researching colleges.

REQUEST A TRANSCRIPT

To obtain official transcripts of your academic records from the Registrar’s Office, you must complete Transcript Request Form.

Important Notice

Please be advised that not all schools accept electronic transcripts. It is your responsibility to select the appropriate transcript option. If you order incorrectly, you are responsible for reordering and paying for any shipping fees.

  • Transcript is covered by the one-time document fee (shipping charges may apply).
  • All fees associated with your transcript order are non-refundable.