High School

All students in Grades 9 and 10 are enrolled in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB MYP), as a part of the IB Continuum at SAIS. As MYP students, our Grade 10s have the option to register for the MYP Certificate or MYP Courses to enhance their HS diploma. Throughout the programme our students engage in contexts and approaches to learning as a tool for academic success. Our Grade 10 students celebrate this understanding through the completion of the Personal Project (the culminating project of the MYP) and Service as Action components of the MYP Core. Successful students receive the IB MYP Personal Project Certificate.

At Stamford, our Grade 10 students have the option to choose the flexible MYP pathway (MYP Flex) and choose one (1) AP course within their student schedule. This allows students to continue learning in the MYP while beginning to explore options for flexible pathway options in Grades 11 and 12. 

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are one-year college-level courses that introduce students to the rigors of college-level studies while they still have the support of a high school environment. When students take AP courses, they demonstrate to college admission officers that they have sought out an educational experience that will prepare them for success in college and beyond.

Over 20 AP courses are available in grades 10, 11, or 12 at Stamford American, and students take AP exams at the end of the course in early May, measuring their mastery of college-level work. Rated 1-5, a score of 3 or higher on an AP exam can typically earn students’ college credit and/or placement into advanced courses in college in the USA. For the exam-based university entrance systems (i.e., UK, Netherlands, Australia), AP exams can be taken instead, and they are equivalent of A-Levels.

The IB Diploma Programme (IB DP) is a two year programme pursued by taking three Higher Level and three Standard Level courses for students in grades 11 and 12. In addition, students reflect on the nature of knowledge in Theory of Knowledge, complete an independent Extended Essay and undertake a project involving Creativity, Activity and Service to strengthen their learning in the program.

With over 40 courses available, it prepares students for success at university and life beyond through a curriculum that develops the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being of students. The programme is acknowledged and respected by thousands of universities worldwide.

Students taking the full Diploma must take the classes for two years. Students not taking the full Diploma may take classes for two years or one year and may change courses at the end of the first year.

The Business & Technical Education Council (BTEC) International Level 3 is a UK-based vocational program of education for students in grades 11 and 12. It prepares students for success post-secondary whether at university, work, or life beyond through a career-related program that develops practical skills, as well as the theoretical knowledge of the chosen field. BTECs offer an opportunity for students who want to specialise in specific industries now and will be applying to technical/design/art universities or joining the workforce. The program is acknowledged and respected by thousands of universities worldwide.

BTEC courses focus on skills-based learning and are designed around themed units. Rather than testing everything together at the end, BTECs are tested throughout the course using assessments based on real-life scenarios.

Students taking the full BTEC must take the classes for two years. Students not taking the full BTEC may take classes for two-years or one year and may change courses at the end of first year.

BTECs offered at Stamford American are: Music Performance, Art & Design, Performing Arts (Acting) and Sport.

These are most similar to what US high schools call “On-Level” or “College Prep” courses. Stamford American courses are internally evaluated against assessments that ensure students have met the Common Core or AERO standards for that subject. Students earn a Stamford grade from 1-7 that will appear on their report card & transcript. However, since it is not an externally assessed subject, there is no ability to earn US university credit or to use these classes for entrance to a university outside of North America. These one-year courses are purely for students to accumulate the credits required for the Stamford American US High School Diploma.