Graduation Requirements

The AISL Board of Directors recognizes that high expectations are a necessary ingredient for stimulating student achievement. Rigorous high school graduation requirements, as well as effective teaching and learning strategies, make certain that students, parents, and teachers all focus in the same direction.

The AISL Board of Directors is committed to developing graduation requirements that provide students with the necessary skills to make a successful transition to postsecondary training and that students have the skills and knowledge necessary to compete with other learners on the world stage.

The AISL High School program offers students a stimulating course of study in Grades 9 to 12 resulting in an AISL High School Diploma. AISL offers a wide array of sports and artistic activities, clubs and house activities, in which students are strongly encouraged to participate. AISL believes that extra-curricular activities provide students with opportunities to gain a well-rounded education and that significant learning occurs outside of the classroom as well as inside.

Students who wish to graduate with the AISL High School Diploma must meet the following requirements:

1. Twenty-six credits are required for graduation with one credit earned for each full year of passing work in a course. Specific credit requirements include: English (4 credits), Math (4 credits), World Languages (3 credits), Sciences (3 credits), Social Sciences (3 credits), Health and Physical Education (2 credits), The Arts (1 credit), Electives (6 credits)

2. Completion of High School CAS/L program which consists of:

Grades 9 & 10 and 11th & 12th non-IB diploma candidates:

(a) Successful completion and evidence of service-learning action project within the Service Learning program every year of high school at AISL, 9th - 12th. Reflection and Evidence should be added to the AISL Student-Led Conference Page of AISL e-Portfolio.

(b) At least one extracurricular experience that fits under Creativity, Activity, and Service with a minimum of 1 reflection/evidence at the start and 1 reflection/evidence at the end of the experience connected to the learning outcomes chosen by the student

This applies to all non-IB diploma candidates. If a student is a full IBDP candidate the Service Learning action project may overlap IB CAS Project requirements. Full IB Diploma students will need a variety and balanced portfolio of experiences fitting under the areas of Creativity, Activity, and Service.

3. Eight semesters of successful completion of a High School curriculum (9th - 12th Grade)

To be eligible to earn a High School Diploma from AISL, a student cannot enter after the start of the 2nd semester of his/her senior year. AISL will not issue an AISL Diploma if the student has not earned at least four (4) of his/her required credits in the second semester of the student’s senior year. In such cases, the sending school will be responsible for awarding graduation status and a high school diploma for that student. The student may participate in all senior activities including graduation. New seniors with no previous high school language credit will be required to complete only one credit of a World language.

All seniors must earn all required credits prior to graduation in order to participate in the graduation ceremony. No exceptions will be made.

Only students who have met all of AISL’s graduation requirements will be granted a diploma and allowed to participate and walk through formal graduation ceremonies. In the event that other forms of corrective actions are imposed for violation of school rules, the student may be denied participation in graduation ceremonies. Such exclusion shall be regarded as a school suspension. In such instances, the diploma will be granted. A student shall be issued a diploma and a final transcript following graduation. The transcript will not be altered after the student receives his/her diploma.

On Transcripts & Courses from Other Institutions

AISL transcribes only courses taken at AISL on its transcripts. We do not include courses taken at any other schools, nor do we provide transcripts from other schools to any new school or university. This includes courses taken with other institutions while the student is at AISL. The only exception to this is for courses taken via the Global Online Academy with whom AISL has a formal agreement and belongs to a consortium of schools and for Pamoja IB courses taken when a student is not able to fit his or her IB courses into the AISL schedule. Courses that a student chooses to take via Pamoja or any other provider will not appear on AISL transcripts or report cards.

AISL's HS Seven point grade scale

7 Excellent

A mark of distinction reserved for students who consistently produce outstanding work showing a thorough understanding of the required knowledge and skills with the ability to apply them in a variety of situations. Work is always of a high quality and often original and insightful.

6 Very Good

A highly commendable level of achievement showing consistent and thorough understanding of the required knowledge and skills. There is consistent evidence of analysis, synthesis and evaluation. Some originality and insights may be seen.

5 Good

A good level of achievement showing consistent and thorough understanding of the required knowledge and skills. There is some evidence of analysis, synthesis and evaluation. Occasional originality and insights may be seen.

4 Satisfactory

A satisfactory level of achievement with a general understanding of the required knowledge and skills often showing their application in familiar situations. Occasional evidence of analysis, synthesis and evaluation is seen.

3 Unsatisfactory

Is a passing grade but there is room for improvement as evidence suggests limited achievement of the basic knowledge and skills or the ability to apply them in familiar situations.

2 Poor

Represents a very limited level of achievement. It is a failing grade. The student has difficulty in understanding the required knowledge and skills and is unable to apply them consistently even when supported.

1 Very Poor

Represents minimal achievement. It is a failing grade.

This grade scale to be used in all non-IB classes. For IB classes, that subject’s grading scale to be used.

The IB (International Baccalaureate) Diploma Program

AISL offers its students the opportunity to earn a second diploma, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. The IB Diploma Program is a challenging two-year pre-university education that is widely recognized by the world’s leading universities, including those in the US, UK, Western Europe, and the Pacific region. It involves academic studies and promotes international-mindedness. Students are encouraged to ask challenging questions, learn how to learn, develop a strong sense of their own identity and culture, and develop the ability to communicate with people from other cultures.

The program is designed for highly motivated secondary school students ages 16 to 19 (grades 11 and 12). The curriculum is inquiry-based and all subjects are approached from a global perspective. In addition to the AISL High School Diploma, students may elect to earn IB Certificates in specific subjects or the full IB Diploma

The attributes of the IB learner profile express the values inherent to the IB continuum of international education. IB learners strive to be: inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective. The International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum is taught in most subjects in the 11th and 12th grades and leads to the IB Diploma however there are some non-IB subjects on offer that allow students to meet AISL graduation requirements. .

Students participating in the full IB Diploma program must sit for exams in six subject areas including; English, Social Studies or History, Experimental Science, Mathematics, World Languages and optionally The Arts. These students must also complete the additional requirements of a 4,000-word Extended Essay, a course of study in Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS).

The IB Diploma and IB Certificates

Full IB Diploma candidates

Study six subjects: One from each group one to six; three are studied at a higher level (HL). An exception to this is to study four HL subjects IF the fourth HL is approved by the IB Coordinator and High School Counselor. HL subjects do not receive any GPA bonus and are weighted equally as other courses. Compulsory participation in the ‘core’ of the program: (1) Theory of Knowledge course (TOK); (2) successful completion of Creativity, action and service program (CAS); (3) Extended Essay (EE).

Successful completion of the IB CAS program include: and evidence of service-learning action project within the Service Learning program during 11th grade

1. 1. Demonstrate frequent and consistent engagement in CAS experiences for 18 months

   2. Consistent evidence and reflection in portfolio demonstrating progress and personal growth on their goals and ultimately showing achievement of all seven CAS learning outcomes.

   3. Successful completion and evidence of an IB CAS Project, using the 5 stages of CAS, lasting minimum one-month, and combining C, A, S during the 18 months of CAS engagement.

IB Certificate Candidates

Students can study one or more IB subjects, either at a higher level (HL) or standard level (SL), as a part of their regular high school program.

Qualifying for the IB DP at AISL

AISL has an open policy for those who wish to challenge themselves to take the full IB Diploma. That being said, the full IB diploma is not for every student. Students who do not meet the minimum prerequisites for success in the IB program will be asked to justify their choices. Parents may be included in this conversation and a letter of understanding drafted that makes clear the challenges the student, family, teachers, and administration of AISL are about to undertake before the student’s junior year.

SSST Option

The School Supported Self-Taught (SSST) Mother Language Option is outlined in this document: LINK.

Websites

AISL’s IB DP Website and website for the Extended Essay can be found here:

IBDP: https://sites.google.com/aislagos.org/aisl-ibdiplomaprogramme/home

EE: https://sites.google.com/aislagos.org/aisl-the-extended-essay/home