If you are transferring to Arlington Public Schools for the  2025-2026 or 2026-2027 school year, please go to the page titled Transfer Students for additional support. 

WELCOME TO AHS

The course selection process will begin in January.

Please use the information in this guide to help start conversations about what courses you may be interested in taking next year. 

If you are currently attending a private school for 8th grade (or transferring to Arlington Public Schools (APS), we recommend that you review this information and use the paper form for course selection on the transfer student webpage.  Your online account will not activate until all students have graduated to their next year (often occuring in August).

A Guide to AHS

A brief overview of AHS to help new students with understanding some of our policies.

Explanation of Curriculum Levels

The following course levels are offered at Arlington High School:

• Advanced Placement - primarily for students in Grades 11 and 12, AP courses offer a fast-paced, intensive, college-level, exposure to a specific curriculum.  Students in AP courses must take the AP exam, offered by the College Board, at the end of the school year in order to receive AP credit for these courses.

• Honors - for students in Grades 9-12, Honors courses are driven by independent student-work and, along with Advanced Placement courses, require the highest amount of student discipline, energy, effort, and organizational skills.

  •  Honors for All - Designed to support all general education students in an honors curriculum. 

• Curriculum A - for students in Grades 9-12, Curriculum A courses are college preparatory courses that cover rigorous content, college preparatory skill development, and specific instruction from teachers in study skills.

• Curriculum B - for students in Grades 9-11 with teacher and school counselor approval only, Curriculum B courses allow for some modification of standards while still providing preparation for college and career. Students who are interested in Division 1 or 2 college athletics will need to satisfy NCAA Eligibility Criteria which is available on their website, www.ncaaclearinghouse.org. Historically, Curriculum A, Honors and AP courses have met these standards.  Please note that the NCAA has not approved Curriculum B core classes at this point in time.

Heterogeneous courses - In heterogeneous classes, students are not divided by level but can choose to complete either Curriculum H (honors) or Curriculum A (academic) level work, with the designation reflected on their transcript. After 2-4 weeks, students commit to their chosen level for the semester. Both levels provide a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, but H-level work requires greater sophistication, consistency, and independence. Specific expectations for work vary depending on the course structure and content. Instruction is differentiated to support all students. 

Notes on Elective Choices

ELECTIVES:  Freshmen have 1 available block to choose an elective.   We ask that students give 4 options in case their first choice is filled.   With each year, students have additional opportunities to take more electives.

Visual Arts

Will be offering many semester-long courses. For freshmen, we are asking that if you choose 1 Visual arts class for your elective choice 1, please make your second elective choice also a visual arts course.  This will allow for a smoother scheduling process for you and help to complete your schedule.

Performing Arts

Students who wish to take part in Chorale Biweekly (opposite PE) should contact  Jing-Huey Wei (jwei@arlington.k12.ma.us).  This course is offered in addition to a standard full-time elective, but it does replace the student's ability to have two directed studies a week.

[Directed study - time students are not assigned that they can use to complete work, study, slow their day down, or use the media center]

New to AHS

If your student is new to Arlington High School / Arlington Public Schools and is not currently attending Ottoson Middle School, please go to the Transfer Student / New to AHS  page for additional information.  

Also, please take moment to fill out the form below so we can send you an email that comes out pertaining to the schedule or next year.