Grade 12

Before you select classes...

In Grade 12 you have a lot of flexibility in your course selection. Before you make your selections, you MUST COMPLETE A CREDIT CHECK. The credit check is a review of how many credits you have earned in each subject area and how many you have left to complete. Based on your credit check you must first sign up for classes to complete credits you need for graduation.

Before you make your course selections you SHOULD RESEARCH COLLEGE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS. Each college has its own admissions requirements. Completing the AST Graduation requirements may not be sufficient for your college of interest. You need to know of the requirements specific to your Colleges/Universities of interest so you can enroll in the correct courses.

After signing up for courses required, the rest of your schedule is up to you. You may explore different areas of interest or to focus on a discipline that interests you.

GET ADVICE AND SUPPORT! Before you selecting your courses, you should …

    • Read this article: High School Classes Colleges Look For (from CollegeBoard)
    • Read this article: How to Choose High School Electives (from CollegeBoard)
    • Talk to your advisory teacher and get their advice.
    • Talk to your parents and get their advice.
    • Consider making an appointment with Ms. Wilson.
    • Consider making an appointment with Mr. Keen.
    • Consider making an appointment with Mr. Norton-Middaugh.
    • Talk to a teacher related to the field you are most interested in going into.
STUDENT graduation check form-blank

Credit Check

* To complete the credit check open and make a copy of the above document. Alternately, you may print and complete the document by hand.

When you are ready to submit your course recommendations in Alma, directions are here.

REMEMBER requesting a course does not guarantee that you will be able to take it. At AST, We make the best effort to get students into their requested courses. Final course offerings are made based on student interest and teacher availability.

You need 6.0 credits in English to Graduate.

12th Graders generally take English Language Arts 12 (1.0).

With a teacher recommendation, 12th graders may elect to take AP Language (1.0) or AP Literature (1.0) as a substitute for English Language Arts 12.

12th graders may enroll in English electives. Options include:

  • Creative Writing (0.5)
  • Film and Literature (0.5)
  • Speech (0.5)
You will need 3.0 credits in Social Studies to Graduate.

If you have not completed your 3.0 Social Studies Credits you must select a Social Studies course.

If you have completed your 3.0 Social Studies credits you may elect to take additional Social Studies courses.

  • United States History (1.0) - NOTE: For students applying to US colleges with a US passport, many colleges require this course of US citizens for admission.
  • Comparative Government and Politics (0.5)
  • AP Comparative Government and Politics (0.5) - teacher recommendation required
  • AP US Government and Politics (1.0) - teacher recommendation required
  • AP World History: Modern - teacher recommendation required
  • Psychology (0.5)
  • Social and Cultural Psychology (0.5)
  • Geography (0.5)
  • Psychology of Studying (0.5)
  • AP Psychology (1.0) - teacher recommendation required
  • Economics (0.5)
  • AP Microeconomics (0.5) - offered in alternating years, teacher recommendation required
  • AP Macroeconomics (0.5) - offered in alternating years, teacher recommendation required
  • AP Human Geography (1.0) - teacher recommendation required
You will need 3.0 credits in Math to Graduate.

It is recommended that you take a math course during 12 grade. If you took Pre-Calculus during 11th grade you can now sign up for AP Calculus AB (1.0) or AP Calculus BC (1.5).

If you did not take Pre-Calculus or you wish to take additional math courses you may select from the following Math electives:

  • Statistics 1 (0.5)
  • AP Statistics (1.0) - teacher recommendation required
  • Personal Finance (0.5)
  • AP Computer Science A (1.0) - teacher recommendation required
  • AP Computer Science Principles (1.0) - teacher recommendation required
  • Discrete Math (1.0) - teacher recommendation required
You will need 3.0 credits in Science to Graduate.

It is recommended that you take a Science course during 12th grade.

NOTE: Some colleges require specific Science Courses for admission. We recommend you research the entrance requirements for colleges of interest before selecting your Science courses.

Choose from the following courses:

  • Chemistry (1.0)
  • Environmental Science 1 & 2 (0.5)
  • Forensics (0.5)
  • Robotics (0.5)
  • AP Physics 1 (1.0) - teacher recommendation required
  • AP Physics 2 (1.0) - prerequisite: AP Physics 1, teacher recommendation required
  • AP Biology (1.0) - teacher recommendation required
  • AP Environmental Science (1.0) - teacher recommendation required
You will need 2.0 credits in World Languages (in the same language) to Graduate.

AST offers:

  • Chinese for Native Speakers
  • Chinese for Foreign Learners
  • Spanish

If you have not completed your required two years of language then you need to take a language course this year.

If you have completed the required two years you may continue with advanced language study, select another language to study, or choose not to take a language class.

Advanced Language Classes:

  • Advanced Chinese Language and Literature (1.0) - teacher recommendation required
  • AP Chinese (1.0) - for foreign learners, teacher recommendation required
  • Spanish 3 (1.0)
  • AP Spanish (1.0) - teacher recommendation required
You will need 2.0 credits in Physical Education to Graduate.

If you have not completed your 2.0 credits in Physical Education, then you should take a Physical Education course.

If you have completed your 2.0 credits you may elect to take a additional Physical Education courses.

Options Include:

  • PE (0.5)
  • Health (0.5) - required if you have not already taken this course
  • Nutrition and Food Preparation (0.5)
You will need 2.0 credits in Arts to Graduate.

If you have not completed your 2.0 Arts credits you must select a Science course.

If you have completed you 2.0 Arts credits you may elect to take additional Arts courses.

  • Foundations of Art (0.5)
  • Drawing and Painting (0.5) - Prerequisite: Foundation of Art
  • Printmaking (0.5) - Prerequisite: Foundation of Art
  • Advanced Art (0.5) - Prerequisite: Two fine arts courses
  • Studio Art (0.5) - teacher recommendation required
  • Graphic Design (0.5)
  • Digital Audio Design (0.5) - Prerequisite: Graphic Design
  • Digital Media Design (0.5) - Prerequisite: Graphic Design
  • Game Design (0.5) - Prerequisite: Digital Media Design
  • Publications (0.5)
  • Interior Design (0.5)
  • Design Lab (0.5) - teacher recommendation required
  • Drama (0.5)
  • Bell Choir (0.5)
  • Creative Music (0.5)
  • Music Theory (0.5)
  • AP Music Theory (1.0) - teacher recommendation required

To help support you in the college admissions process 12th grade students take Senior Seminar (0.5) during first semester.

12th graders may elect to complete an independent study. To do so you will need to work with a advising teacher to create an Independent Study Plan.

  • Independent Study - Art
  • Independent Study - Design
  • Independent Study - Engineering
  • Independent Study - English Language Arts English
  • Independent Study - Foreign Language Foreign
  • Independent Study - Math
  • Independent Study - Physical Education & Health
  • Independent Study - Science
  • Independent Study - Social Studies
  • Technology Maintenance and Management