Last updated: April 2024

Frankfurt International School provides students with a fully accredited educational experience that meets or exceeds the educational standards of the New England Association of Schools & Colleges and the International Baccalaureate Organization.  FIS requires 24 credits of core and elective curriculum classes that, when planned accordingly by the student, will result in a FIS Graduation Diploma.  FIS also offers accredited IB courses to students that, in addition to the FIS High School Diploma, may result in an IB Diploma or IB Certificates. Students at FIS receive instruction from highly qualified teachers in courses consistent with the requirements for college entrance at competitive colleges and universities worldwide.

However, in order to meet individual student needs and to provide flexibility for students to meet their academic and personal goals, students may opt to pursue other interests. In these instances a student may choose to complete an online course through Global Online Academy (GOA), Virtual High School (VHS) or Pamoja (Online IB Courses), for credit.

Frankfurt International School generally does not allow the replacement of any core course taught by FIS faculty as a part of the FIS curriculum. However, FIS may allow alternate courses to:

• fulfill the elective requirements for students looking to personalize their learning pathways, 

• fulfill a requirement due to scheduling problems,

• take a language course not provided at FIS. 

Any enrollment in online courses must be pre-approved by the counselor, the Upper School Principal, or Head of School to ensure that the student has the temperament and grit to sustain a one to two semester course fully online with little adult supervision.

FIS offers students the opportunity to enroll in online courses or independent study for program/scheduling conflicts and program/academic enrichment with the following provisos:

Prerequisite: Grade 9, 10, 11 or 12; counselor and principal or Head of School approval; completion of application process

Duration:1 semester or 1 year

Units of credit: ½ credit per semester

Program/Scheduling Conflicts:

1.    FIS will cover the cost of an online course in the event that a student does not fit into our current sequence of core courses. 

2.    FIS will not cover the cost of an online course in the event that a student is responsible for a schedule conflict and as a result does not fit into our current sequence of core courses (e.g. if a student earns a failing grade in a core class and the course to be retaken is in conflict with their current schedule).

3.    These courses will be classified as independent study and students will be expected to be able to work independently to complete the expectations of the course.

4.    To earn credit towards graduation, these courses must be accredited by an organization approved by the Upper School Principal or Head of School.

5.    Online courses approved by FIS that are IB certified and/or accredited like Pamoja, GOA, or VHS are eligible to appear on FIS transcripts. Grades from these courses will be factored into their grade point average and included on the FIS transcript.

6.    Students may include the original transcript from the online program with their college application, where appropriate.

Program/Academic Enrichment:

1.    FIS will cover the cost of an online course in the event that a student would like to personalize their learning pathway by taking a course not offered by FIS.

2.      FIS will not cover the cost of the online course if the student drops the course past the drop deadline without the approval of the high school principal.  FIS will not cover the cost of the course if the student fails the course due to lack of engagement.

2.   To earn elective credit towards graduation, these courses must be accredited by an organization approved by the Upper School Principal or Head of School.

3.    Online courses approved by FIS (Pamoja, GOA, or VHS) are eligible to appear on FIS transcripts.  Grades from these courses will be factored into their grade point average and included on the FIS transcript.

4.    Students may include the original transcript from the online program with their college application, where appropriate.

If a student chooses to pursue an online course outside the guidelines indicated above, the school will play no active role. Such courses will neither appear on official FIS transcripts nor factor into an FIS grade point average, though students are welcomed and encouraged to include any grades and or transcripts from the online provider as part of their university application packets.

Independent Study

Independent Study is a program that allows a student to do independent research and study in an area of the curriculum that is of special interest to him/her. Students normally opt for independent study to explore further a topic not covered in the desired depth in an FIS course or subject. It is not intended as an alternate means of gaining credit for coursework already offered in our curriculum or as a substitute for credit required for graduation.  Grading is generally done on a Pass/Fail basis unless an approved grading and credit agreement is in place as part of the application.

A student interested in pursuing an independent study program must consult with his/her counselor during the first week of the semester. Following initial approval by the student’s counselor, an Independent Study Project form should be completed and submitted for approval by the Upper School Principal and Head of School. The form specifies the procedures and requirements of the program.

Identity Language Program

As an international school, FIS recognizes that our students communicate in many different home languages and have developed additional identity languages by living in other countries before arriving in Germany. The goal of the Home (language and literature course) and Identity Language (language acquisition) Programmes is to help students maintain and further develop their knowledge of their home and/or identity language and culture. Identity language courses are aimed at maintaining and strengthening any language that students choose to claim through their lived experience. A good command of home and identity languages is essential to the students’ learning abilities in their instructional language (English). It also strengthens students’ confidence and sense of cultural identity.  Students will meet once a cycle with a language tutor and have periodic check-ins with the Identity Language Coordinator to monitor progress and academic rigor. The majority of the course time is spent independently learning with online resources and resources given by the language tutor.