Curriculum Guide
As a college preparatory school located in California, Pilgrim’s graduation requirements are based on the minimum admission requirements set forth by the University of California system. As an independent school with a strong academic tradition, Pilgrim’s requirements may extend beyond these minimum guidelines. The following are minimum requirements for graduation at Pilgrim. Students must earn passing grades in each of the required courses. Additionally, all students are required to carry a minimum of 7 courses each year. Most students take eight.
Graduation Requirements
| English | Four years required. |
| History | Four years required. |
| Mathematics | Three years required: through Algebra2/Trigonometry |
| World Language | Three years required of the same language. |
| Physical Education or Athletics | Six seasons (or two years) of athletic involvement in Sports, Dance, or PE |
| Science | Two years required: Biology and one other laboratory science |
| Fine Arts | One year (Usually taken in 9th grade) |
The list of classes is useful in planning a course of study at Pilgrim School. Additionally, students are encouraged to talk with individual faculty members to find out more about the courses they teach. Parents, teachers and Class Advisors are all excellent sources to assist in selecting courses that will enable students to get the most out of a Pilgrim School education. Students are also strongly encouraged to make an appointment with Dr. Kidder, the Assistant Head of School and Secondary Director, to discuss course options.
English
- Humanities (two period course class for 6th grade)
- Humanities (two period course class for 7th grade)
- English (8)
- ESOL (6-8)
- English (9)
- World Literature (10)
- American Literature (11)
- AP English Language (11)
- English Literature (12)
- AP English Literature (12)
- ESOL (9-12)
History / Humanities
- Ancient History (6)
- World History (7)
- United States History (8)
- World Cultures 1 (9)
- World Cultures 2 (10)
- United States History (11)
- AP United States History (12)
- AP Art History (11-12)
- Civics (12)
- Mock Trial (9-12)
Mathematics
- Mathematics (6)
- Pre-Algebra (7)
- Algebra 1 (8-9)
- Geometry (9-11)
- Algebra 2 / Trigonometry (10-11)
- Pre-Calculus (10-12)
- AP Calculus AB (11-12)
World Languages
- Latin (6)
- World Languages Rotation (7) : Students take a quarter of Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish and then spend the fourth quarter studying the language they have chosen for the remainder of high school.
- Chinese 1
- Chinese 2 (our Chinese program continues to grow one level each year)
- Japanese 1
- Japanese 2
- Japanese 3
- Japanese 4
- AP Japanese
- Spanish 1
- Spanish 2
- Spanish 3
- Spanish 4
- AP Spanish
Science
- Integrated Science (6)
- Integrated Science (7)
- Integrated Science (8)
- Biology (9)
- AP Biology (10-12)
- Chemistry (10)
- AP Chemistry (11-12)
- Theoretical and Applied Physics (11-12)
- Anatomy (11-12)
Physical Education
- PE (6-12)
- Middle School Sports Include: Flag football (boys), volleyball (girls), basketball (boys), soccer (girls), softball (girls), baseball (boys)
- High Scholl Varsity Sports Include: Football (boys), volleyball (girls play in the fall, boys in the spring), soccer (boys and girls in the winter), basketball (boys and girls in the winter), baseball (boys in the spring), softball (girls in the spring).
- Cheerleading (9-12)
Fine Arts (Most Courses offered 9-12)
- Middle school students rotate through an arts rotation that includes Music, Film, Drama, and Art
- Band-Orchestra (6-8)
- Art 9
- Beginning Dance
- Advanced Dance
- Drama
- Concert Singers
- From Beethoven to Rock and Roll: A History of Music
- Music Theory
- Advanced Studio Arts
- Yearbook
- Creative Writing
- Newspaper
- Digital Video Production
- Band-Orchestra (9-12)
