The US K-12 CurriculumThe American High School Diploma online

The American High School Diploma represents completion of a full four-year high school programme, Grades 9 to 12, requiring credits across core subjects and electives. It is a globally recognised qualification accepted by universities in the US and internationally.

The full K-12 range: Elementary School from Kindergarten to Grade 5, Middle School from Grade 6 to 8, and High School from Grade 9 to 12. Students can enrol at any grade, and a consultant maps existing school records to the right entry point.

Cognia, formerly AdvancED, is the world's largest accrediting body for schools, reviewing more than 36,000 institutions across 85 countries. A Cognia-accredited diploma is recognised by US universities, the NCAA and international institutions.

Students accumulate credits across subject areas through high school. Core requirements typically include four years of English, three to four years of Mathematics, three years of Science and three years of Social Studies, with the remaining credits from electives. One credit represents roughly 150 hours of study, and the coursework builds a GPA over time.

No. The American system has no single high-stakes examination. The GPA is built through ongoing teacher-graded coursework, assignments and assessments, which reduces exam pressure and rewards consistent effort. Students applying to competitive universities can add SAT or ACT scores.

Student-athletes pursuing Division I and II collegiate sport must complete 16 NCAA-approved core courses, maintain a minimum GPA and register with the NCAA Eligibility Center, ideally before Grade 9. CambriLearn's courses meet NCAA requirements, and a consultant can walk through the process.

Yes, with the right add-ons. The American High School Diploma is recognised by Universities South Africa (USAf) for exemption purposes: students need qualifying SAT scores or at least two AP subjects passed at grade 3 or higher, then apply for a certificate of exemption through USAf's Matriculation Board.

It depends on the package. Asynchronous students work through the full curriculum on demand with teacher-graded coursework. Flex adds weekly live group lessons with recordings, and Synchronous runs live classes in groups of four students or fewer. Every package is taught and assessed by qualified teachers.

No. The American High School Diploma represents completion of a full four-year programme requiring credits, while the GED is an equivalency test for adults who did not finish high school. The diploma carries more weight with universities.

Pricing is per course and varies by grade and package: Asynchronous, Flex or Synchronous. Additional costs can include registration fees, SAT registration, AP examination fees and the USAf exemption application fee. Full details are on our pricing page.

It depends on the destination and how your child works. The US route builds a GPA through coursework and breadth, while the International British Curriculum leads to International GCSEs and A Levels through final examinations. Our comparison guide covers the differences, and CambriLearn teaches both.