High School
Our High School program focuses on developing students’ integral abilities as lifelong learners, highly reflective thinkers, and responsive citizens who take an active role in society. Adolescents thrive in a challenging, nurturing environment, one that is respectful of their developmental needs. Young people need to internalize values, abilities and self-discipline to achieve and sustain progress in their academic, professional and personal lives.
Student success involves developing ethical and moral character and cultivating their ability to think critically and deeply. We strive to make all facets of our programs mutually enriching and reinforcing in educating students’ minds, bodies and hearts. The fruit of an excellent high school education are students who are morally coherent and intellectually prepared to continually transform themselves to live a productive life - one of service within the context of an ever-changing world.
Our High School Programs
Both our Bilingual and International High School Programs prepare students to enter colleges and universities of their choice. Which program is best for a given student depends on his or her career plans and family.
Students in our Bilingual Program are accepted not only to top Brazilian universities but also to universities abroad. Similarly, students in our International Program pass the vestibular at UnB and other Federal universities in Brazil. Regardless of which High School Program a student chooses, students in both programs take many classes together as well as share projects and go on field trips and outings.
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Grade 9
Students in Grade 9 are simultaneously completing one cycle (the final year of elementary education in Brazil) and beginning another (the first year of high school under the international system). Grade 9 is when students choose either the Bilingual National High School Program or the International High School Program. Students perform a student-led play at the end of Grade 9.
Grade 10
Grade 10 is an extremely important year as students are making choices that will affect their future education and careers. Students may earn the National Diploma, an American Diploma, and may choose to to earn the AP Capstone diploma as well. The depth of High School courses challenges students at multiple levels. The use of technology is at its highest in High School as research is at the forefront of our classes.
Grade 11
As students begin to prepare for college, they receive counseling on possible career paths and on universities that are of most interest to them. Students are encouraged to attend College Fairs, which are held at Nations each semester with representatives from around the world. Starting in Grade 10, students may begin taking college entrance exams and continue to do so through their senior year. During Grade 11, all students take the AP Capstone Seminar.
Grade 12
As students prepare to enter universities and higher education, they are challenged with rigorous courses of study. Students in Grade 12 take AP Capstone Research along with other Advanced Placement (AP) offerings. AP courses are offered to students beginning in Grade 9 and they may take them through Grade 12. Through Nations' course of study, students become global world citizens, ones who make a difference and change the world for the better.
Advanced Placement Program (AP) courses are college-level courses offered in high school. AP courses reflect what is taught in top introductory college courses. At the end of course, students take AP Exams—standardized exams that measure how well students have mastered college-level course work. Students who do well on AP Exams can earn credit and/or placement into advanced courses in college.