For more information, please refer to our Program of Studies file located under the “Students and Families” section.
Students enrolled at California Academy of Learning Charter School must meet the graduation credit requirements outlined in the table below to qualify for graduation. Our school counselor and administration team work closely with families and students from enrollment through high school to ensure that each student is enrolled in the courses needed to earn the required credits. Please note that students must successfully pass their classes in order to receive credit.
In this course, students develop essential reading, writing, listening, speaking, and critical thinking skills. Vocabulary growth is supported through words encountered in a variety of reading assignments. Grammar, usage, and mechanics are integrated into both reading and writing activities. Students read and analyze fiction, non-fiction, poetry, novels, and drama. They follow the writing process to complete core writing assignments and timed writing prompts. The course units focus on narrative, persuasive, and informational writing styles. Additionally, students apply their knowledge of library resources and technology through hands-on workshops.
In this course, students continue to develop their reading, writing, listening, speaking, and critical thinking skills. Grammar, usage, and mechanics are integrated within reading and composition activities. Students read and analyze fiction, non-fiction, poetry, novels, and drama. They follow the writing process while composing core writing assignments and timed writing prompts. This course covers the same rigorous academic content as the Academic English 2 curriculum, with additional support provided to help students succeed.
English 3 centers on American Literature, encouraging students to explore its connections to their own experiences and to American culture as a whole. Students enhance their reading comprehension through close reading, comparison, and reflection. A key focus of the course is strengthening fundamental writing skills, including grammar, organization, and content development. Through literary analysis, writing practice, grammar instruction, and vocabulary growth, students will become proficient readers and writers, well prepared for a variety of paths after graduation.
English 4 focuses on literature that highlights diverse perspectives and cultures throughout the world. Students will study literature in a way that connects them historically and personally in order to enhance them academically and eventually, professionally. Students will improve their research and writing skills through a variety of different writing modes that reinforce grammar, sentence structure, and style.
Creative Writing is a course designed to inspire and develop students’ original voices through writing fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and dramatic scripts. Students will explore a variety of literary forms and styles while honing their skills in description, dialogue, character development, and narrative structure. Through writing workshops, peer feedback, and reading contemporary and classic works, students will gain a deeper understanding of the creative process and the elements of effective storytelling. Emphasis is placed on revision, self-expression, and cultivating a personal writing style.
This course develops students’ communication, critical thinking, and argumentation skills through the art of public speaking and formal debate. Students will learn how to research current issues, construct persuasive arguments, and present ideas with confidence and clarity. Emphasis is placed on speech composition, delivery techniques, active listening, and respectful discourse. Students will participate in a variety of speaking formats, including persuasive and informative speeches, impromptu speaking, and structured debates such as Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum. The course fosters civic engagement, collaboration, and self-confidence, preparing students for academic, professional, and real-world communication.
Add Here
This course provides a foundational understanding of essential algebraic concepts and skills aligned with Pennsylvania state standards. Students will explore topics such as integers, rational numbers, expressions, equations, inequalities, ratios, proportions, and basic functions. Emphasis is placed on developing problem-solving strategies, critical thinking, and mathematical reasoning. Through hands-on activities and real-world applications, students build the skills necessary to succeed in Algebra 1 and higher-level math courses. This course also integrates the use of technology and collaborative learning to support diverse learning styles.
This course represents the first year of the Algebra 1 sequence and follows the Algebra 1 curriculum aligned with Pennsylvania Core Standards. Instruction combines research-based methods, including both inquiry-based learning and direct teaching, to build a strong foundation in Algebra 1 concepts.
Designed for students who need additional support, this course is offered in a smaller class setting to allow for more personalized instruction and targeted remediation. Extra focus is placed on helping students grasp more abstract concepts.
The curriculum is organized around families of functions, emphasizing linear, exponential, polynomial, quadratic, radical, and rational functions. Students will learn to represent these functions in multiple ways and apply them to model and solve real-world problems.
This course is the second year in the Algebra 1/Geometry/Algebra 2 sequence and follows the Geometry curriculum aligned with Pennsylvania Core Standards. Instruction combines research-based methods, including inquiry-based learning and direct instruction, to build a strong understanding of geometric and trigonometric concepts.
Offered in a smaller class setting, the course provides individualized instruction and targeted remediation to support students who need additional assistance, particularly with more abstract topics.
The Geometry content covers parallel and perpendicular lines, triangles, quadrilaterals, similarity, polygons, transformations, area, surface area, and volume. The Trigonometry strand includes square roots, special right triangle relationships, trigonometric ratios, and circles.
This course is the third in the Algebra 1/Geometry/Algebra 2 sequence and follows the Algebra 2 curriculum aligned with Pennsylvania Core Standards. Instruction incorporates research-based strategies, including both inquiry-based learning and direct instruction, to establish a strong foundation in Algebra 2 concepts.
The course is offered in a smaller class setting to provide individualized instruction and targeted remediation, designed to support students needing additional assistance.
The Algebra 2 curriculum focuses on families of functions, with emphasis on expressions, equations and inequalities, graphs, matrices, and sequences and series. Students will also learn to model real-world situations using functions to solve relevant problems.
This course offers a dual microscopic and macroscopic approach to exploring life at all levels of biological organization. Students examine both the commonalities among different organisms and their interactions within ecosystems. Learning is enhanced through classroom discussions, investigations, demonstrations, and laboratory activities that promote collaboration and critical thinking skills. Key topics include cells, biochemistry, heredity, evolution, and ecology, with practical applications for each. This class meets five periods each week.
This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of chemistry, exploring the composition, structure, properties, and changes of matter. Students engage in hands-on laboratory experiments, discussions, and problem-solving activities to develop a deep understanding of atomic theory, chemical bonding, the periodic table, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, and states of matter. Emphasis is placed on scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and real-world applications of chemistry concepts. This course prepares students for advanced science studies and helps them develop skills essential for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
This course explores the concept of sustainability through the lens of environmental science, economics, and social responsibility. Students will examine the challenges facing our planet—including climate change, resource depletion, and pollution—and investigate innovative solutions for building a more sustainable future. Through project-based learning, critical thinking, and collaboration, students will analyze real-world case studies, engage with local environmental issues, and develop actionable plans to promote sustainability at school and in their communities. Topics include renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, waste reduction, green building, and environmental justice. This course empowers students to become informed global citizens and proactive stewards of the environment.
Dendrology is the study of trees, shrubs, and other woody plants. In this high school course, students will learn to identify a wide variety of tree species by examining their leaves, bark, buds, and overall structure. The class emphasizes hands-on learning through fieldwork, where students will observe trees in natural settings and practice using identification keys. Topics include tree biology, forest ecosystems, plant classification, and the role of trees in the environment and conservation efforts. No prior experience is required — just a willingness to explore the natural world.The course is offered in a smaller class setting to provide individualized instruction and targeted remediation, designed to support students needing additional assistance.
The Algebra 2 curriculum focuses on families of functions, with emphasis on expressions, equations and inequalities, graphs, matrices, and sequences and series. Students will also learn to model real-world situations using functions to solve relevant problems.
The focus of this course covers the time period from 1890-1945. After a brief review of Reconstruction and Westward Expansion the course traces our history from Industrialization, Immigration, Progressivism, Imperialism, WWI, the Roaring Twenties, and The Great Depression & New Deal, concluding with a study of the events surrounding WWII. The course connects students with issues in contemporary society by studying their parallels within history. Examples of local and Pennsylvania history are embedded in this course to further enhance this connection.
This course utilizes the five themes of geography to provide a framework for a comparative study of culture around the world. Geography, mapping skills, and economic principles are emphasized throughout the course. The areas of Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Latin America are explored through a multi-disciplinary approach. Students will advance their critical thinking skills through the analysis of primary documents and articles relating to contemporary and global issues and their impact.
This course offers students a foundational understanding of human behavior and mental processes through the lens of psychological science. Students will explore psychological theories while examining topics such as brain function, learning and memory, personality, emotion, development, mental health, and social behavior. Emphasis is placed on applying psychological concepts to everyday life and fostering self-awareness, empathy, and critical thinking. Students will engage in discussions, case studies, experiments, and reflection activities to better understand themselves and others.
This course emphasizes civic responsibility and the role of individuals in a democratic society. Covering the period from 1945 to the present, the course examines key domestic and foreign policies of each presidential administration and their impact on both the United States and the global community.
A central focus of the course is understanding the American political system—its history, core values, and institutional structure. Students will develop essential civic skills through the analysis of public opinion, political parties, elections, voting behavior, and interest groups. Using case studies, current events, and primary source documents, students will explore how government decisions are made and how citizens can effectively engage in the political process.
This interdisciplinary course strengthens critical thinking, communication, reading, and writing skills, while preparing students to be informed, responsible participants in civic life.
This course equips students with essential knowledge and practical skills for navigating today’s legal system. Through engaging activities like films, role-plays, mock trials, and collaborative group work, students explore key aspects of criminal and civil law.
This course explores the fascinating world of mythology through the stories, characters, and symbols that have shaped cultures across the globe. Students will examine the myths of ancient civilizations such as Greece, Rome, Egypt, and Norse cultures, as well as myths from other world traditions. Through reading, discussion, and creative projects, students will analyze how myths explain natural phenomena, express human values, and influence modern literature, art, and film.
The goal of Physical Education is to facilitate students in improving their quality of life through promotion of life-long, health-enhancing physical activity. Physical activity is not only a leisure time luxury – it is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle for all individuals. At California Academy of Learning Charter School, students will learn why regular planned physical activity is important, how to develop a personal plan for being physically active, and concepts necessary for successful participation in regular physical activity. The course will emphasize each student working throughout the course to reach their personal fitness and activity goals while integrating health information relating to; nutrition, mental health, analyzing influences, goal setting, interpersonal communication.
American Sign Language I introduces students to the visual-gestural language used by the Deaf community in the United States. Students will learn foundational vocabulary, grammar, and fingerspelling, along with expressive and receptive signing skills through interactive practice and conversation. In addition to developing language proficiency, students will explore Deaf culture, history, and the rich contributions of the Deaf community. Emphasis is placed on visual communication, cultural respect, and linguistic accuracy. This course fulfills the foreign language requirement and prepares students for continued study in ASL II and beyond.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.