American Curriculum Syllabus Overview by Grade Level — Legacy Online School UAE
Legacy Online School is a WASC-accredited American online school serving families in the United Arab Emirates and worldwide. Our K–12 American curriculum leads to a fully recognized US High School Diploma and prepares students for universities in the UAE, United States, United Kingdom, Europe and beyond. This page is a complete syllabus overview for parents — covering every grade level, every core subject, electives, Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) options, Career & Technical Education (CTE) pathways, grading, accreditation and admissions.
Why families in the UAE choose the American curriculum
The American curriculum is the most flexible mainstream pathway available to UAE families. It is student-centered, broad in subject choice, and uses a credit + GPA model that lets students personalize their high-school journey while still graduating with a globally recognized diploma. Compared with British (IGCSE / A-Level) and IB pathways, the American system offers wider elective range, more retake flexibility, AP courses that can earn university credit, and earlier specialization through CTE.
- WASC accreditation (Western Association of Schools and Colleges).
- US High School Diploma recognized by UAE, US, UK, EU and global universities.
- Live online classes, certified US-licensed teachers, small group sizes.
- Flexible scheduling across UAE / GST time zones.
- Rolling enrollment — students can join at any point in the academic year.
- Transparent GPA reporting and official US transcripts.
Program structure at a glance
Kindergarten (Age 5)
Early literacy, numeracy, social-emotional learning, creative play, introduction to science and the world around us.
Elementary School — Grades 1–5 (Ages 6–10)
Foundational reading, writing and mathematics, integrated science and social studies, world languages, arts, PE and digital literacy.
Middle School — Grades 6–8 (Ages 11–13)
Discipline-specific English, pre-algebra and algebra, life / earth / physical sciences, world and US history, world languages and electives.
High School — Grades 9–12 (Ages 14–18)
Credit-bearing courses across English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, World Languages, Fine Arts, PE/Health and CTE, with Honors and AP options leading to the US High School Diploma.
Kindergarten syllabus
Core learning areas
- Early Language Arts — phonics, sight words, story comprehension, handwriting.
- Early Mathematics — numbers to 100, basic addition and subtraction, shapes, measurement, patterns.
- Science Exploration — weather, seasons, plants, animals, the five senses.
- Social Studies — family, community, simple geography, holidays and cultures.
Special courses
- Art and music for creative expression.
- Physical Education and movement.
- Introduction to a world language.
- Beginner digital literacy and computer skills.
Elementary School syllabus (Grades 1–5)
Core subjects
- English Language Arts — reading fluency, vocabulary, grammar, writing process, listening and speaking.
- Mathematics — operations, fractions, decimals, geometry, measurement, intro to data and probability.
- Science — life science, earth science, physical science, scientific inquiry and experiments.
- Social Studies — US and world geography, communities and cultures, civics, beginning US history.
Special courses
- World Languages — Spanish or French.
- Visual and Performing Arts — drawing, painting, music, drama.
- Physical Education and Health.
- Technology and Digital Literacy — typing, online safety, intro to coding.
Middle School syllabus (Grades 6–8)
Core subjects
- English Language Arts — literature analysis, essay writing, research and presentation skills.
- Mathematics — Math 6, Pre-Algebra (Grade 7), Algebra I (Grade 8 / accelerated).
- Science — Life Science (6), Earth Science (7), Physical Science (8).
- Social Studies — World Geography, World History, US History through Reconstruction.
Electives
- World Languages — Spanish, French, additional language options.
- Computer Science and intro to programming.
- Visual Arts, Music, Drama.
- Health and Physical Education.
High School syllabus (Grades 9–12)
English / Language Arts
- English I — Literature and Composition.
- English II — World Literature.
- English III — American Literature.
- English IV — British Literature / College Prep Composition.
- Honors English and AP English Language & Composition / AP English Literature & Composition.
Mathematics
- Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II.
- Pre-Calculus and Trigonometry.
- Statistics, Honors Math tracks.
- AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics.
Science
- Biology, Chemistry, Physics.
- Environmental Science, Anatomy & Physiology, Forensic Science.
- AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics 1, AP Environmental Science.
Social Studies
- World History, US History, US Government, Economics, Geography.
- AP US History, AP World History, AP Psychology, AP Human Geography, AP US Government.
World Languages
- Spanish I–IV, French I–IV, additional language options.
- AP Spanish Language and Culture.
Fine Arts
- Visual Art, Music Appreciation, Theater, Digital Photography, Graphic Design.
Physical Education and Health
- PE, Personal Fitness, Health and Wellness.
Career & Technical Education (CTE) and electives
- Business — Introduction to Business, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Accounting.
- Computer Science — Intro to Programming, Web Development, AP Computer Science Principles.
- Digital Media — Video Production, Digital Design.
- Health Science — Medical Terminology, Introduction to Healthcare.
- Psychology, Sociology, Public Speaking, Journalism, Creative Writing, SAT/ACT Prep.
US High School Diploma — graduation requirements
Students earn the Legacy Online School US High School Diploma by completing at least 24 credits across the following areas:
- English — 4 credits.
- Mathematics — 4 credits (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II + 1 additional).
- Science — 3 credits (Biology, Chemistry or Physics + lab science).
- Social Studies — 3 credits (World History, US History, US Government / Economics).
- World Language — 2 credits in the same language.
- Fine Arts — 1 credit.
- Physical Education / Health — 1 credit.
- Electives — 6 credits (CTE, AP, Honors, additional core).
Grading scale and GPA
- A (90–100) — Excellent — 4.0 GPA.
- B (80–89) — Good — 3.0 GPA.
- C (70–79) — Satisfactory — 2.0 GPA.
- D (60–69) — Passing — 1.0 GPA.
- F (below 60) — Failing — 0.0 GPA.
- Honors courses receive a +0.5 GPA boost; AP courses receive a +1.0 boost (weighted GPA).
American vs British vs IB curriculum
The American curriculum offers the widest course choice and the most flexible pathway to graduation, with GPA-based assessment and AP courses for early college credit. The British curriculum (IGCSE then A-Level) is exam-heavy and highly specialized after Year 11. The IB Diploma is rigorous and globally focused but mandates a fixed subject distribution.
- Assessment — American: continuous GPA + AP exams. British: terminal IGCSE / A-Level exams. IB: internal assessment + final exams.
- Subject breadth — American: broad, with electives. British: narrow (3–4 A-Levels). IB: 6 subjects across groups.
- University recognition — all three are accepted; AP and the US Diploma are particularly strong for US universities and increasingly recognized in the UAE and UK.
- Flexibility — American allows retakes, course substitutions, rolling enrollment; British and IB are more rigid.
Admissions and enrollment
Legacy Online School welcomes UAE families with rolling admissions throughout the year. Required documents typically include previous school transcripts, identification, and a brief placement conversation. Tuition is transparent and billed per academic year, with payment plans available. Families can request a free consultation, schedule a virtual tour and receive an official syllabus PDF before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the American curriculum recognized in the UAE?
Yes. WASC accreditation ensures the US High School Diploma is recognized by UAE universities and by the Ministry of Education attestation process, as well as by universities worldwide.
Can my child join mid-year?
Yes. Legacy Online School offers rolling enrollment across Kindergarten through Grade 12.
How are AP courses delivered online?
AP courses are taught live by College Board-trained teachers. Students prepare for and sit official AP exams at approved testing centers.
What technology is required?
A laptop or desktop with a webcam, stable internet, and a quiet study space. All curriculum materials are delivered through the school’s online learning platform.
How much support do students receive?
Students get live instruction, recorded lessons, office hours, academic advising, and college counseling beginning in Grade 9.
Are Honors and AP courses included in tuition?
Honors courses are included; AP courses are available as part of the High School program, with separate College Board exam fees.
How does Legacy Online School support university applications?
Dedicated counselors guide students through US Common App, UCAS (UK), UAE university applications, and direct admissions across Europe — including transcripts, recommendations and personal statements.