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Academics, Registration & Scheduling

Overview of Curriculum and Academic Options:

9th Grade Course Registration Presentation

10th Grade Course Registration Presentation

11th Grade Course Registration Presentation

12th Grade Course Registration Presentation

In addition to the standard curriculum, Cactus Shadows offers:

  • Honors
  • Advanced Placement
  • International Baccalaureate
  • Dual Enrollment

Honors

  • Rigorous college-prep courses are designed to prepare students for college-level curriculum.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Rigorous courses that are comparable with college Coursework. Courses include: Studio Art, English Literature, English Language and Composition, U.S. History, World History, Calculus AB, Statistics, Biology, Physics 1, Seminar, Micro Economics, French, Mandarin and Spanish.

For more information about Advanced Placement,  College Board for AP Students

International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB)

For motivated college-bound juniors and seniors, the IB Program is an academically challenging 2-year college program with end of course exams that prepare students for success at university and beyond.   Courses are college level.  Both the IB Diploma Program curriculum and IB Exams are highly respected and recognized by top universities worldwide, as well as our in-state universities.

“We know the quality of the IB courses and think the IB curriculum is terrific” (Duke). “IB is a first-rate program, one we are all familiar with, and it prepares students well for a university like ours” (Princeton). “I find that the IB students need to make the smallest adjustment of all incoming honors students, find their special place at ASU, and be successful at the honors college (Barrett, the Honors College at ASU) .

The CSHS IB Diploma Program offers smaller class sizes with breadth and depth of subjects, encouraging critical thinking, writing and speaking. All IB courses are weighted on a 5.0 scale.  Field trips, travel abroad and service opportunities are available. Students may earn college credit for IB exams, IB Diplomas and/or advanced standing, merit scholarships and college-specific IB scholarships.  NEW-University of Arizona IB Diploma Tuition Scholarship and NAU IB Diploma Scholarships available.  See UA and NAU websites for more information on these scholarships.

CSHS IB Diploma Program Information

Dual Enrollment (DE)

College courses are taught on the Cactus Shadows Campus. A passing grade is accepted as coursework for all instate community colleges and universities. Courses include: English 101/102, Geology 101/103, MAT 187 for students in Honors Pre-Calculus.

Dual Enrollment: Courses are un-weighted and may impact class rank.

Off Campus Approval Form  --In order for Cactus Shadows High School students to receive credit for off-campus courses (correspondence, concurrent enrollment, summer school, etc.), the following information needs to be completed and all signatures need to be obtained. Please click the link for the Off Campus Approval Form, download it, print it out and fill it out signed with student's signature and a parent/guardian's signature. Please then turn it into your counselor so it can be approved by them or a campus administrator.