Curriculum
The school curriculum is based on U.S. curriculum standards, American Education Reaches Out, or AERO, for our core subjects. HIS adds to this curriculum to embrace a Christian worldview in all areas of the educational process. For example social studies and science also use the Bible as a textbook. All students are expected to take at least one Bible class each semester and participate in the weekly chapels. The curriculum also includes the study of Indonesian language, geography, and culture.
As staffing allows, we may include additional programs to meet the needs of our students, such as mother tongue programs to meet the needs of non-native English speaking students, tutorial programs which will provide material resources and assistance to parents who want to teach their elementary aged children in field locations for up to 6 weeks per semester, classes and support for English language learners, and special education support for those with specific learning needs.
The regular classroom teacher teaches most subjects in grades Pre 1-5. For grades 6-12, subjects are departmentalized. Mandatory subjects in the elementary and middle school level are: language arts/English, mathematics, social studies, science, Bible, physical education. The subjects we try to offer but are dependent on staffing are music (Pre 1-5 choral music, 6-8: band), art, computer and English language development
At the high school level, the following courses are generally offered. Other courses may be offered as staffing permits.
- English: English 9, English 10, AP English Literature and Composition, and AP English Language and Composition, British or American Literature and Composition (alternating years).
- Mathematics: Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus, and Business Math, when staff is available.
- Science: Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy and Physiology, and Earth and Space Science. The upper level classes alternate years.
- Social Sciences: Ancient World History and Geography, Modern World History and Geography, U.S. History & Government, AP European History, Psychology, Senior Seminar, and Applied Anthropology. Ancient and Modern History are alternated annually. AP European History and Psychology are also offered alternate years as staffing allows.
- Foreign Languages: Bahasa Indonesia; French, Korean, and Spanish are offered when staffing permits. Indonesian students participate in Bahasa Indonesia, as well as Indonesian Civics each year.
- Physical Education: Two years of PE (which must include one semester of health) are mandatory for graduation. The school’s athletic program includes voluntary after-school volleyball, futsal, and basketball.
- Computer Studies: Computer Foundations 1 and 2. Yearbook counts as a credit of computers.
- Fine Arts: Band, Drama, and Art are offered, as staffing is available.
- Outdoor Education/Applied Anthropology: The high school takes two weeks each year for Outdoor Education in the interior of Papua. Quarter credit is given for each year in social studies.
- Mother Tongue Studies: Korean and other languages are available for grades K – 12 when staffing is available.
High School Course Prerequisites
Course | Prerequisite |
| Course | Prerequisite |
Physics /AP Physics | Physical Science, Algebra 2 | Chemistry | Algebra 1 | |
Anatomy & Physiology | Biology | Geometry Algebra 2 | Algebra 1 | |
Band | Proficiency – some musical knowledge or use of instrument | Pre-Calculus / Calculus | Algebra 2 with B- or higher grade or teacher recommendation | |
AP English Courses | B or higher in previous year’s English Course, or teacher recommendation | AP European History | Ancient and Modern WH or equivalent, with B or higher or teacher recommendation |
Grades 1 and 2 use the following scale:
| 98-100% | O+ | Outstanding |
| 95-97% | O | |
| 90-94% | O- | |
| 85-89% | S+ | Satisfactory |
| 80-84% | S | |
| 75-79% | S- | |
| 70-74% | N+ | Needs Improvement |
| 65-69% | N | |
| Below 64 | U | Unsatisfactory |
Grades 3-12 use traditional grades (A, B, C, D, F) and Pass/Fail, when appropriate.
GPA (9-12) | Percent | Letter Grade | Meaning |
| 4 | 99-100 | A+ | Excellent |
| 93-98 | A | ||
| 90-92 | A- | ||
| 3 | 88-89 | B+ | Good |
| 83-87 | B | ||
| 80-82 | B- | ||
| 2 | 78-79 | C+ | Satisfactory |
| 73-77 | C | ||
| 70-72 | C- | ||
| 1 | 68-69 | D+ | Poor |
| 63-67 | D | ||
| 60-62 | D- | ||
| 0 | 59 or less | F | Failing |
Grades 9-12 will receive a grade point average (GPA) for their 4 years in high school. A GPA is an average of all grades based on the 4.0 scale. AP Classes will receive an extra point for all grades, for example if a student receives an A in AP Calculus they would receive a 5.0 for their GPA average.
HIS may have classes that will award a PASS/FAIL instead of a letter grade.