An integrated curriculum

Lincoln School has a highly challenging program of studies in a variety of subject areas. An integrated curriculum prepares students to meet university standards throughout the world and to follow a variety of career paths. The program includes a focus on the student’s intellectual growth in the academic areas as well as instruction that promotes the student’s personal and social development. Our curriculum and instruction are focused on developing the skills, understandings, and knowledge necessary for students to find success regardless of their ultimate career path.

The chart below outlines the program of study for High School students. A minimum of four high school credits in each of the core courses is required for graduation. All students are required to complete the following number of credits in each area:

A minimum of 32 credits is needed for both the Costa Rican Bachillerato and the U.S. High School diplomas. However, in special situations or circumstances, students may be permitted by the Secondary School administration to graduate with 30 credits. This policy may be applied, for example, to students who are transferring from schools in the U.S.A.

Advisory Program

The High School Advisory Program is designed to provide students with a faculty advocate and a small group environment in order to focus on individual character development as well as communication and collaboration skills, and an opportunity to develop and complete service-learning projects aligned with the IBO CAS program and to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. All high school students take part in the Advisory program. Students are assigned groups in the ninth grade and stay in their group for all four years of high school. Ideally, the advisor will stay with their group for all four years as well.

Advisory group sessions may take a variety of forms. At times students will complete structured activities in order to meet specific goals. Other sessions may consist of opportunities for students to plan future experiences or projects, complete individual or collaborative reflection on past experiences and personal growth, or participate in one-on-one conversations with the faculty advisor in order to ensure that all service requirements are met and uploaded into the ManageBac system.

Students will complete at least one service project aligned to specific UN Sustainable Development Goals during each year of high school. In eleventh grade, students’ projects must consist of a minimum of 30 hours in order to meet MEP requirements. In addition, students at all four grade levels will engage in consistent activity outside of normal school hours that can be attributed to either “creativity,” “activity,” or “service” as defined by the IBO CAS program guide. Advisors will work with students to identify suitable experiences and projects in order to meet the requirements of Lincoln School, MEP, and the IBO and to document these experiences within ManageBac.