Everything You Need to Know About American Curriculum

Structure & Format of the US Curriculum

The structure of the US education curriculum follows a simple format – comprising of two semesters annually where credits are accumulated each year.
American curriculum consists of 13 years of education where students acquire education from pre-kindergarten all the way till twelfth grade with English language, arts, math, science and social studies are the compulsory subjects. 
These subjects are made compulsory as they provide several opportunities to students to use it. While English language allows students to interact with the world confidently, and use the technological advantages of the fast-paced world, subjects like social studies help students to understand the world around them so they can use this knowledge to navigate the world smartly and make informed decisions about issues affecting them.
The US education curriculum has smartly divided the 13 years of education in 3 broad stages: elementary to fifth grade, sixth to eighth grader and nineth to twelfth grade. 
The general age bracket for the first stage is four to eleven years old. During these years, the goal is to help students develop a strong understanding of the compulsory subject as well as to help them develop critical thinking leadership skills. 
Then comes the second stage which is also known as the middle school. In this stage, the eleven to fourteen years old students are prepared extensively for their chosen field while also focusing on making their mandatory subject areas stronger. 
The last stage, commonly called American high school curriculum, consisting of fourteen- to eighteen-year-old students involves students completing their certain number of credits (this varies from school to school) and getting a high school diploma. In this stage, teachers also rigorously work on the students’ English writing and speaking abilities so they are better prepared to apply in universities in English speaking countries around the globe. 

What Is the Aim of The American Curriculum?

The American curriculum aims to educate the child holistically. The core subject’s English language, arts, math, history, geography and social studies are made mandatory for a reason. Each subject helps students to become a better version of themselves. 
Considering the technological advancements, the United States school curriculum has been focusing on revising and improving science-related subjects to encourage more students to experiment their skills and abilities in this ever-evolving field. 
In broad terms, the US curriculum aims to help children find their passion and use it to achieve their highest potential as individuals, serve responsibly as citizens of a democratic society, successfully compete in a fast-paced world, and make world a better place for everyone associated with them. 
The American Curriculum offers the full package to help every student become an educated, well-rounded graduate ready for university. It is integral to have a curriculum that is aligned to standards and to have certified teachers who are trained in content, how to incorporate the standards into instruction, how to personalize instruction to best meet all students’ needs, and how to design a diverse range of assessments that show students’ progress.

What assessment and grading system do the American curriculum follow?

The American curriculum involves tracking and assessing students’ academic performance on a daily basis. 
Teachers use a variety of measures such as class interactions, individual and group assignments, peer assignments, quizzes, attendance to monitor every student’s performance. 
These assessments enable teachers to quickly understand where exactly the students are lacking. While some students struggle in individual assignments, others prefer group assignments over individual assignments. 
These assessments not only allow teachers to help students overcome their challenges but also provides an opportunity to the students to realize their strengths and weaknesses. While some students find math interesting hoping to become an actuary, others love flaunting their English-speaking skills hoping to become a teacher or a motivational speaker. 
Moreover, parents also get access to their children assessments reports, allowing them to see how their children are performing at any stage of the school. 
Academic grading in the US curriculum consist of five, six or seven letter grades. The number of grades vary from school to school, disciplines and statuses. Typically, the grades are A+, A, A−, B+, B, B−, C+, C, C−, D+, D, D− and F, with A+ being the first and F being last. 

What Makes American Curriculum A Better Choice?

There are several reasons which makes US curriculum heads and shoulders above other curriculum standards. 
Holistic approach, personalized learning curve,  focus on the academic as well as personality outlook, and in-depth focus on the academic skills are great reasons which make American curriculum a better choice. 
The US curriculum focuses on developing and improving a child’s mental and physical ability simultaneously. Teachers focus on the child’s cognitive abilities while also paying attention to their physical and moral growth.
By focusing on educating the whole child, teachers ensure that the child’s intellectual needs are met while also providing opportunities for social development, promoting students’ physical health, and investing into students’ moral growth.
The American Curriculum follows a personalized learning approach where teachers make sure that student realize their strengths and weaknesses, and acquire education using the best of their mental and physical capacities.  
BEAM schools offer high-quality US education system that focuses on students’ academic and extracurricular activities while ensuring they build a strong personality of themselves couple with moral values. 

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