Pacific American School in Hsinchu, Taiwan (亞太美國學校) - American based international school in Hsinchu, Taiwan

High School

University Preparatory Track

Pacific American School has two tracks for grades 9-12. The first track is the University Preparatory Track. It is comprised of a minimum of 23 classes designed to prepare students to enter American and international universities. Graduation requirements include 2 credits of Social Studies/History, 4 credits of Language Arts, 3 credits of Math, 2 credits of Science, 3 credits of Foreign Language with French, Mandarin, and Spanish as choices, 2 credits of Fine Arts Appreciation, and seven elective credits. Electives include Applied Technology I and II, Individual and Team Sports, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science Electives. 

Seniors are required to complete a Presentation/Senior Portfolio. The course is designed to ensure seniors have essential skills for university. The course is comprised of Speech, university-level writing, and reflection on the student experience at Pacific American School. All senior students present their portfolios to the graduation board as a final condition of graduation.

Sixty hours of Community Service are built into the Presentation/Senior Portfolio. Community Services is a requirement for graduation. Students present their portfolios to the graduation board as a final condition of graduation.

Advanced Placement Track

The Advanced Placement Track at Pacific American School is designed to graduate students with advanced standing. The purpose of the program is to allow students to earn university level credits while still in high school, so that they can focus on upper division courses when entering universities. This also helps students enter graduate school at a younger age.

Part of Pacific American School’s philosophy is that all students should have the right to an advanced education as an essential in order to survive and thrive in knowledge-based societies.

Twenty five courses are available in the Advanced Placement Track. They include 2 credits of Social Studies/History and one credit of either AP American History or AP World History. Requirements for Language Arts are 3 credits, with 1 credit of AP Language Arts. Four credits of Math are required, with the AP Calculus the final requirement in the Senior year. Science requirements include 3 credits plus either AP Chemistry of AP Physics. Foreign Language requirements are 3 credits plus one credit of either AP French, Spanish or Mandarin. Two Fine Arts credits are required, and 4 elective courses are required in Applied Technology and Individual and Team Sports. Courses are offered as needed.