Academics
IGCSE
IGCSE
IGCSE encompasses Herberger Young Scholars Academy's early high school experience. It is centered on the IGCSE core courses which is a highly integrated program blending both the humanities and the physical sciences.
IGCSE students matriculate through the IGCSE program studying sequentially compounding material over the course of the 2 Core Courses. Many students complete the full IGCSE program in 2 years, while others may require additional time to solidify the skills and knowledge requisite for advancement.
The IGCSE Core Courses are taught by a team of 3 teachers, 1 English Language specialist, 1 Humanities specialist, and 1 Science specialist, allowing for differing compositions and foci at different times depending on the material being explored. All IGCSE students engage in their Core Course for 3 hours a day, in distinct cohorts identified by their progress through the IGCSE program (either IGCSE1 or IGCSE2). These cohorts generally begin the day meeting in their discrete grouping, though they frequently mix together either as a single large unit, or intermixed between the two cohorts. The focus of the IGCSE program is on skill development and concept fluency appropriate to ability, while addressing high school level content.
Lessons and topics for the Core Course are carefully crafted by the IGCSE teaching team so students are engaged in challenging work appropriate to their highly gifted nature, while allowing for extended and in depth exploration in areas of personal interest within the fields being considered. The essential skills of each subject are covered multiple times throughout the IGCSE program, while addressing new and increasingly complex content that builds on previous experience.
The curriculum is centered around the Cambridge International Curriculum and covers such subjects as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English Language Arts, English Literature, and U.S History. In addition, World History is also included in the experience.
The IGCSE program is an ever evolving program, as the primary point of intersection between the Sciences and Humanities extends through the literature that is read, which serves as the jumping off point for both historical discussion as well as scientific exploration. These texts change each year, according to the the Cambridge Curriculum, and thus the IGCSE program is never the same experience.
IGCSE courses are considered to be high school courses and reflect as such on a student's transcript.
The Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy seeks and accepts students for admission without reference to race, color, religion, age, disability, national and ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or gender. Admissions and financial aid decisions are made independently.
