Academics

Home » Academics

Academic Offerings

Orion offers a wide variety of AP courses, in which we require students to take the AP exam in May. Courses include AP English, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP Psychology, AP Physics, AP US History & Government, and AP World History.

For a full list of our school policies, please refer to our Student HandBook.

Orion International Academy (OIA) requires all scholars to complete the following number of classes within several academic categories. OIA scholars must complete twenty academic classes throughout freshman through senior years.

Below are the required minimum graduation requirements for every student to graduate Orion.

Academic Graduation Requirements

- A – History/Social Science: 4 years. One year must be US History and one semester of Government and one semester of Economics are mandated.
- B – English: 4 years
- C – Mathematics: 3 years. Mandated completion of Algebra, Geometry, Intermediate Algebra. Pre-Calculus and Calculus are also strongly recommended.
- D – Laboratory Science: 3 years. Mandated are a Biological and Physical Science; one additional science course in either area is also required.
- E – Foreign Language: 3 years
- F – Visual & Performing Arts: 2 years. Visual Arts/Drama/Creative Writing/Music.
- G – Electives: 1 year. One additional class from Orion’s approved A-G courses.

Physical Education & Health: 3 years
Workshop/Community Service: Students are required to complete 60 hours of volunteer community service per year to graduate.
Senior Requirements: Concluding Senior Project

All courses offered at Orion provides students with the opportunities to discover and epxlore all content areas required by the A-G requirements. Each course requires students to demonstrate critical thinking abilities through real-world problem solving, engaging academic activities, and inquiry-based projects. Our rigorous curriculum and instruction supports students in their quest towards mastery.

Advisory Program

If our academic programs are the bricks of our building, our advisory program is the mortar. Each student is assigned one advisor and each advisor mentors up to 12 students. Advisory is grouped 9th-11th grade and each student typically stays with the same advisor for three years. As students transition from 11th to 12th grade, the college counseling staff become the advisors. This allows 12th graders significant time to work on all aspects of the application process as a group and individually.

College Counseling Program

Students meet one-on-one once a week with the school Career Advisor to review: transcript verification, application forms, personal statements, recommendations, interview preparation and management of deadlines and associated paperwork. In addition, all Orion students attend two college fairs each year, one in the fall and one in the spring. The college fairs have over 50 university and college representatives that can offer the students first hand information about their services, programs, campuses, and application processes. It is an excellent opportunity for the students to begin to select the best university for them.

PSAT/SAT Prep

Orion offers SAT classes to juniors and seniors in preparation for our students to take the SAT exam. Frequent practice, with specific skills and strategies for the PSAT/ SAT/ACT, increases student motivation and awareness towards successful scores.