The Upper School Curriculum

Mission Statement

Taipei American School’s mission is to cultivate an enduring commitment to learning, personal well-being, and service. We provide a broad American-based education with a global perspective that develops students of character who are committed to making the world a better place.

Course Selection and Course Load

Students select courses in consultation with their teachers, academic and personal counselors, and parents. Students take between six (minimum) and eight (maximum) courses at a time. Grade 11 and grade 12 students may take five courses if they have three or more AP or IB courses, or if they have four core courses in their schedule.

TAS students must complete 22 credits earned in grades 9 –12. Please see the 4 Year Program Planning form in the back of this catalog to help guide the decision-making process.

The Daily Schedule

The upper school schedule is on a 2-day cycle and alternates between an A day and a B day. There are five 80 minute periods in a school day and a daily flex period during which advisory, class gatherings, and club meetings are held. Please see the sample school schedule below.

Considering the TAS Attendance Policy when Choosing Courses

It is important that students consider the TAS upper school attendance policy when making decisions about their course load. A student must have a satisfactory record of attendance in order to receive credit for each course. The guideline for satisfactory attendance is a minimum attendance of 85% (a maximum of six absences per class per semester). Students who fail to meet the minimum attendance requirement may lose credit for the semester, regardless of their grade point average. Each such case will be reviewed, and a decision will be made by the upper school administration.

Adding and Dropping Courses

Courses in the catalog are offered based on demand after initial course sign ups each spring. At the beginning of the school year in August, students can contact their counselor and request to drop and/or add courses the first two weeks of the semester. Changes can only be made during this time based on room in course sections and availability in the student’s schedule. After the add/drop period is over, course changes can only be initiated by a teacher, counselor, or administrator.

Homework Guidelines

Although a wide variety of courses are available, students are encouraged to look closely at the academic expectations and homework load for each course in order to plan for a balanced schedule, including consideration of maintaining study across core subject areas. Each course description includes a statement about how much time students can expect to spend on homework. The following is a guideline for average number of minutes per class meeting in the course of a week.

Light 0 – 30 minutes

Moderate 30 – 60 minutes

Heavy 60 – 90 minutes

Note that these are average amounts and may vary. Some students will be able to complete an assignment in 30 minutes, while the same assignment may take another student 45 minutes.

AP and IB courses usually require more homework than other courses. IB classes usually require projects that are done in addition to the daily class assignments.

Putting It all Together...

We encourage students to use the Balance of Life Worksheet on the next page to help them think through their full student experience. There’s more to the life of a student beyond class! We encourage students and families to think through extracurricular activities, family commitments, and other pursuits outside of school. Make adjustments to establish balance and help ensure students have time to take good care of themselves – eat well, exercise, and sleep well.

Daily Schedule

Balance of Life Worksheet 3

Filling out this worksheet can give you a realistic view of your planned 2023-2024 schedule of class work, co-curricular involvements, study, home responsibilities, exercise, and sleep. Study the overall schedule to anticipate problems, and keep in mind that students must have a satisfactory record of attendance to receieve credit for courses they are signed up for (please see attendance policy on the opposite page). Make adjustments to establish balance and to protect against over-commitment that could negatively affect your health and academic success.

Homework Guidelines

Each course description includes a statement about the amount of time students can expect to spend on homework. The following is a guideline for average number of minutes per class meeting during the course of a week.

Light 0 – 30 minutes

Moderate 30 – 60 minutes

Heavy 60 – 90 minutes

Note that these are average amounts and may vary. Some students will be able to complete an assignment in 30 minutes, while the same assignment may take another student 90 minutes.

Homework Guidelines Time 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

Monday Tuesday Thursday Friday Wednesday

Courses Other Activities / Obligations Weekday Scheedule

Things to Consider & Reflection

What are you doing for self-care?

How much sleep are you getting and is it enough?

How do you organize your weekends?

Do you get to spend quality time with people you care about?