ACADEMICS
The International Senior High School offers the Sino-American bilingual and double diploma program, a preparatory program for students planning higher education in English-speaking countries. It builds a solid academic and language foundation while developing academic ability and intercultural adaptability.
The curriculum at Beijing Haidian Foreign Language Academy inspires students to:
Grade 9: All students follow the first year of the IGCSE integrated curriculum in English, Chinese, mathematics, science, humanities, PE and Arts.
Grade 10: Students choose one of two routes. First one is to continue the second year of IGCSE and sit for the IGCSE qualification examinations. Second one is to enter the AP pathway early, based on the student’s intended overseas study destination and academic readiness. The second route requires meeting prerequisites and advisor approval.
Grades 11–12: Students pursue one of three upper-secondary pathways—AP, IB DP, or A-Level—while continuing required Chinese literature, English, PE and Arts. Each pathway has its own course requirements and graduation credits.
Signature Electives: Students may complete four Signature Elective courses across Grades 9–12. Our Signature Electives fall into four course categories: World Language, Social Science, Humanities, and Interdisciplinary Projects. Students select courses from an officially published course list each academic year. Signature Electives are designed to build students’ capacities in research, writing, economic analysis, anthropological fieldwork, creative expression, laboratory skills, and applied-technology skills. Every course concludes with a final research paper, portfolio, performance, or exhibition.
(Grades 9–10)
(Grades 10/11–12)
(Grades 11–12)
(Grades 11–12)
(Grades 9–12)
“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”
Our organic farm, on-campus zoo, horse stables, and Swan Lake serve as long-term, hands-on inquiry sites, covering research fields including agricultural science, animal science, entomology, environmental sustainability, food science, environmental engineering, and social sciences.
At the organic farm, students take part in the complete agricultural cycle of sowing, crop maintenance and harvesting. They practice circular agriculture by composting canteen food waste and plant residues to nourish the soil. At the on-campus zoo and horse stables, students perform long-term animal-behavior observations, build behavioral-monitoring databases, design animal environmental-enrichment programs, and evaluate the practical effects of animal-welfare improvements.
Supported by Swan Lake and the full range of campus natural habitats, students pursue diverse extended research topics: aquatic-ecosystem-health surveys, campus-wide insect-biodiversity censuses, ecological agricultural pest-control strategies, farm-to-table food-system studies, and campus water-resource optimization.
Our distinctive PBL program uses a dual-mentor system. Each student is assigned one or two academic mentors, with whom they identify academic interests and set semester-long research priorities. Research is embedded in daily teaching; at semester’s end, students complete PBL defenses and exhibitions alongside regular subject assessments.
Students develop leadership through extracurricular activities and boarding support. TEDx cultivates independent thinking, critical reasoning, and public speaking. The Senior Drama, a cherished decade-long tradition, is entirely student-led—from directing, casting, scriptwriting, and rehearsals to lighting, stage design, costumes, live band, and performance. Guided by “Art + X = Everything,” we encourage artistic students to design, create, and explore all forms of creativity. Varsity sports teams—swimming, tennis, baseball, golf, pickleball, basketball, skiing, surfing, shooting, badminton, and track and field—build strength and resilience, supported by professional coaches and purpose-built facilities.
