Recommended Course of Study & Awards
Recommended Course of Study (“Recommended Track”)
Kolbe Academy’s recommended course of study (recommended track) is based on our vision of an authentically classical and Catholic education. This course of study is designed as a college preparatory track with the goal of meeting the admissions requirements of most four-year universities. It offers a high level of flexibility, and students may opt to follow the Kolbe curriculum as closely as they desire, including, but not limited to, seeking the Kolbe Honors (H) or Kolbe Core (K) designation in all coursework. Students following this course of study exceed our graduation requirements.
Subject | Credits | Recommended Course of Study |
Theology | 4 |
|
English & Literature | 4 | Literature (2 credits) English or Literature (2 credits) |
History | 3 | World History (1 credit) US History (1 credit) History elective (1 credit) |
Mathematics | 3 | Algebra 1 (1 credit) Geometry (1 credit) Algebra 2 (1 credit) |
Science | 3 | Biology w/lab (1 credit) Chemistry w/lab (1 credit) Physical Science (1 credit) |
Foreign Language | 2 | Both credits in the same language |
Academic Elective | 5 | Any academic courses not used to meet another requirement |
Additional Elective | 1 | May be academic or non-academic |
Physical Education | 2 | |
Visual/Performing Arts | 1 |
|
TOTAL CREDITS | 28 |
Graduation Requirements
To graduate from Kolbe Academy with a high school diploma, students must meet or exceed our graduation requirements. Please be aware that these requirements may not meet the admissions requirements of many colleges and universities, however, they do exceed the minimum requirements to graduate in the state of California. Students may opt to follow the Kolbe curriculum as closely as they desire, including, but not limited to, seeking the Kolbe Honors (H) or Kolbe Core (K) designation in all coursework.
Subject | Credits | Minimum Graduation Requirements |
Theology | 3 |
|
English/Literature | 3 |
|
History | 3 | World History (1 credit) US History (1 credit) History elective (1 credit) |
Mathematics | 2 | Algebra 1 (1 credit) Math elective (1 credit) |
Science | 2 | Biological Science (1 credit) Physical Science (1 credit) |
Academic Elective | 2 | Any academic courses not used to meet another requirement. |
Additional Elective | 2 | Any academic or non-academic courses not used to meet another requirement. |
Physical Education | 2 |
|
Visual/Performing Arts | 1 | |
TOTAL CREDITS | 20 |
Kolbe Academic Awards
Kolbe Academy offers several awards to recognize student achievement in the breadth and depth of their studies. The St. Maximilian Kolbe and St. Ignatius awards are based on a completion of a comprehensive and rigorous course of study across multiple subject areas while the St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Albertus Magnus, and St. John Paul II awards are based on mastery within the fields of the humanities, math and science, and foreign language, respectively.
St. Maximilian Kolbe Award
The St. Maximilian Kolbe Award is the highest of our awards, given for the completion of a rigorous, four-year course of study that includes our core classical sequence in theology, literature, and history, as well as four years of math and science, and two years of foreign language. Courses taken prior to the 9th grade do not count toward this award.
St. Ignatius Award
The St. Ignatius Award recognizes the completion of a rigorous and comprehensive course of study across multiple disciplines. Students who complete the entirety of Kolbe Academy’s recommended track using only courses with the C, K, H, or Kolbe AP® designations will have met the requirements of the St. Ignatius Award. Courses taken prior to the 9th grade do not count toward this award.

St. Thomas Aquinas Humanities Award
In honor of St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the greatest Doctors of the Church, the St. Thomas Aquinas Award is awarded for excellence in the humanities. It requires completion of our core humanities courses in theology, literature, and history, at least half of which must be done at the Honors or AP® level. Courses taken prior to the 9th grade do not count toward this award.

St. Albertus Magnus Math and Science Award
In honor of St. Thomas’ famous teacher, who was renowned for his work in the natural sciences, the St. Albertus Magnus Award is awarded for excellence in math and science. It requires completion of four years each of math and science, up through at least calculus in math, and including biology, chemistry and physics, all with labs, as well as an additional upper-level science elective. Courses taken prior to the 9th grade do not count toward this award.

St. John Paul II Foreign Language Award
In honor of Pope St. John Paul II, famous for his fluency in at least eight languages, the St. John Paul II Award is awarded for excellence in the study of foreign languages, requiring a completion of 4 levels of one language and 2 levels of a second language. One of these two languages must be Latin.

National Honors Society (NHS) Membership Qualifications
The National Honor Society elevates a school’s commitment to the values of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. Chapter membership not only recognizes students for their accomplishments but challenges them to develop further through active involvement in school activities and community service. NHS students are seen as leaders within the school and recognized as top candidates for admissions to colleges and universities.
Kolbe’s chapter of NHS has established the following minimum requirements for students to qualify to apply for NHS membership:
Rising sophomore, junior, or senior enrolled full-time at Kolbe Academy
Must have been enrolled full-time with Kolbe for at least a full semester.
Candidate must be enrolled in four Kolbe courses in the academic high school year prior to applying and should continue to be enrolled in at least four Kolbe courses in subsequent years to maintain eligibility. Dual enrollment courses at Kolbe’s college partners are allowed to count toward the four courses needed. (i.e., UST, Belmont Abbey)
Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale based on Kolbe courses only.
Students meeting these minimum requirements will receive an invitation to apply via email prior to the new school year. The application process will require recommendation letters, essays, and previous service and leadership. New member induction is held in the early fall. Students with homeschool courses should have all previous years’ course materials sent in by the end of June to make sure they are included when Kolbe runs a report for students who qualify.