The Ultimate 11th Grade Curriculum Guide: Core Subjects and Elective Classes
This is a complete guide to the classes you should take in your 11th-grade year, with links for easy reference. It is designed to help you plan out your high school schedule and build an ideal class list. All courses are listed in order of when they should be taken, with a general outline of what you should learn by the end of each year. There are also links that will give you detailed information about each course, as well as a section with frequently asked questions about eleventh-grade classes.
(If you think your class isn’t listed here or if there is incorrect information, please contact us and let us know. Thanks!)
11th Grade Curriculum Overview
The 11th-grade curriculum focuses on critical thinking, effective communication, and technology applications (software), as well as reinforces core concepts found in English, math (Algebra I & II), science, and social studies.
It also provides students with opportunities to apply skills through course work that incorporates real-world learning experiences that prepare them for the transition into high school.
The coursework is aligned with state standards in each subject area, so they’re more likely than not going into college after high school!
By the end of 11th grade, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of mathematical concepts and procedures through their application
- Effectively communicate new ideas or information through writing by applying proper grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary
- Exhibit knowledge of historical events by analyzing cause-effect relationships and making comparisons
- Develop an understanding of human diversity, increasing cultural awareness both domestically and globally
- Demonstrate the ability to make informed decisions; understand the impact of those decisions on society; and become responsible citizens.
What do Eleventh Graders Learn?
There are three main categories of subjects in 11th grade: Core, Elective and Advanced Placement (AP).
- Core Subjects
- Elective Classes
- Advanced Placement
What are Core Subjects?
Core subjects are required courses: if you don’t take them, you can’t graduate. These courses are graded on a scale of A to F. They include:
- Math (Pre-Calculus, Calculus, and Statistics)
- English (Language Arts 1 and 2 )
- World History (Ancient Civilizations and Modern World History)
- Science (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics )
- American Government or Economics
What are Elective Classes?
Elective Classes include any class you choose that isn’t a Core Subject. They can be taken by all students or just those who want to take them, but everyone needs to take an Elective course every year. These courses are often graded on a scale of A to F.
Elective classes are not required for graduation. You have to take an elective course every year, so you can pick any class. They include:
Advanced Placement (AP)
Advanced Placement (AP) is a special kind of class for students who want to get college credit earlier than most people. You can take AP courses in almost any subject, but they are extra-challenging and correspondingly more rewarding if you do well in them.
AP is an official program run by the College Board, which gives advanced classes in dozens of subjects, including:
You can take an AP class as a junior or as a senior.
11th Grade Math Curriculum
In eleventh grade, you will be required to take math. The content and approach may not change much from one year or decade-to-the next, but you’ll need adequate preparation and resources. These are:
11th Grade Language Arts Curriculum
The 11th grade Language Arts curriculum is designed to be both challenging and rewarding. The lessons focus on developing students’ critical thinking skills so they can tackle complex writing assignments with confidence, while also exploring the nuances of various subjects such as literature or mathematics in depth. Classes include:
| French 1 (1 Credit) |
| French 2 (1 Credit) |
| Spanish 1 (1 Credit) |
| Spanish 2 (1 Credit) |
11th Grade Social Studies Curriculum
The 11th grade social studies curriculum is designed for students who want to explore the world around them and learn about different cultures, historical events or figures. As part of this course they will also create a timeline that documents significant moments in history starting with prehistory through present day. Classes are:
11th Grade Science Curriculum
The 11th grade science curriculum is designed to encourage creative and critical thinking, with an emphasis on the scientific method. Classes are:
| Biology 1 (1 Credit) |
| Biology 1 Honors (1 Credit) |
| Advanced Placement Biology (1 Credit) |
| Anatomy And Physiology Honors (1 Credit) |
| Orientation To Nursing (1 Credit) |
| Physics 1 (1 Credit) |
| Physics 1 Honors (1 Credit) |
| Advanced Placement Physics B (1 Credit) |
| Chemistry 1 (1 Credit) |
| Chemistry 1 Honors (1 Credit) |
| Veterinary Science: The Care Of Animals (1 Credit) |
| Anatomy And Physiology Honors (1 Credit) |
| Anthropology I: Uncovering Human Mysteries (1 Credit) |
How to Choose Electives (5 Tips)
Choosing electives can be overwhelming. You will try to read through all the options and attempt to plan your child’s schedule for the next four years, but sometimes you may find yourself in a pickle as to what classes he should choose. Here are five tips on how to choose electives:
- Don’t wait until junior year
Don’t wait until junior year to start thinking about what classes your child should take. Sophomore or freshman year is the perfect time to start looking for electives that may interest your child. If you are starting this process early, it will give you plenty of time to figure out if there are any changes you need make.
Plus, by starting early, you will have time to look at each class individually and review amount of units. If your child needs to take certain electives for college purposes or if they are required, you will have plenty of time to check on the coursework involved.
- Electives are an opportunity to develop outside interests
When choosing electives, it is important to allow your child the chance to develop an outside interest. This could be something they are good at, or it may be trying a new activity that interests them.
If you are choosing electives based solely on the amount of units needed for graduation, this might not benefit your child all that much because there are plenty of other courses out there that can fulfill the requirements. Instead, it may be beneficial to choose electives based on your child’s interests and talents outside of academics.
- Make sure electives don’t overlap
When choosing between several different classes, make sure you check with other courses to ensure there is no overlap in hours or coursework. For example, if your child is interested in art or some other similar subject, it may be beneficial to look for a different elective that will allow them to broaden their skill set while still not having to take an entirely separate course.
- Talk with the counselors
If you are undecided on various electives for your child’s junior or senior year, the best thing that you can do is talk to the school’s counselors.
They will be able to go over each course individually and give your child an idea of what he or she will gain from taking the class. Counselors are there for a reason, so use them as a resource to guide you through the process of choosing electives.
- Keep grades in the back of your mind
When you choose electives, make sure that you keep your child’s grades in the back of your mind. For example, if your child is struggling with a certain subject and needs help to bring up his or her grade, an elective that has more hours than usual may not be beneficial.
It may make more sense to choose a class that will allow your child to repeat the coursework and gives him or her additional time to master it.
How to Homeschool an Eleventh Grader
Follow these tips to have a truly successful homeschool year!
- Start the Year with a Plan
You will never get anywhere without a plan. And the more specific and detailed you make your plan, the better results you’ll get.
The right plan is different for each family; even siblings in the same family may need totally different plans based on their different interests and experiences. But whether your plan is to use a public school curriculum at home or a premium self-paced customized curriculum, have one that’s right for you.
- Don’t Let the Hurdles Get You Down
There are things that will come up throughout the year that might seem like setbacks – but don’t let them get you down.
If you train yourself not to see it that way and find the positive lesson hidden within each of life’s “setbacks”, then they will be so much easier to handle.
- Don’t Let the Successes Get You Down, Either
Just as you shouldn’t let the “setbacks” get you down, you shouldn’t let the successes go to your head either – that’s when bad things happen!
Even if your child excels in all areas of his or her education this year, don’t assume that you’ve got the teaching thing all figured out and stop learning new things yourself. If you’re teaching your children to learn and grow throughout their lives, then learning together as a family is so important.
- Remember That Learning Can Be Fun
If you want your children to truly love learning, remind them from time to time that learning can be fun.
Whether you take them on a field trip or read a book together as a family, make sure to seize opportunities when they come about so your children will grow up with the desire to learn and the proper skills needed to succeed in today’s world.
- Be Consistent
As you homeschool your eleventh grader, be sure to be consistent – but not too rigid. If you always start schoolwork at the same time of day and on the same days of the week, then your child will adjust more easily when he or she is in college and has to get up early for classes. But don’t be so strict that you suffocate your child’s creativity and natural enthusiasm for learning, which is the opposite of what homeschooling is supposed to do.
- Make Use of Free Curricula Resources
For every subject area, there are a variety of free curricula resources available on the internet – use them!
- Create a Balanced Curriculum
Don’t overload your eleventh grader with work! Creating a balanced homeschool schedule that meets everyone’s needs is essential to keeping peace in the family. If you find that one child is overloaded, then consider cutting back on his or her studies and freeing up some time for another child that might lack in one or two areas.
- Make Use of Community Resources
This is the homeschooling advantage that public schoolers wish they had! There are organizations like museums, historical sites, and nature areas located in most communities that are extremely more affordable than colleges or universities – all you need to get started is a library card.
- Get Involved in Your Local Community
This is where that library card can work its magic. Visit your local library and ask the librarian to show you how to use their system of interlibrary loans (your tax dollars at work!) If they don’t offer this service, then find one that does. With a few clicks on their computer, the librarian can help you find any book, film, or music score that you can dream of.
- Make Time for Family Man time!
Even if your eleventh grader is homeschooled on an 11th grade level, he or she probably needs more one-on-one time with you – so make it happen! Whether it’s a game night once a week or taking time out of your busy schedule for a family outing, giving your children quality time with you is essential to their happiness and development.
- Get Involved in the Community
Whether it’s sports, scouting, drama clubs, music lessons, plays/musicals, volunteering at churches or schools – find activities that will keep your kid connected with other kids and community resources. In the future, you’ll be glad that your child had a chance to try out different activities as a youth so he or she will have a better idea of what they want to do when they’re older, whether it’s going into the military, getting married and having children right away, or going on to college for a higher degree in an area they are passionate about.
- Connect With Other Homeschoolers
Homeschooling is not just about schoolwork, you know! It’s also about helping your child grow into a happy and successful adult who feels good about himself/herself – which means there’s time for fun! Why not meet up with some other homeschooling parents once a week or month and go on an outing? Your child will make new friends, have fun, and inspire you to try out new things as well – all while keeping your community connected.
Why Choose High School of America’s 11th Grade Homeschool Curriculum?
Homeschooling parents want their eleventh grade child to be engaged in challenging academic work that will prepare him or her for college. Unfortunately, many homeschool students feel lost at the high school level because they are not receiving enough guidance from teachers.
High School of America’s homeschool curriculum is designed to give homeschool students everything they need to master challenging coursework, while also giving them guidance from our expert professors. Our program is designed for homeschool students who are ready to tackle college-level work at the eleventh grade level.
All of our courses are carefully crafted by experienced writers and instructors with decades of experience in teaching high school students. All lessons are written at the eleventh grade reading level, and our curriculum is based on national standards.
Our program offers over 100 subjects to choose from. Our state-approved courses are accepted by accredited colleges throughout the country so your homeschool student will be ready for college when it comes time to apply. High school students enrolled in our courses can also take our placement tests which will show them what classes they should take in college in order to succeed in a specific major.
To find out more about how our eleventh grade homeschool program can give your child a head start in life, call High School of America today at +1-(888) 242-4262 or send us an email.
Eleventh Grade Homeschooling FAQs
What are the best classes to take in Grade 11?
Most colleges will require students to take one year of science, math, English and social studies. High School of America’s 11th grade homeschool curriculum offers these subjects in our core classes. We also offer electives in 100+ subjects, including many vocational courses like automotive technology, business accounting, culinary arts and graphic design.
What are some of the benefits of homeschooling an 11th grader?
Homeschooling an 11th grade student gives parents the chance to help their child develop a complete education. In addition to core classes, homeschool students engaged with our program will have the opportunity to choose from one of over 100 electives, as well as take advantage of our college placement tests. Our expert instructors can design a class around a specific subject that a homeschool student is interested in.
How do I get started with High School of America’s 11th grade homeschool program?
To find out more about how our 11th grade homeschool program can give your child an edge for college and beyond, call High School of America today at +1-(888) 242-4262 or send us an email.
REQUEST INFO
How do I know if my child is ready to homeschool Grade 11?
Students in 11th grade are typically 16-18 years old. As your child gets older, his/her individual learning style will become more apparent. You can get a sense of whether or not homeschooling Grade 11 is appropriate for your child by asking yourself the following questions:
- Is my child self-motivated?
- Does my child like to learn independently?
- Does my child work well on his/her own time?
- Is my child mature enough to handle the responsibility of high school-level courses?
If you answered “yes” to these questions, your 11th grade homeschool student is probably ready for our program. Our curriculum is designed for motivated students who are ready to take on challenging coursework.
How do I know if my child is college-ready?
College readiness is defined as having the academic ability to succeed in a certain major. High School of America’s 11th grade homeschool curriculum can give your child an edge for preparing for college by preparing them to take placement tests. Our online placement tests can show your homeschool student what classes he or she should be enrolled in in college in order to succeed in a specific major. For example, if your child is interested in pre-med, our biology placement test will show her the required science courses for success in college.
Are parents responsible for teaching their 11th grade students?
Homeschool parents are responsible for teaching their students the material covered in our courses. Our experts design each course to be challenging and rigorous, so you don’t have to worry about being an expert in any of the subjects. We also offer support through online discussion boards where your child can interact with other homeschool students enrolled in the course.
When should a child start high school at home?
The earlier your child starts homeschooling, the better prepared he or she will be for college and beyond. Our program is designed to offer a relaxed learning environment that can give students a head start in life. Homeschool parents have the flexibility to take their students through our coursework at his/her own pace. For many families, this multi-sensory program is a great way to introduce your child to learning at home.
What can I expect from High School of America’s 11th grade homeschool curriculum?
Our online school offers courses in core academic subjects like English, history and mathematics, along with over 100 elective classes in topics such as dance and music, robotics and computer programming, art and design, personal finance and sports training.
How can I give my child a competitive edge for college?
High School of America’s eleventh grade homeschool program is designed to prepare your student for the rigors of higher education. Every course we offer is aligned with industry standards so that your student can gain the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in college. Our placement tests help your child gauge which classes he or she should be taking in high school so that they can enter college already prepared for the academic demands that await them there.
What parent questions should you ask before starting?
It’s important to ask yourself the following questions before starting our homeschool program:
- Are you comfortable teaching your child subjects that may be new to you?
- Will my child excel in a self-study environment?
- Do I have the time needed to prepare lesson plans for my 11th grade student every day?
- Am I comfortable with the flexibility of an online curriculum?
If you answer “yes” to all of these questions, our homeschool program is a great choice for your 11th grade student. With no set lesson plans or schedules to follow, we offer parents and students more than 30 years of teaching experience in a relaxed environment that gives students the academic edge they need to succeed in college.
What do you study in 11th grade?
In 11th grade, students can choose from a wide selection of courses in core academic subjects such as English, history and mathematics. We also offer a range of elective classes in some of the most popular areas of study among homeschoolers including computer programming, art and design, personal finance and sports training.
Should I take all 3 Sciences in Grade 11?
Ideally, students should have taken at least one science course in 10th grade. However, you can accelerate your student’s learning by enrolling him/her in all 3 sciences in 11th grade. You can also take our biology placement test to show what level of biology courses your child should be enrolled in for college success.
Are 3 science classes too much?
If your child is a science whiz, taking all 3 sciences in grade 11 may be the best choice for him/her. Ideally, students should have taken at least one science course in 10th grade. However, if you want to accelerate your student’s learning by enrolling him/her in all 3 sciences in 11th grade, you can also take our biology placement test to show what level of biology courses your child should be enrolled in for college success.
Can my 11th grade student take any classes that they want?
It’s great if your child wants to take a variety of courses in different subjects. However, we also recommend enrolling your student in at least one core class and at least one elective per semester. This gives them the best chance for success with our college placement tests.
Are there any requirements for taking the ACT and SAT?
If your 11th grade student plans to take either test, we recommend preparing with a course in each core academic subject (eg: English, history and mathematics). We also encourage students to enroll in one of our elective classes such as personal finance or college success to learn more about what to expect from higher education.
How much does High School of America’s 11th grade homeschool curriculum cost?
Our online courses are affordable and flexible options for any budget. You can choose our monthly payment plan to spread the cost over the course of a semester, or you can enroll in one of our quarterly payment plans to save even more on the total tuition price.
What types of payment do you accept?
We currently accept all major credit cards as well as PayPal for 11th grade homeschool curriculum. We also offer a monthly or quarterly payment plan through our website to make it easier for parents and students to afford their online high school education.
What do you learn in 11th grade English?
Our online English courses allow students to learn the same curriculum taught in public and private schools. We offer different types of exercises and assessments that can help students at any level prepare for their ACT or SAT, as well as college success classes that give them a head start on any higher education courses they plan to take.
Where do 11th grade students take their science classes?
High School of America offers the best online homeschool curriculum in 11th grade science. Students can enroll in any or all of our biology, chemistry and physics courses, depending on what level they feel most comfortable with. We also offer complete review courses for SAT II Subject Tests to help students raise their scores before college placement tests.
How do I sign up for an 11th grade homeschool curriculum?
You can enroll in our courses instantly by purchasing them online through our secure shopping cart system. We accept all major credit cards and also offer PayPal as a payment option when you want to pay for your course(s) in full or spread the tuition cost out over a semester.
We also offer an annual payment plan for 11th grade homeschool curriculum that makes it easy to pay off your tuition in monthly or quarterly payments throughout the school year. This is a great option if you want to spread the cost out over time without incurring any additional interest fees.
How soon can my child begin taking High School of America’s 11th grade online homeschool curriculum?
Students can start enrolling in our courses as soon as they are ready to begin their college preparation. We recommend starting with an English course for students who either need help preparing for the ACT or SAT or if they simply want to learn how public and private schools teach these topics.
What if my child isn’t interested in the 11th grade homeschool curriculum?
We offer a complete K-12 program of online courses that can help students achieve their educational goals at any level. In fact, our college prep courses are especially popular with parents who want to give their elementary or middle school graduates a head start on their education.
How long do 11th grade students take to complete their homeschool curriculum?
Students can finish High School of America’s online homeschool courses in as little as one semester, depending on how many classes they want to enroll in at once. Our flexible payment options make it easy for families that need help with the cost of a second homeschool student to enroll in two courses at once.
What are the High School of America’s 11th grade curriculum requirements?
High School of America’s online homeschool curriculum includes all state and national standard requirements, making it easy for parents to keep up with their child’s educational progress. Our courses also help students prepare for the ACT and SAT, as well as any other college placement tests they plan to take in the future.