CURRICULUM

Our approach is different.

We have designed our courses to feel accessible and easy to manage, while being mindful that life will not wait while you try to wrap your head around algebra or struggle to pin down syntax. Most importantly, we have designed the courses to be relevant to your daily worries — and yes, that includes the price tag.

C4L Academy’s high school diploma program is accredited by Cognia. More information about our accreditation can be found here.

Browse our Course Catalog for more information on our graduation requirements and course descriptions to see how C4L can help you to earn your high school diploma and unlock the future you deserve.

Language Arts

Anyone who has ever sat down to write a resume or describe your current job knows how hard it is to find the right words to convey the most important information clearly. 

However, language is not just about getting a good job. Language is how we communicate, how we express ourselves, how we interact on social media, and how we use language says a lot about who we are and the way we interact with the world around us.

Our Language Arts courses are designed with practicality in mind. We focus on helping you become a better reader and writer and deepen your understanding of the English language. Ultimately, equipping you with the tools you will need to be competitive in whatever you choose to do with your future.

Open the blue boxes below to dive deeper into what this course can offer you

White Ceramic Mug on Book Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash
English 1 builds essential reading and writing skills through active reading techniques like questioning and identifying main ideas and themes. It includes writing summaries, a valuable skill relevant in real-world settings and addresses common language errors, such as homophones and sentence mechanics, while emphasizing effective workplace communication skills, such as communicating digitally. Key topics include:
  • Why reading and writing are important to your work life and your personal life.
  • Common errors in grammar and writing and how to fix them.s
  • Strategies for reading carefully and critically to help you follow directions, sequence, and find the most important facts and ideas.
English 2 expands on foundational English skills by focusing on active reading strategies like making connections and understanding imagery and figurative language. It covers the mechanics of punctuation and develops narrative writing skills, which enhance storytelling. The course also addresses common language errors and emphasizes the importance of tone and language in both written and spoken workplace communication. Key topics include:
  • Investigate how figurative language shapes the mood of a text and explores the impact of tone and mood on workplace communication.
  • Analyze story arc elements.
  • Crafting personal narratives.
English 3 empowers students to become better persuasive writers by structuring organized paragraphs and constructing effective arguments. Active reading strategies like making inferences and analyzing point of view and author’s purpose support deeper comprehension and critical thinking. Additionally, the course explores workplace communication strategies, including using tone to build relationships, handling conflicts, and practicing “I” statements. Key topics include:
  • Some of the topics covered include point of view (POV), author’s purpose, bias, persuasive communication, and how to distinguish the meaning of a word.
  • Students will also explore the importance of respectful communication in the workplace.
English 4 focuses on evaluating information and the steps of the research process, allowing students to make informed decisions in their everyday lives. Students will explore the importance of sequencing and directions as they prepare to complete a slide deck presentation. Students will also explore the active reading strategy of prediction and learn more about using clear language. Key topics include the following:
  • Students will explore the importance of sequencing and directions as they prepare to complete slide deck presentation.
  • Students will also explore the active reading strategy of prediction and learn more about using clear language.

Math

Math can sometimes feel like a subject that has little connection to your daily life. After all, when is the last time you had to find an imaginary number?

Traditional math courses tend to focus heavily on abstract topics, which can make it easy for students to lose sight of its relevance. Rather than focusing on preparing you for college level math, C4L Academy focuses on learning skills necessary for success in the real world.

Our courses are built around day-to-day situations, such as renting and buying property, managing your finances, and problem solving. Our goal is for students to develop core math skills (and yes that includes algebra and geometry), but with the intent of being useful and relevant.

Open the blue boxes below to dive deeper into what this course can offer you

US Dollar Bank Note with Map by Christine Roy on Unsplash
Financial Literacy was designed to empower students to understand relatable financial concepts such as saving and investing, borrowing money, credit cards, identity theft, and retirement planning. Students will then use that knowledge to make the best decisions for their lifestyle and circumstances. Key topics include:
  • Understand the basic components of sound money management, including budgeting, banking, savings, interest rates, and investing.
  • Understand the purpose for risk management and the types of insurance available.
  • Compare and contrast the opportunity costs of renting vs. buying a home and buying vs. leasing a car.
  • Explore and understand traits of responsible spending, both on and offline, including the use of credit cards and ways to protect yourself from fraud.
Math Essentials consists of the math skills an average person uses on a daily basis. This course incorporates realistic scenarios and knowledge of how to solve these fairly basic calculations. Key topics include:
  • Understand how math skills are used in daily life and in the workplace.
  • Calculate multistep problems accurately.
  • Use a variety of mathematical skills and strategies to solve real-world scenarios.
  • Interpret and make logical inferences from data sets.
  • Apply strategies and skills to real-world situations such as: calculating averages, ratios, percentages, sales tax, area, and perimeter.
Algebra is more than rules — it’s a way to understand the world through numbers and symbols. This course explores how numbers and symbols connect to things in the real world. Key topics include:
  • Demonstrate understanding of expressions and equations, including the use of variables, exponents, and inequalities.
  • Interpret charts, tables, and graphs (including those with negative integers); describe the relationship to equations.
  • Follow the steps to solve or simplify an equation and systems of equations.
  • Apply strategies and skills to real-world situations such as: calculating, ratios, percentages, and rate of change.
This course was developed to be a practical guide for measuring lengths, areas, and volumes while focusing on fewer key concepts than a traditional high school geometry course. A key to success in this course is being able to interpret geometric images and apply your knowledge of basic geometry concepts. Examples include :
  • Understand customary and metric measurement and conversions, calculate scale and the distance between two points.
  • Understand properties and terminology related to lines and angles, including mathematical relationships.
  • Solve problems related to area and perimeter of 2D shapes and link this understanding to numerical operations.
  • Solve problems related to volume and measurement of 3D objects.

Social Studies

It is easy to dismiss Social Studies as a dry list of dates and events (largely because this is where traditional high school curriculum tends to focus) but dig a little deeper and you will see this subject is more akin to the science of why things are the way they are.  Everything from what led us to where we are today, to the laws that govern what you can and cannot do, to why you pay so much for groceries, all fall under the umbrella of Social Studies. 

Our focus is to take topics such as economic principles and government decision-making and show you how they impact you as an American. Having working knowledge of the topics discussed in these courses can be incredibly empowering. Our goal is for students to come away feeling informed on matters that directly affect their lives – for better or worse.

Open the blue boxes below to dive deeper into what this course can offer you

White Concrete Building Near Body of Water by Desmond Hester on Unsplash
From the nation's inception to the brink of the modern era, this course invites students to uncover the defining moments that have shaped the United States into the dynamic nation it is today. Students will delve into pivotal events such as the Civil War and the transformative Reconstruction Era, while also examining the nation's role on the global stage through the Space Race, the Vietnam War, and the Global Financial Crisis. Key topics include:
  • Understand and describe how the diverse history of the United States has contributed to the development of society.
  • Identify cause and effect relationships of key events in eras of US History in relation to their impact on society as a whole, as well as on historically marginalized communities.
  • Understand how fundamental themes of U.S. History (i.e. democracy, conquest, struggles for power) affect choices and decisions of the government and the people.
  • Explore how the culture and beliefs of society during eras of U.S. history are connected to key events.
In this course, geography, global events, and politics are explored to reveal how they have shaped societies, cultures, and nations worldwide. Key topics include:
  • Understand and describe how geographical regions and environment impact economies, human settlement, society, and behavior.
  • Analyze how geographical regions (cultural, economic, political), features, and organization impact human cultures and development, including recent world events.
  • Develop an understanding of current world issues and relate them to their historical, geographic, political, economic, and cultural contexts.
  • Understand key events in historical eras; explain how these events impacted world development, human adaptation, and lives today.
This course covers the function of the Government in the United States and the historical background which laid the foundation for current processes and procedures. Key topics include:
  • What civics is and the role of government in our lives.
  • Your important role in our democracy, your responsibilities and duties, and the ways you can participate as an informed citizen.
  • the federal government
  • The reasons behind the important structures and processes of the U.S. Government and explain the reasons behind why they were created.
  • The way society’s thinking affects laws and policies, and the role our diverse cultural groups have played in shaping the United States.
  • How to separate fact from fiction, how to identify bias in what you see and hear and apply those strategies to avoiding confirmation bias.
Economics is a course about choice and the impact that our choices have on others. This course will cover concepts such as supply and demand, markets, micro vs. macroeconomics, and costs. Key topics include:
  • Understand core economic principles and how economics is focused on the decision-making processes of individuals and systems.
  • Understand and explain economic cycles, models, and structures; including how they affect personal life.
  • Understand the interdependence among consumers, business, and government.

Science

When young children begin Kindergarten, they are naturally curious about the world around them? “Why does it get dark at night?” “Why is the sky blue?” “Why do we have mountains?”

C4L Academy’s approach is to reawaken your natural curiosity and demystify science by making it relevant to your life.

Whether it is something as global as climate change or as intimate as an inherited disease, our Science courses are designed with one common goal: to improve your overall knowledge and quality of life.

Open the blue boxes below to dive deeper into what this course can offer you

River Between Trees Under Blue Sky by Eutah Mizushima on Unsplash
This course was designed to help students understand the basic principles of biology and how they shape our world. Key concepts taught in this course include the structure and function of life, cell structure, ecosystem dynamics, animal classification, and behavioral adaptations. Key topics include:
  • The steps of the Scientific Method and ways in which we study the world.
  • The six characteristics of life and the basic structural unit of living things.
  • Differences between inherited, acquired, dominant, and recessive traits.
  • The flow of ecosystems and how the disruption of a population can lead to a break in the cycle.
Physics is the study of energy, matter, and their interactions. Important concepts taught in this class include matter, elements, force and motion, energy and electricity. We depend on physical science for just about everything that makes modern life possible. You couldn’t turn on a light, make a phone call, or use a computer without centuries of discoveries in chemistry and physics. Key topics include:
  • Understand key inventions in physical science, as well as the application of these concepts to career pathways and the real world.
  • Understand and demonstrate patterns and relationships related to matter, wave movement, energy, and motion.
  • Draw cause and effect inferences and conclusions related to chemical compounds, physical and chemical changes to matter, and laws of motion.
  • Engage in inquiry, form and test hypotheses, and draw conclusions in a related physical science topic.

P.E. MODULES AND ELECTIVES

Our elective modules are all about relevant topics for adults. You will learn about how to become physically active and improve your health through appropriate nutrition. You will also learn about how to become a better parent. Perhaps for the first time, you may be learning about topics that are relevant for your current life situation.

Open the blue boxes below to dive deeper into what this course can offer you

Gray and White Pathway Between Green Planets on Vast Valley by Lili Popper on Unsplash
This course takes students on an informative journey to optimal health and vitality. By studying the relationship between physical activity and health, students will gain insights into the benefits of fostering an active lifestyle across the lifespan.Key topics include:
  • The role of physical activity in the prevention of disease.
  • How to select and modify physical activities to allow for participation by younger children, the elderly, and individuals with special needs.
  • The role that physical activity plays in social interaction and cooperative opportunities in the family and the workplace.
In this course, the fundamental principles of nutrition are studied to lay the foundation for informed dietary choices. This course will equip students with essential health literacy skills to navigate the complex landscape of wellness information. Key topics include:
  • Techniques for managing stress, anxiety and developing healthy habits.
  • Identify information that promotes health and disease prevention.
  • Develop personal fitness and nutritional goals.
This course addresses the most common struggles and trials of parenting with information about the stages of child development from birth through age 14, modeling behavior and mentoring, and responding to children in an appropriate manner; all while highlighting its many rewards. Key topics include:
  • The various stages of child development from infancy through adolescence, including key milestones, behaviors, and challenges associated with each age group.
  • How parents play an important role model for their children by emphasizing consistency, honesty, emotional regulation, and respect. Different parenting styles and effective communication techniques, along with positive discipline and nurturing relationships.
  • The effective ways to be a mentor to help children discover themselves and their place in the world.
Explore the world of poetry! From understanding the basic elements of poetry to analyzing common types and poetic devices, students will delve into the art of expression through words. Key topics include:
  • The use of poetic language and devices, including simile, metaphor, alliteration, repetition, and personification.
  • Enhancing students' understanding of how poets convey meaning and evoke emotions through their choice of words.
  • The concept of poetry as a form of expression that conveys thoughts and emotions in a creative and captivating manner.
This astronomy course will take you on a journey through the fascinating history of astronomy. Key topics include:
  • Develop a deep understanding of the solar system, including the planets that orbit around the Sun, their unique features and structures, and the forces that govern their movement.
  • Explain the constantly expanding universe using the big bang, cosmic inflation, and other observational evidence.
  • Gain insight into the mysteries of black holes and dark matter, including their properties and impact on the universe, and understand the current state of research in these areas.

Take control of your future


Unsplash image credits (in order of appearance): Lili Popper, Alisa Anton, Christine Roy, Desmond Hester, and Eutah Mizushima

Still undecided on whether you want to take control of your future with C4L Academy? Learn more about how we help adults to unlock their potential by following the links below: