Academics

The American College of Sofia provides a rigorous university preparatory education to our students. In addition to a strong emphasis on content mastery, ACS students are encouraged to think critically and to develop problem-solving skills and intellectual independence. We expect students to be able to articulate responses to questions during class as well as to ask insightful questions themselves, of the teacher, and of each other. Finally, we work hard to develop the formal writing and speaking skills of our students.

Faculty

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Meet the faculty and get acquainted with the academic departments: Bulgarian Language and Literature, ELL, ESL, Liberal and Fine Arts, Science, Math and Computer Science, Foreign Languages, Sports.

College Counseling

Welcome to the College Counseling Department at the American College of Sofia. Choosing a college or university is an exciting and challenging process

Our goal is to assist students in understanding their post high school higher education options. Through the development and implementation of a College Counseling program in grades 9 through 12, and with the use of Google Classroom, we foster a clear, solid sense of self that is essential for each student to establish and focus on realistic and age appropriate personal, academic, and college-focused goals. The college counseling department creates an environment where students are well informed on all relevant information and instruction about the ever-changing college testing, admissions, scholarship and financial aid processes. With our assistance, students create multiple options for themselves by applying to competitive colleges and universities around the world. In this way, students can select the school that best suits their academic, personal, financial, and family needs during the spring of their senior year. 

ACS students have the opportunity to apply to a variety of educational systems around the world due to our strong curriculum and varied diploma offerings. Students graduate with both American and Bulgarian high school diplomas. International, or non-Bulgarian students, earn the International Baccalaureate (IB) and American diplomas. All ACS students are given the opportunity to sit for Advanced Placement (AP) examinations. These college-level tests may allow students to gain advanced-standing or university credit. Top results can often make a student even more competitive in admission processes.

ACS graduates are accepted into some of the most prestigious universities around the world and are valued critical thinkers and problem solvers able to set clear goals and achieve them. They are engaged in social issues and are able to compete with outstanding students world-wide. For more information on our curriculum, standardized examination results, and college/university placement, please see our School Profile.

Bulgarian Students

Our Bulgarian students follow the Bulgarian high school diploma program, the details of which are determined by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science. All Bulgarian students may, upon meeting additional academic and other requirements, be awarded an American high school diploma as well.

A summary of the ACS weekly academic schedule by grade level is below. In grades 9 and 10 all courses are taught in English except Bulgarian and foreign languages. During grades 11 and 12 all courses are taught in English except Bulgarian language and literature, foreign languages, Bulgarian geography and philosophy (in grade 12), and some profile classes. Profiles are areas of academic concentration. Bulgarian students choose a “profile”, an area of concentration, within the Bulgarian Diploma Program (11th and 12th grades), in which students go into more depth. All ACS students follow an English profile and choose one other profile from the following: Humanities, Foreign Languages, Natural Sciences (Biology and Chemistry), Mathematics, Entrepreneurship, Software & Hardware. All ACS students take extra mathematics every year beyond the requirements of the Bulgarian curriculum.

SUBJECT Prep.  9th 10th 11th 12th
English  20  6   5   5.5  6
 Bulgarian  4  3   3  3   5
 Mathematics  3  4   4  4   5 
 Biology    2  2  2  
 Chemistry    2  2  2  
 Physics    2.5  2  2  1
 Foreign Language    3  3  2  3
 History    2  2  2  2
 Geography    2  1.5  1.5  1
 Philosophy    1.5  1.5  1.5  2
 Physical Science  1        
 Computers  1  2  2  1.5  2
 Physical Education  3  3  3  3  3
 Art  1  1      
 Music  1  1      
 Electives    2  4  4  4
 Student Selected Profile      2  2  3
Total Hours per Week: 34  37  37  36 37 

International Students

In the 11th grade, all of our international students begin the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Like our Bulgarian students, international students may also obtain the American high school diploma if they fulfill all additional requirements for this diploma.

Prior to the 11th grade, international students are placed in appropriate math, science, foreign language, and social science/history classes to prepare them for the IB program. In some cases this may depend upon a student’s level of preparation in various subjects before enrolling at the College. When scheduling and course offerings permit, international students take classes with Bulgarian students.  In the table below, "IS only" indicates a class that only international students take.

Subject Prep 9th 10th
English (Profile #1)  20  6   5 
 Mathematics (IS only)  6  6   6
 Foreign Language    3  3
 Physical Science  1    
 Biology (IS only)    4  
 Chemistry (IS only)      4
 Physics (IS only)      4
 US History (IS only)    2  2
 World History    2  2
 Physical Geography    2  
 Human Geogrpahy      1.5
 Psychology    1.5  
 Computers  1  2  2
 Physical Education  3  3  3
 Art  1  1  
 Music  1  1  
 Electives    2-4  4-6
Total Hours per Week:  33  35.5-37.5  36.5-38.5

IB Programme

The American College of Sofia is an authorized IB World School and has offered the IB Diploma Programme since 2005. Students not earning a Bulgarian National Diploma are eligible for admission into the two-year IB program. ACS provides a challenging, college-preparatory curriculum for all IB students and hires teachers who are experts in their subject matter. Students who enroll in the IB Diploma Programme are also given the opportunity to fulfill the requirements for the ACS American diploma, which is awarded to students independently of the diploma granted by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO).