Middle and high school, academic year 2026-2027
Academic Year 2026-2027 Schedule: Fixed-schedule credit classes start August 26 and 27. Almost all class sections are finalized and confirmed. Late pre-enrollment is open through August 25, 2026. Read the schedule announcement.
The Italian School of San Diego LLC is approved by both the San Diego Unified and San Dieguito Union High School Districts to teach world language courses off campus. Classes taken here fulfill the world language requirement for high school graduation at public high schools in these two districts, and the grade earned is added to the student’s high school transcript.
This is district approval of our courses, not accreditation of the school. We are not WASC accredited, and the districts do not accredit schools. What each district does is a little different:
The University of California and California State University accept these courses for their language requirement. Colleges outside the UC and CSU systems set their own admission policies, so check directly with any other university you are considering.
The curriculum and programs were created, implemented, and district-approved by our sister school, IAASD (now closed). Learn more about their story.
For more information, see:
We offer two distinct credit-bearing tracks for middle and high school students:
Some levels meet on a fixed in-person schedule at our Kearny Mesa location; others meet online or have a flexible schedule arranged with enrolled students.
Important Track Distinction: Wednesday afternoon classes are for Italian as a New Language (INL). Thursday afternoon classes are for Italian for Italian Speakers (ITA). We use “Italian for Italian Speakers” rather than “heritage language” so that placement is based purely on actual language proficiency rather than ancestry—welcoming all fluent Italian-speaking students.
For students learning Italian as a new language. Lessons use a conversation-first approach focused on real conversation and everyday situations, building speaking confidence alongside grammar, vocabulary, reading, and writing.
For students who already speak Italian fluently. As they progress, students follow the literature program taught in Italian high schools, reading and discussing Dante’s Divina Commedia, Boccaccio’s Decameron, Manzoni’s I Promessi Sposi, and Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, alongside advanced grammar, composition, and culture.
Students with prior Italian study may test into a higher level than level 1-2. Please indicate this on the pre-enrollment form or contact us in advance. (Note: Direct enrollment into levels above 1-2 requires a curriculum alignment fee.) Note: what counts is the level completed, not the number of years attended. Passing a higher level validates the levels below it, so a student who passes, for example, Italian as a New Language 5-6 or Italian for Italian Speakers 5-6 during high school has met the equivalent of three years of high school language study for graduation and UC admission purposes, even though the transcript shows the credit for the course actually taken.
These classes combine weekly class meetings with independent study so students can meet district requirements. See the Italian School of San Diego calendar for the published class calendars.
Book information will be provided after students are assigned to classes.
See tuition details and submit a non-binding pre-enrollment form using the button below. The same form is used for both the high school credit classes and the other classes. Based on the student’s level and age, we will recommend the most suitable class:
These classes require at least 2 hours of homework per week, compared with 30 minutes to 1 hour for lower levels. Students should plan accordingly.
Grading is more structured: students will join our Google Classroom, submit weekly homework for grading, and take tests via Google Forms during class. Final grades are based on homework, tests, and class participation.
Parents receive grade reports four times a year. For public high school students in San Diego Unified or San Dieguito, the January and June reports are also sent to the high school for transcript inclusion. Both districts post the same letter grade we assign. In San Dieguito the grade counts in the grade point average but is not weighted.
High school graduation and college admission require two years of a language other than English, but most colleges recommend three years, and some highly selective colleges recommend four. See the E) requirement for admission to the University of California:
Two years, or equivalent to the 2nd level of high school instruction, of the same language other than English are required. (Three years/3rd level of high school instruction recommended). Courses should emphasize speaking and understanding, and include instruction in grammar, vocabulary, reading, composition, and culture. […] Courses taken in the seventh and eighth grades may be used to fulfill part or all of this requirement if the high school accepts them as equivalent to its own courses.
We recommend enrolling in Italian as a New Language 1-2 or Italian for Italian Speakers 1-2 in 7th grade. This allows students to complete level 1-2 and 3-4 in middle school. While high schools do not grant credit for language classes taken in middle school, starting early allows students to satisfy requirements sooner. After passing level 5-6 in 9th grade, students are granted three years of language credit. They can then take level 7-8 in 10th grade for an additional year of language and AP Italian preparation.
Typical academic path:
Students can also start later. To reach three years of language credit, the latest start is 10th grade:
Students already fluent in Italian, with grammar knowledge and cultural familiarity, may start at a higher level after evaluation.
Contact us with:
We will prepare the “Intent to Undertake Independent Language Study” form, sign it, and email it to you for printing, signing, and submission to the high school.
Download the “SDUHSD Off-Campus Course Permission Form” at the bottom of this page: https://www.sduhsd.net/Departments/Educational-Services/Specialized-Programs/Off-Campus-Courses/index.html
The form asks to attach evidence of accreditation. That is not necessary for us, because the district already lists the Italian School of San Diego on its approved off-campus language school list.
Submit the signed form to your counselor.