Academics at Arts Academy

Yes. Interlochen offers Advanced Placement courses which challenge students to delve deeper into subjects and develop their critical thinking skills. Colleges often view AP courses favorably during the admissions process, seeing them as evidence of a student's ability to excel in a competitive academic environment. Successfully completing the AP exams for your classes will often earn you college credit. 

At Interlochen Arts Academy, you may choose to take AP courses in Calculus and Statistics. In addition, you can choose from dozens of other AP courses which are available through Interlochen’s partnership with Michigan Virtual Academy, as well as a variety of summer AP courses available through Johns Hopkins University and Northwestern University. All AP courses require testing for entry. We offer all AP exams on campus. 

Yes. Interlochen maintains a partnership with Indiana University’s Advance College Project which allows you to earn college credit on Interlochen's campus while taking select academic courses. These credits are transferable to many colleges or universities. Courses are taught by Interlochen faculty members on campus so there is no need to travel to IU or use an online platform. When you enroll in IU courses through ACP at the Academy, you receive both high school and college credit. Courses are available in English, History, and Science.

Courses offered:

• ENG W131 Reading, Writing, and Inquiry (3 cr.) 
• ENG L202 Literary Interpretations (3 cr.) 
• HIST H105 American History I (3 cr.) 
• HIST H106 American History II (3 cr.) 
• BIOL L100 Advanced Biology (5 cr.)

All students need at least 22 credits to graduate from Interlochen Arts Academy. (For transfer students, credits from any other accredited high school count towards this total.) Classes are worth 0.5 credit per semester unless otherwise indicated. At least 10 of the 22 credits must be academic courses that include the specific requirements outlined below. The rest of your coursework will come from a variety of electives meant to fulfill arts major requirements and meet college entrance requirements. Your Academic and College Counselor will help you with graduation and college entrance requirements. 

(Credit) Subject Area

• (1.0) 2 semesters of English I (grade 9 equivalent)
• (1.0) 2 semesters of English II (grade 10 equivalent)
• (1.0) 2 semesters of English III (grade 11 equivalent)
• (1.0) 2 semesters of English electives successfully completed during grade 12
• (2.0) 4 semesters of Social Science (2 semesters must be completed in grades 11 or 12)
• (2.0) 2 years of Mathematics
• (1.0) 1 year of Science

College/Conservatory Expectations/(Credit) Subject Area

Most colleges recommend students take at least 16 academic credits in high school, including:

• (4.0) 8 semesters in English
• (3.0-4.0) 6-8 semesters in Math
• (3.0-4.0) 6-8 semesters in Science
• (3.0-4.0) 6-8 semesters in Social Science
• (2.0 minimum) 4 semesters in the same Foreign Language

Yes. Interlochen offers robust college- and career-planning support. The moment you arrive on campus, you will be assigned a counselor who will work with you throughout your entire Interlochen experience. During the junior and senior year, counselors work intensively with students to support the college admissions process, helping them to narrow down a list of preferred schools, arrange for standardized testing, successfully complete college applications, and more. In addition, students receive consistent support from their arts instructors, who make themselves available for frequent office hours and provide valuable insights into post-Interlochen opportunities. Learn more about the college counseling process.

Interlochen graduates are consistently admitted into highly-regarded colleges, universities, and conservatories. In 2024, 88% of Interlochen Arts Academy graduates were accepted into one of their three top-choice colleges and 82% of graduates enrolled at a top 50 university. 

Institutions recently admitting Interlochen graduates include Curtis Institute of Music, Eastman School of Music, Harvard University, The Juilliard School, Princeton University, Rhode Island School of Design, and many more. While many graduates choose to pursue further training in the arts, others choose majors in disciplines like business or the sciences. Learn more about college matriculation at Interlochen Arts Academy.