Pope Globalization Academy Overview:
Pope High School’s Globalization Academy offers a distinctive educational pathway that sets it apart from the traditional high school experience. It combines curricular and experiential activities to create a comprehensive, globally-focused learning environment. Central to the academy's approach are annual signature grade-level projects aimed at improving students' public speaking and critical thinking skills, with opportunities to engage directly with global leaders and international business experts. This exposure enriches the academic journey and enhances the global perspective.
For example, all freshmen participate in ‘Global Connections Night,’ where consulate representatives from the Atlanta area are invited to Pope to participate in a student-led panel discussion. During their Honors Literature and AP Human Geography classes leading up to this event, students collaborate to develop panel questions and a program for the evening. Following the panel discussion, the Globalization Foundation hosts a catered reception including dinner selections from the represented consulate countries. Topics in previous years have been (i) water conservation, and (ii) Balancing Tourism with Historical and Ecological Preservation, which addresses the challenges many countries face in managing the impact of tourism on their historical and ecological sites.
During Junior year, students participate in a jam-packed two-day Immersive Research-Intensive Field Trip to UGA in Athens, Georgia. The purpose of the trip is to allow students to delve into unique topics of interest, thus assisting in choosing a topic for their AP Research project and some students have even discovered a passion that leads to figuring out what they want to study in college. The trip includes research orientation at the UGA Special Collections Library and multiple short group sessions with UGA professors, including topics such as International Trade, Journalism and Media, Business and Economics, Graphic Information Systems, and Humanities. Students also visit the Georgia Museum of Art, the Butts-Mehre Sports Museum & State Botanical Gardens and take a personalized campus tour.
Beyond the academic rigor, students in the Globalization Academy are encouraged to get involved with Pope’s vibrant high school community and school spirit by participating in a variety of activities, including fine arts, athletics, and leadership roles.
Overall, Pope High School’s Globalization Academy offers a dynamic and enriching environment where students are empowered to explore diverse topics, develop essential skills, and embrace opportunities for personal growth and global awareness.
Why choose the Globalization Academy at Pope?
The Globalization Academy is designed for talented scholars with a serious interest in Global career fields. Globalization Academy scholars should be creative self-starters who maintain high expectations for themselves and enjoy working in a collaborative team environment. These scholars should be interested in exploring a variety of learning opportunities that extend beyond the typical school day.
How does the Globalization Academy differ from traditional curricula?
Being a part of the Pope Globalization Academy is more than your everyday student experience. The "cohort" model means students are with a small group of peers in shared English/Literature and Social Studies/History classes. The time spent together as a cohort helps students build relationships conducive to debate and thoughtful discussion, deepening their education and fostering abundant bonding opportunities. Many Globalization Academy students say one of the best things about the Globalization experience is the long-lasting friendships within their cohort.
What is PGAF, and how is it different from the Academy?
PGAF is the Pope Globalization Academy Foundation, which is a registered 501(c)(3) led by a group of parent volunteers whose role is to support the Pope Globalization Academy’s administrators and faculty, by coordinating the experiential components. The PGAF plays an important role in planning and executing grade-level academic events, coordinating student volunteer opportunities, and providing grants and general assistance to teachers and administrators. Moreover, the PGAF ensures students and parents stay informed about Globalization Academy events and opportunities through monthly newsletters, Remind notifications, and social media updates.
The main difference is the high school coordinates the academic opportunities for the students, and the Foundation coordinates the experiential opportunities that make being in Globez so special.
Globalization refers to the changes in the world where we are moving away from self-contained countries and toward a more integrated world.
Globalization of business is the change in a business from a company associated with a single country to one that operates in multiple countries.
We want our Globalization students to graduate from high school with a full understanding of the historical, social, economic, scientific, and technological components of this global age.
To achieve this, you must be willing to ask questions, share insights, study, embrace challenges, and give your time and energy to our community and your cohort. In return, you will graduate prepared for the finest universities and with the critical international understandings needed to engage and lead on a global level.
Academic Course Pathways for Globez Students
| 9th Grade | 10th Grade | 11th Grade | 12th Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Social Studies (w/Globez cohort) | AP Human Geography (aka AP Human) | AP World History | AP US History (aka APUSH) | AP Government - 1 semester AP Macro or Micro Econ - 1 semester of one of these |
| Literature (w/ Globez cohort) | Honors 9th Literature | Honors World Lit | AP American Lit (aka AP Lang) | AP Literature |
| Math (non-Globez cohort) | Algebra (H or On-Level) or Geometry (if Algebra was taken in 8th grade) (H or On-Level) | Geometry (H or On-Level) or Advanced Algebra (if Geometry taken in 9th grade) (H or On-Level) | Advanced Algebra (H or On-Level) or Precalculus (On-Level or AP) | 4th Math Class for Graduation Requirement - Options: -College Readiness Math -Pre-Calculus -AP Precalculus -AP Statistics |
| Science (non-Globez cohort) | Biology (H or On-Level) or Environmental Science | Chemistry (H or On-Level) or Environmental Science | Physics (H, On-Level, or AP) or Physical Science (qualifications for this) | 4th Science Class for Graduation Requirement - Options: -AP Environmental Science (encouraged) -AP Chemistry -AP Physics -Anatomy (H or On-Level) -Astronomy -Forensic Science |
| Elective | World Language | World Language | World Language | AP World Language (as a 5th year of language if completed first year in 8th grade) or AP Psychology (encouraged) or AP Comparative Government (encouraged) |
| Elective | Open to your choice | Open to your choice | AP Seminar | AP Research |
*Required courses for Globez students in bold
*4 years of a World Language are required for Globez students (8th grade HS credit for World Language counts toward the 4 years). Note: Students may take 4 years of the same world language or take two years of two different languages. French and Spanish are offered through the AP level.
*All students must take 1 semester of Physical Education and 1 semester of Health (most Globez students complete these over the summer in summer school – rising freshmen are eligible to complete these the summer before their freshman year. Check the Pope website in the spring for info on how to register).
*Globez students in the Fine Arts (band, chorus, orchestra) will take their Fine Arts class as their second elective in Freshman and Sophomore year. For Junior and Senior year, they will either have to have taken a Math or Science class in summer school to open up an available period in the day or get permission to have a schedule without a lunch period.
ANNUAL SIGNATURE GRADE-LEVEL PROJECTS AND PRESENTATIONS:
- Global Connections Night (9th mandatory)
- Human Rights Summit (10th mandatory)
- ISDS (11th mandatory)
- UGA Research Trip(11th strongly encouraged but not mandatory)
- AP Capstone Presentation (12th mandatory)
- Senior Cohort Trip (12th encouraged but not mandatory)
YEARLY AT-A-GLANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR GLOBEZ STUDENTS:
We encourage you to print and keep track of your completion of these annual requirements.
Diploma Seals
Globalization students are required to earn the International Skills Diploma Seal. In addition to this, the link above highlights other seals and graduation honors they can work toward earning.
Application
Globalization Academy Program Overview and Requirements
Globalization Academy Application for the 2025-2026 School Year
