American Literature is a basic class that many high schoolers take during high school. In most cases, the top schools offer this course during their junior year. However, if the student fails this class, then they must retake it during their senior year. In most US schools, American Literature is a required class to take, and it is not an elective. All students must take the course in high school.
There is rarely an elective related to American Literature, but if there were, it would probably not be considered to be a challenging and fun elective. Most students would instead choose an elective like typing or something that they would enjoy to do. However, the students who like to read even though they learn a lot in high school already might choose this elective.