Step up to Upper School
Welcome to the Upper School! We're thrilled to have your student join us next year.
As they embark on this exciting new chapter, they'll discover a vibrant community dedicated to academic excellence, personal growth, and well-being. Our rigorous curriculum, coupled with a rich array of extracurriculars, will prepare them for college and beyond.
From navigating course selections to understanding overall logistics, this page is your one-stop resource for everything Upper School. Our faculty and staff will help you and your student make this transition seamless!
STEP UP EVENTS: CLASS OF 2030
Here are the events and dates you'll want to keep in mind as the parent of an 8th grade student.
Upper School Student Visit
Ongoing
All 8th graders have been asked to complete a form to sign up for an Upper School student visit and share more with us about their Upper School interests. Please encourage your 8th grader to complete the form.
8th Grade Student Q&A
Tuesday, April 14, 1:15-2:15 p.m.
We'll hold an optional Q&A for 8th grade students at the Upper School with Howard Chang, US Academic Dean, and Susan Chiarolanzio, Director of College Advising.
FAQS
No! One of the benefits of having enrolled before 9th grade is you get to skip the competitive Upper School admission process. You are already a Husky!
Our target enrollment for the 9th grade is 145, which is comprised of 40% new students. There will be many opportunities to expand students’ existing social circles. As one freshman put it, “I think everyone was super welcoming. Some of the new kids this year are my closest friends.”
Similar to the Middle School, the Upper School daily schedule operates on a six-day rotating cycle where each class meets four times within one rotation for 55 minutes. A typical student load is six classes with one free period. The free period provides time for students to work on homework, study, hang out with friends, etc. This discretionary time allows them to develop strong time management skills that will benefit them in college and beyond. During mid-morning break from 10:20-10:45 a.m., students are able to purchase snacks from the Igloo, socialize with peers, or bring questions to a teacher. On C and F days, instead of a final academic block, the Upper School students have flex blocks. Flex blocks provide space for pre-planned special programming like all-school gatherings, pep rallies, grade-level meetings, and guest speakers. Students then finish the day in advisory, serving as a point of decompression and prep for the following day.
Office hours are offered daily from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Students can drop in to see their teachers for 1:1 support. Aside from fostering a meaningful connection with their teachers, office hours offer students the opportunity to clarify and ask questions about the material, review an exam or assignment, and better understand their teachers' expectations.
Per each class, Upper School students can expect 30 minutes of homework for an on-level college prep course, 45 minutes for an honors course, and 60 minutes for an AP course. They’ll develop study habits to become more self-directed learners while studying for assessments and completing assignments. Students also learn to utilize office hours, free periods, and at-home time to find the best time to study.
The Upper School Dress Expectations go over this in detail.
Yes, the Upper School lunch includes additional, wider-ranging dietary options.
- Upper School athletics start after school, at 3:45 p.m.
- Practices are longer, from 3:45 to 5:45 p.m. Some sports can be as late as 7:00 p.m. due to the number of teams and court availability, and others practice in the morning before school starts.
- There is a tryout period for each sport similar to the Middle School; however, the levels are designated as Junior Varsity and Varsity (some have Frosh), and there can be cuts.
- Each sport has an increased number of games, matches, and/or meets. These events will run later in the day than middle school, and some occur on Saturdays.
- Most sports will implement workouts in the Fitness Center during the season and off-season for strength and conditioning purposes.
- We offer a fitness and conditioning class during each athletic season.
Yes, there are more offerings and students! The Upper School’s challenging academic program is balanced by extracurricular opportunities that reflect our students’ affinities and passions. Our 75+ student-designed clubs represent an array of special interest, academic, and service-oriented offerings as vibrant and diverse as our student body. The Upper School also has 6 formal leadership programs that students in grades 10-12 can take part in: Academic Honor Council, Athletic Advisory Council, Conduct Council, Peer Counselors, Student Ambassadors, and Student Council Association.
CLASS OF 2025 COLLEGE DESTINATIONS
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