All students must earn a minimum of 20 credits in Upper School courses to qualify for a Flint Hill diploma.

Activity Credit

The Flint Hill Activity Credit is a graduation prerequisite that addresses the physical education and team-building requirements in a student’s experience. We believe that activity outside of the classroom and alongside others within Flint Hill builds community, fosters camaraderie, introduces us to those we may not know, and helps to develop essential skills, habits, and values. Four activity credits must be earned during the Flint Hill Upper School experience.

Activity Credits through Designated Upper School Student Activities

Two of these credits must be earned by participating with a Flint Hill athletic team or non-competitive program. Students may choose to earn these two required credits through athletic participation or through approved participation in certain plays or musicals, the Major Minors musical group, Certamen, Yearbook Staff, Literary Magazine Staff, The View Staff, Robotics Teams, or Cybersecurity after-school activity.

Non-school-sponsored athletic activities may not substitute for any of the four activity credits. While we encourage our students to be involved in healthy physical activity and competition whenever possible, we believe they gain additional benefits and values by participating in Flint Hill programs.

Community Service

Fifteen hours per year (60 hours total), of which five hours must be spent with organizations outside of the Flint Hill community.

Senior Project

The project should be successfully completed during the senior year.

The philosophy of the Fine Arts Department is to encourage the artistic growth of every Upper School student. Flint Hill supports the specialist who is interested in a deep dive into their unique interests in art or the generalist who wants to spread their wings and try new things. The Upper School offers fine arts classes in a variety of disciplines — music, theater, studio arts, digital arts, filmmaking, and photography. Students become well prepared to pursue the fine arts at the college or university level.

The Science Department’s goal for Upper School students is to teach them that great scientists are compassionate global citizens who properly use observation and reasoning to make new discoveries and solve societal problems. In the classroom, emphasis is on the process of data collection, interpretation, and argumentation. The Science Department has created a sequence of courses that allows the content and skills to build upon each other throughout a student’s four years at the Upper School, modeling the real-world process of scientific discovery. 

Learn more specifically why students start with physics in 9th grade.

Physics
Foundations of Chemistry
Nuclear Chemistry
Environmental Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
Biochemistry
Advanced Biology – Anatomy and Physiology of Animals
Advanced Biology – Anatomy and Physiology of Plants
Advanced Biology – Cell Biology
Advanced Biology – Conservation Biology
Advanced Biology – Ecology
Advanced Biology – Evolutionary Biology
Advanced Biology – Life’s Origins and Transitions
Advanced Biology – Modern Genetics
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
AP Physics I: Algebra-Based
AP Physics II: Algebra-Based
AP Physics C
AP Environmental Science

Electives

Atmospheric Science and Global Climate Change
Biotechnology Techniques and Application
Discovery of Engineering
Earth and Environmental Sciences
Evolution of the Biosphere
Field Natural History and Ornithology
Forensic Science
Marine Science

The History and Social Sciences Department prepares students to be knowledgeable and engaged global citizens and fosters self-directed learners who are curious, analytical, and critical thinkers. The goal in the Upper School is to produce problem-solvers, leaders, effective communicators — both oral and written — and ethical citizens who can succeed in a rapidly-changing world. The wide range of curriculum includes dynamic semester electives and AP courses. Students are taught to question and be reflective, listen actively, express ideas clearly, and embody values of respect, honesty, compassion, and responsibility. 

Upper School Innovation courses cultivate the next generation of problem-solvers and innovators, empowering Upper School students to create impactful solutions for real-world challenges. Our courses provide rigorous challenges and essential skills, enriching the academic experience. Students may explore robotics, computer science, cybersecurity, and engineering through semester-long and full-year courses, utilizing cutting-edge tools and technologies. Those with a passion can delve deeper into advanced studies, including AP and honors-level computer science and robotics, or may choose their own path as an independent study. All courses provide unparalleled opportunities to master complex skills such as algorithmic thinking, data analysis, and ethical considerations in technology. Innovation students graduate equipped with the knowledge and practical experience needed for college and career success, ready to make a positive impact on the world.

Computer Science I
AP Computer Science Principles
AP Computer Science A
Pythons for UAVs
Cybersecurity: Forensics
Cybersecurity: Command Line/Shell Basics
Robotics
CAD I
CAD II
Advanced Aerial Robotics – Honors
Discovery of Engineering
Independent Study

The Upper School Mathematics program provides a broad concept and skills-driven curriculum that invites students to actively explore, discover, and co-create the mathematics they learn each day. The student-centered, teacher-facilitated approach aims to produce flexible and agile learners through the continual development of mathematical practices and habits of mind. The spiraling curriculum of concepts and skills challenges students to make conjectures, see connections, form generalizations, build models, and solve problems that require sustained effort, creative problem-solving strategies, acute spatial awareness, and strong critical-thinking skills. The program emphasizes the beauty and utility of mathematics and the importance of effective collaboration and communication. 

The Modern Languages Department is dedicated to promoting the study of languages and cultures and fostering appreciation for diversity. Upper School students are provided with a supportive environment where they can feel comfortable taking risks in language acquisition. Learning French and Spanish is essential for cultural awareness, personal growth, and professional success, providing a competitive advantage in today's diverse and globalized world. The Modern Languages Department uses an active and real-world approach for students to develop language skills and critical-thinking abilities through diverse and interactive activities. Language study is a valuable experience that enhances personal and academic growth as well as future career prospects. 

The English Department offers an engaging and wide array of classes at college preparatory, Honors, and AP levels for Upper School students to continuously develop into better readers, writers, and thinkers. Students in Grades 9 and 10 read a variety of classic literary texts paired with contemporary texts. Students develop analytical essay-writing skills, vocabulary, grammatical knowledge, and research skills, and they have opportunities for creative writing and public speaking. At the 11th and 12th grade levels, we offer many special topic seminar classes. In addition to coursework, the English Department supports “The Rough Draft,” an award-winning student literary magazine, as well as “The View,” an online student newspaper. All students participate in Poetry Out Loud recitation competitions and Visiting Writers Day programs. Students may choose to attend the Bard Bus yearly theater field trip, and submit their work to creative and expository essay contests. 

English

English I – Investigating Forms and Genres
English I – Honors: Investigating Forms and Genres
English II – Exploring Literary Perspectives
English II – Honors: Exploring Literary Perspectives
English III – Mastering the Essay
AP English Language and Composition
AP English Literature and Composition

Junior/Senior Seminars

Literature for the Inquiring Mind – Honors
Literature of Social Change – Honors
Poetry
Reading and Writing Intensive: Nonfiction – Honors
Redefining America
Science + Fiction: An Interdisciplinary Study of Science and Fiction
Shakespeare – Honors
Short Story
Banned Books
Gothic Literature
Life According to the Ancient Greeks and Romans
Fairy Tales, Folklore, and Archetypes

The mission of the Classics Department for Upper School students is to foster inquiry into the language, literature, art, and history of Ancient Greece and Rome and neighboring areas of the Mediterranean. Inherently interdisciplinary and comparative, the Classics Department strives to offer a rigorous education in the liberal arts, giving students training in the careful analysis of texts, in effective creation of cogent arguments, and in critical thinking. Study of the cultures of the ancient world adds historical depth and complexity to a student’s understanding of language, literature, material culture, history — and the interrelationships among them — and of many issues important to contemporary society, such as cultural interaction and exchange, race and ethnicity, religion and society. The Classics Department also strives to create and engage in extracurricular activities that allow students to challenge themselves and interact with students nationwide.