Upper School (9-12)

The Upper School at Stuart is a wonderful community where young women learn to develop relationships with their teachers and one another, while also learning how to make connections between their academic courses and the world. Stuart graduates are well-prepared with the knowledge, confidence, global perspective and passion for justice to transform their communities, and the world.

Our challenging and innovative curriculum is designed to take advantage of the way girls learn in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and math, as well as the arts, humanities, and athletics. In our Upper School, you will have countless opportunities to pursue your passions and find new ones. From musical theater to robotics, or global travel to social justice, you’ll have hundreds of courses, clubs, sports, and activities to choose from.

We know it is important to educate young women to know that they are powerful, they can affect change, and their voices are important – particularly in male-dominated arenas. That is why you will have the option to pursue a Leadership Diploma Endorsement through the National Center of Girls Leadership.

Stuart Country Day School National Merit Students

Beyond the expected, girls at Stuart learn about their responsibility to themselves and to others. A Stuart graduate uses her intellect, curiosity, heart, and her will, to take action to make the world—or even just a small corner of it—better.

Curriculum

2022-2023 Course Guide

Computer Science

Special Programs

College Guidance

Junior Year centers on the transition to college as an opportunity for self-development and reflection. We encourage students to use their critical thinking, investigative, and research skills to look beyond the hype and marketing of the college process to identify for themselves the colleges and universities that will best serve their needs, ambitions, and future goals.

The college process begins formally for students at the beginning of the second trimester of the junior year with a Junior College Night for both students and their parents/guardians. In January, all juniors start meeting once a cycle in classes of 12-15 students with the Director of College Counseling. Topics covered in this class include: how to determine what matters most in your college search, what questions to ask college representatives, and how to complete each piece of the college application. There is also an annual college fair with over 150 colleges from around the U.S. and the world.

Senior Year focuses on a calm and consistent approach to the application process. A college essay boot camp and application workshops take place in the summer. Throughout the fall, seniors meet individually and regularly with the Director of College Counseling to receive feedback on their application work, including essays, interview preparation, and finalizing their college list. Our goal is to ensure that each student is comfortable and confident with her applications, overall strategy, and college choices.

College Counseling

Peer Leadership

Open to grade 12. Prerequisites: application, interview and selection.

This course emphasizes the development of leadership, problem-solving and communication skills, group dynamics, and informed decision-making. Any student who wishes to apply to be a peer leader should sign up for the course on her course description sheet at course registration time. All students registering for this course must list an alternative. Students applying should be aware that, depending upon specific loads, taking Peer Leadership may cause scheduling difficulties. In the winter, juniors who wish to be considered will complete an interview process that includes an application form and a group problem-solving interview.

This course will meet four times a cycle in all three trimesters. During these class periods, students will meet in class with two faculty co-advisors and receive training in leadership, problem-solving and communication skills, group dynamics, and informed decision making. In addition to the class periods, senior peer leaders will work in pairs and co-lead discussions with small groups of freshman at least once a cycle. During second and third trimesters, time will be spent interviewing applicants, and considering and selecting the peer leaders for the following year.

Sacred Heart Exchange Program (SHAEP)

Sacred Heart exchange is an important feature of the Upper School curriculum. The program is facilitated by the Sacred Heart Network, which includes a community of schools throughout the world. Exchanges are opportunities for students to broaden their horizon academically, socially, and culturally by sharing the life of other Sacred Heart students in other parts of the country or world. Students follow regular classes, as in their home school, and may be involved in special programs or activities. They may live as a resident student in boarding schools or with host families whose children attend the school.

Learn more about SHAEP

Additional Opportunities

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

Qualified students are permitted to enroll in certain Princeton University courses. Students must be recommended by the department chair and consult the director of college counseling. Any student wishing to take a Princeton University course must meet with the Head of the Upper School during course registration.

SENIOR INDEPENDENT STUDY PROJECT Third trimester

Open to grade 12.

The Senior Independent Study Program provides an opportunity for the student to explore some particular interest in depth during the third trimester. This may involve a full-time or part-time commitment, such as participating in a work-study program, serving as an intern, or researching and writing an in-depth paper. The project proposal must be submitted to the Head of the Upper School by the end of the first trimester. Proposals are reviewed by a faculty-administration committee. Upon approval of the proposal and selection of a faculty sponsor, the student is required to meet on a regular basis with her faculty sponsor and submit written progress reports. At the end of the third trimester, a report and an evaluation of the project are submitted by the student and her advisor, and the student may make a presentation to the entire Upper School. Independent projects will be graded as pass/fail.

INDEPENDENT STEM RESEARCH PROJECT Trimester course

Open to grades 11 – 12. Prerequisite: Admission in the STEM Endorsement
One credit

This trimester course is all yours! You do the research and plan and design the experiment. You will present your findings to a panel of educators and students at the end of the term. Project development, supervision, and input from your instructors/mentors will be provided. For acceptance into this course, students will need to submit a proposal for their independent work. The project proposal will consist of learning objectives, problem(s) to be investigated, activities to meet objectives, and a statement that defines the output. The proposal is due to the STEM Endorsement Coordinator.