Every girl has a combination of talents, skills, and interests that makes her who she is. At Agnes Irwin, our curricular and co-curricular experiences tap into each girl’s unique traits, complementing her education and uncovering her passions to strengthen her sense of self, confidence, and engagement with her peers and the school. What begins as a casual 9th grade interest can bloom into a full-blown leadership role by her senior year — and even a career path she’ll be passionate about for years to come.
GET TO KNOW
The Agnes Irwin School Core Values
Our Core Values are the essence of our community and the code by which we live — the principles upon which we make our decisions. They are the heart and soul of The Agnes Irwin School.
LEAD WITH CHARACTER
We are courageous leaders who model empathy and compassion. We embody honesty, kindness, and personal integrity in all that we say and do.
FOSTER TRUST AND COMMUNITY
We build trust through openness and understanding fostering supportive relationships, deep connections, safe risk-taking, and the space to be our best selves.
STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE
We encourage and support each other to tenaciously reach our fullest potential as we demonstrate resilience and champion greatness in all our pursuits.
NURTURE PASSIONS AND WELLBEING
We nurture a love of learning and academic success by cultivating individual passions and the pursuit of our own unique path, supporting the whole person in wellness and wellbeing.
RESPECT AND CELEBRATE ALL
We treat all with dignity and respect, welcoming differences in backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. We foster an inclusive environment where everyone is valued, contributions are celebrated, and community is cherished.
JOY PRINCE began her career as an upper school French teacher at Charlotte Country Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina, then transitioned to college admission at Agnes Scott College, near Atlanta, Georgia, where, during her tenure she traveled extensively across the Eastern seaboard meeting with high school students and learning about their academics, interests and hopes and dreams for college. She became adept at reading admission applications and transferred those skills to a new role as a college counselor at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal. There, she also served as 11th grade dean and director of college counseling. She brought her breadth of college counseling experience to The Weber School and Atlanta Girls’ School, where she also enjoyed roles as director of extracurricular activities and interim middle school dean of student life. Her background in teaching, student life, college admission and college counseling gives her a unique perspective for understanding the developmental needs of students in their transition to high school and to college. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in French from Davidson College and her Master of Arts degree from Middlebury College.
She will be known for her
POISE PURPOSE
When she’s almost ready to make her mark on the world, Agnes Irwin’s Upper School is designed to make sure she is ready for her time in the spotlight — with the knowledge, tools and experiences she needs to lead, thrive, and excel in any endeavor she chooses.
Known for a superior
UPPER SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
9th grade
WHO AM I AS A LEARNER, COMMUNITY MEMBER AND FUTURE LEADER?
From researching energy and matter in Physics to uncovering social, political, and economic interconnectedness in Modern World History, or grappling with the intersection of technology and design in Media Arts, 9th grade students have the ability to open new doors of understanding, while strengthening their skill sets in each subject area. At the heart of her 9th grade year is the question that each student will answer: Who am as a learner, community member, and future leader?
10th grade
HOW CAN I EXPAND THE SCOPE OF MY LEARNING AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO MY COMMUNITY?
From participating in lab work in Chemistry to deep-diving into the 20th century starting with the run-up to World War II in Global History II, to cultivating a newfound love of a modern or classical language, 10th grade students have the ability to continue to discover and explore further in their chosen interests and paths. Students are encouraged to continue to probe and analyze as the AIS curriculum allows them to do so. Each student will learn how to answer: How can expand the scope of my learning and contributions to my community?
11th grade
HOW DO I REFINE MY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING TO ALLOW FOR DEEPER EXPLORATIONS OF MYSELF AS A SCHOLAR AND LEADER?
From learning about our nation in United States History (grade level or honors) in order to be an informed citizen, to selecting from a variety of math and science courses, juniors gain fuller knowledge and understanding of all subjects during their third year in Upper School. Electives such as Women in Antiquity, Computer Science III, Research in Microbiology, and Anatomy and Physiology are offered to our 11th graders, further expanding their knowledge in core subjects and allowing for deeper exploration of individual academic interests.
12th grade
HOW DO I APPLY MY LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE OF MYSELF TO ARTICULATE THE LEGACY I WILL LEAVE IN THE WORLD?
The 12th grade offers a plethora of courses which allow our students to focus their learning on subjects they enjoy or want to learn more about before they head off to college. Signature options include Linear Algebra, Statistics, Organic Chemistry, Advanced Engineering, Astrophysics, and our most popular course, Bioethics. The Department of History and Social Science dives deeper into subjects such as African and African American History, International Relations, Holocaust, and Middle Eastern History. The Humanities curriculum offers courses such as Artist as Entrepreneur, Production Direction, Sociolinguistics, and Irish Literature just to name a few. We allow our seniors to take ownership of their course of study, and explore subjects of interest in order to prepare them for future learning.
Ready to make waves. Ready to go far. Ready to be known.
HONORS CAPSTONE
A typical day
IN THE UPPER SCHOOL FOR A NINTH GRADER
Agnes Irwin follows a seven-day rotation schedule, with extracurriculars meeting before, during, and after school.
Sample 9th Grade Schedule
7:50 a.m.
8:25 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
Many of our Junior and Senior electives offer the opportunity for students to enroll in the Honors Capstone program. For this academic program, motivated, curious students have the opportunity to explore topics that may not be covered in the classroom. This independent study option is supported by a cohort of faculty who provide instruction in finding, evaluating, decoding and synthesizing scholarly literature in a variety of disciplines. Regular cohort meetings provide opportunities for peer review, feedback, and support. After students finish their formal research papers, they pivot to The Capstone Challenge, where they learn the tools and techniques of humancentered design as they work to identify stakeholders, define a problem, and connect with experts in their field to learn more about the real-world context of their academic studies. In the spring, students present their work to the community in a public exhibition of learning.
SPECIAL STUDIES PROGRAM (SSP)
ADVISORY
The Upper School advisory program is the foundation of our commitment to fostering deep relationships that provide girls the strength and confidence to realize their potential. Advisory is purposefully built into the school day to allow for consistent contact between students and their advisor.
The advisor-led conference model, introduced in 2021, formalized the opportunity for students, in collaboration with their advisors, to forge their unique path in the Upper School. Advisor-led conferences, which take place at the end of the first and third quarter, solidify the role that advisors play as the main point person for parents and, most importantly, puts the student in the driver’s seat of their learning and their engagement with the entire school community.
SENIOR ASSEMBLY
CULTIVATING TOMORROW’S Leaders
p.m. Office Hours, Fitness, Individual Teacher Meetings Physics I Honors
Assembly, Advisory, or Class Meeting Snack
Modern World History Media Arts I
Flex Time: Boards/Org/Clubs/ Pub Meetings, Fitness, Community Wellness, and Office Hours Lunch English Algebra II Honors
End of Classes, Office Hours
The Special Studies Program (SSP) at Agnes Irwin is a signature program in which students have the opportunity to learn outside of the classroom via experiential and project-based learning. If they choose an international trip, students embrace the language, traditions and customs of another culture. In the Philadelphia area, students explore a topic of interest as they build new skills alongside faculty. This carefully designed week often includes opportunities to serve the community; past topics have included: housing insecurity, women’s rights, filmmaking, studio arts, food, photography, fashion and literature.
The Senior Assembly is a capstone experience for our students, who have an opportunity to give a talk to the upper school community on a topic that is personally meaningful to them. Students work with faculty members who guide the research and writing process and coach them in public speaking. Whether they are raising awareness of a little known problem, advocating for a cause, or sharing their point of view on a globally significant issue, this independent research-based presentation is a signature experience of the AIS senior year.
PHONE FREE UPPER SCHOOL
After a successful pilot in January of 2024, the Upper School will be phone free starting in September 2024. Students who elect to bring their phones to school will place them in a designated spot, within the main office, at the beginning of the school day and will collect them at the end of the school day. Students will not have access to their phones from 8:25 a.m. - 2:50 p.m. Students may continue to use laptops during the school day and may only use iPads for academic purposes in classrooms.
lead and thrive in the world beyond
Continued leadership development is central to the work of The Center, which offers a number of programs for Upper School students. Each of these programs provide opportunities for girls to glean important lessons about transferable skills that support their growth as leaders.
All student-athletes participate in the AthLEADS seminar series, which is designed to help girls draw connections between the leadership skills they develop through participation in team sports and translate these experiences to other aspects of their future lives including college and career.
We know that mentoring supports girls in developing self-awareness, efficacy and their self- concept. AIS Allied connects Upper School students with Agnes Irwin alums around the country through monthly meetings that help to build their network and understanding of life beyond AIS. This is a powerful demonstration of what it means to live a legacy.
The Council for the Advancement of Girls is a student group committed to action, empowerment, and building awareness in the service of gender equity. Under the Center’s guidance, students create initiatives, campaigns, and engage with the community around issues that women and girls face around the world.
