WHAT MAKES SLS UPPER SCHOOL EXCEPTIONAL?
SLS TEACHERS GO ABOVE & BEYOND 1
Ask any current student or alumni what stands out most about SLS, and you will likely hear, “My teachers.” Your SLS teachers will know and care about you and help you become the student and person you want to be. They’ll challenge you with rigorous academics and support you every step of the way. SLS teachers go Above & Beyond, so you can too.
SLS teachers are both scholars and innovators. They master traditional academics while developing cuttingedge Advanced College-Level Curricula and pioneering courses in emerging technology, computer science, and engineering. With our unique Leading with Humanity leadership program, they will prepare you to be a confident, ethical leader and teammate.
Your teachers are part of a team ready to support you and help you find meaning and purpose in your studies. This team includes your advisor, coaches, grade-level deans, and a Well-Being and Academic Support team.
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SCHOLARS PROGRAM
ADVANCED COLLEGE-LEVEL CURRICULA
EMERGING TECH/CSE
OPEN-DOOR COLLEGE COUNSELING 2
The SLS College Counseling team is unlike any other. Their door is always open, and their big couches are filled with students who find this space and this team to be a happy haven. Our counselors start getting to know you even before you enter Upper School, so by the time you’re ready to think about college, they have a sense of who you are — your strengths, interests, and aspirations.
SLS students go to great colleges, but what matters most is that they feel more than ready wherever they go. 100% of our young alumni report feeling prepared or very wellprepared for college.* At SLS, the goal is not simply getting into a great school — it’s being prepared to thrive and contribute in college and beyond.
“I like the fact that you can walk down a hallway and go into any teacher’s office…no matter if they know you or not, they’ll always be ready to help you.” - SLS Junior
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COLLEGE COUNSELING
A TASTE OF COLLEGE COUNSELING PHILOSOPHY MATRICULATION
“I first chose SLS because the vibe is different. It’s hard to explain. It’s the feeling you get when you’re here. It’s completely different from other schools.”
- SLS Senior
IT’S THE VIBE 3
Every school has a personality you can begin to sense through its website and social media. It’s when you visit that you truly feel the school. Are people friendly to you? To each other? Do the students and teachers seem happy and energized in their classes? Can you picture yourself hanging out with friends in the café or getting a head start on homework by the library windows?
So many students refer to the “vibe” that attracts them to SLS. It’s a way of describing the indescribable — something you feel throughout the school. It’s not a specific moment, yet there is one tradition that captures that distinct SLS vibe: Blues Band. This annual event brings teachers and students together to jam, creating a joyful, uplifting experience for the entire school. Imagine little kids singing alongside the big kids, your history teacher rapping, your advisor shredding on the guitar, and even the Head of School jumping in on the act. It’s pure fun but also symbolic of who we are — we love being together, taking risks, and cheering on our friends and teachers. We work hard to give our best performances, knowing that with our caring community around us, we just might soar.
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An Exceptional Day in the Life
Head to class, where you’ll collaborate with classmates on a hands-on project like transforming an entire classroom into a gigantic, fully functioning cell.
SLS IS FOR LIFE
“When you graduate from SLS, it’s not goodbye — it’s more like ‘see you soon.’ Our alumni love coming back to the Hilltop (what we call our campus) to hang out with teachers who’ve become their friends. SLS grads stay close during and after college, sharing apartments, traveling, and even getting married — we’ve had lots of SLS weddings!”
ALUM INSTA PAGE
“I still talk to my best friends from St. Luke’s every day, and I know they will be a part of my life forever.”
- SLS Alum ‘10
Start the day with a warm welcome from Head of School Dr. Carter and Head Dog Hefty.
Immerse yourself in a foreign language. Choose from our nationally-ranked French program, Mandarin Chinese, or Spanish.
Have a free period?
Head to the Math Lab or Writing Lab to get some work done (teachers are there to answer questions) or hang in the Café with friends.
Take a break from classes to meet with a club or affinity group. There are tons to choose from, like business, STEM, sustainability, and Model UN.
Teachers offer extra help before and after school and during free periods. 9th graders also get 1:1 mentoring from a Compass Coach.
Come together in the auditorium to listen to a classmate or teacher give a Meditation — a reflection on an important experience in their life.
Head to advisory, where you’ll build relationships with peers and advisors in a fun, casual environment.
When the academic day is over, afterschool activities begin — Blues Band, theater, sports, debate, there’s something for everyone!
COMPASS PERSONALIZED COACHING
THE ARTS
Want to play with the best toys in the school? Go to Functional Sculpture, UX & UI Design, or CS&E class in the designLab.
Gather around the Harkness table in English class for a deep-dive literary conversation about the latest novel you’re reading.
Exceptional Co-curricular Activities
SLS Upper School students have a wealth of afternoon activities and athletic opportunities to choose from. These experiences aren’t just about filling out your resume — they’re integral to character formation, leadership development, resilience, and, of course, having fun. We’ve made co-curriculars a core part of the student experience by requiring participation in two seasons of activities.
OUR ALUMNI OFFER THIS ADVICE TO NEW STUDENTS: EXPLORE AS MANY PROGRAMS AS YOU CAN. YOU’LL DISCOVER NEW INTERESTS, BUILD FRIENDSHIPS, AND GROW IN WAYS YOU NEVER EXPECTED.
FALL ACTIVITIES
Art Studio
Athletic Support
Blues Band
Combat Robotics
Cross Country
Debate Team
Equestrian Club
Field Hockey
Football
Garden/Sustainability Club
Inspirica (Service Opportunity)
Middle School Support (Coach/ co-lead a Middle School activity)
Model United Nations
Photography Club
Robotics Team
Sentinel (Digital Newspaper)
Soccer
Technical Theater
Theater Production
Volleyball
Weight Room
WSLX (Radio Station)
WINTER ACTIVITIES
Art Studio
Athletic Support
Basketball Chess
Debate Team
Ice Hockey
Inspirica (Service Opportunity)
Middle School Support (Coach/ co-lead a Middle School activity)
Model United Nations
Musical Theater Production
Photography Club
Robotics Team
Rock ‘n Record
Sentinel (Digital Newspaper)
Ski Team
Squash
Technical Theater
Weight Room
WSLX (Radio Station)
SPRING ACTIVITIES
Art Studio Athletic Support
Baseball
Dance
Debate Team
Golf
Inspirica (Service Opportunity)
Lacrosse
Middle School Support (Coach/ co-lead a Middle School activity)
Model United Nations
Robotics Team
Sentinel (Digital Newspaper)
Softball
Technical Theater
Tennis
Weight Room
WSLX (Radio Station)
AN SLS PARENT DEFINES WHAT MAKES SLS EXCEPTIONAL
“Potential is the hardest thing to see bottled up in your kids. You believe in them, but maybe they don’t believe in themselves. Then, they meet that teacher who sees the spark of interest in something new, or that coach who quietly recognizes their potential and throws them into the deep end, that is the essence of the St. Luke’s experience. Through a thousand little leaps, choreographed and spontaneous, you suddenly find your child finding themselves, finding their voice, and finding purpose.”
- SLS Parent
SLS MISSION — OUR PROMISE TO FAMILIES: AN EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION THAT INSPIRES A DEEP LOVE OF LEARNING, A STRONG MORAL COMPASS, THE COMMITMENT TO SERVE, AND THE CONFIDENCE TO LEAD.
At SLS, we transform lives through a personalized, innovative education that combines academic rigor with an unparalleled commitment to kindness, community, and character. Our students thrive in a warm, supportive environment where they discover their unique strengths, learn to Lead with Humanity, and make meaningful contributions to the world. PLEASE COME VISIT SOON
St. Luke’s (SLS) is a secular day school for grades 5-12 located in New Canaan CT, serving over 30 towns in CT & NY.