What makes our Upper School unique?
• Grade-level deans and small group advisors who follow students throughout their time in the Upper School, serving as liaisons between students, teachers and parents
• 26 Advanced Placement courses, 10 Honors courses and five post-AP Advanced Topics courses across all disciplines
• Multiple electives offered in every department, allowing students to tailor their schedule to meet their academic interests; no two senior schedules are the same
• Comprehensive college counseling program with individual family meetings beginning in ninth grade; dedicated counselors to help students find the best fit for them personally, academically and financially
• Exposure to more than 115 colleges and universities each year through campus and admission officer visits to our campus
• Flexibility that allows students to engage in academics, athletics and performing arts at the same times of the year, without having to miss out on one for the other
• Robust student experience with dozens of clubs and organizations, social events and celebrations throughout the school year
• Opportunities for advanced study through innovative Public Health, Engineering and Humanities concentrations
• Student-led Honor Council and deep schoolwide commitment to the four pillars of the Honor Code: truth, respect of property, academic honesty and defending the honor code
“Walker pairs high academic expectations with a caring community to support students in meeting those expectations. Our students develop leadership skills through participating in our broad range of programs and are able to find their voice by actively engaging in class discussions. Walker students are well-rounded and have the ability to dive into specific areas of academic interest while building skills across the board.”
Arjona,
Upper School is a time of growth and independence. Instilled with a love of learning and a strong sense of self, students have the opportunity to explore their interests and pursue their academic goals in order to lay the groundwork for future success.
At Walker, we believe in the infinite worth and dignity of the individual. We prepare students for college by creating critical thinkers, speakers and writers who are ready to thrive in a changing world. Walker’s unique college preparatory curriculum and high level of academic expectation, combined with the support of its accomplished faculty and their close relationships with students, provide students with the freedom to personalize their academic experience and meet their individual goals. By senior year, no two student schedules are the same.
We believe that students should have a mastery of a broad range of subjects with a focus on learning over competition, as well as the chance to explore multiple interests and try new activities. Our teachers go above and beyond, providing opportunities and guidance as students push for independence. Students are known by a number of adults and faculty who serve as trusted advisors and resources throughout their time in the Upper School.
English
Our English Department focuses on developing students as critical and independent thinkers, readers and writers. Students build and hone skills to make arguments through robust student-led discussion and leave our Upper School well-equipped to write at the college level. Upper School English courses focus on writing across multiple genres. Students develop analytical and reading skills through the study of a wide variety of texts that embrace a diversity of perspectives and experiences across the globe. At Walker, we create lifelong readers with a deep sense of curiosity and empathy.
Humanities Concentration
Upper School students can dive deeper into the humanities with our Humanities Concentration. These innovative courses blend project-based learning with local service. Students with a proclivity for any combination of literature, history, social science, languages, performance or visual arts can find a common language of compassionate integrity and explore the impact of humanities on individuals and the community. Students who complete both courses with a capstone project will be awarded a special distinction in the humanities on their transcript.
Public Health and Engineering Concentrations
Students may apply to participate in the Public Health or Engineering concentration, which includes a Guided Scientific Research course during senior year. These advanced courses provide students with an authentic hands-on research experience in an intimate setting with intense mentorship and regular instructor feedback. Students have the unique opportunity to intern with the Centers for Disease Control and local universities and engineering firms and are invited to submit their research for peer review and publication in a variety of scientific competitions and journals.
Math
Upper School students practice and develop logical thinking and problem-solving skills. We strive to meet each student where they are in their level of understanding, helping them to build skill and confidence in the subject matter by reading about, writing about and talking about mathematics. We encourage our students to take full advantage of the wide range of courses available to them – which reach as far as AP Calculus, AP Statistics, Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra and beyond – crafting a path of study that will challenge them as well as help them reach their individual goals.
Science
All Upper School students are required to have Biology, Chemistry and Physics to graduate, but these courses are just the beginning! In addition to our many honors and AP science courses, students have the opportunity to explore their interests through a large pool of year-long and semester-long electives, including Evolutionary Medicine, Forensics, Genetics, Engineering, Marine Biology, Environmental Science, Epidemiology and more. Students in all Upper School science courses perform hands-on advanced experiments using the same biotech tools and equipment used in college labs.
History and Social Sciences
Understanding the past is fundamental to understanding the present. Our students learn how to think critically and share their voice while also listening to others. Our teachers understand the significance of bringing history to everyone. In this department, we offer nine different AP courses and a number of electives based on student interest ranging inform Civil Rights and Abnormal Psychology to U.S. Military Interventions: 1980 to Present.
World Languages
In Upper School world language classes, students not only learn how to speak and write in another language, they also have the opportunity to explore cultures outside of their own to enrich understanding of themselves and others. Our small class sizes help students develop and master their communication skills, allowing teachers to engage in meaningful language exchange with each student. Students have the opportunity to study French, Latin and Spanish with honors and AP courses offered in all three. We also offer opportunities for students to travel abroad including student exchange programs through both French and Spanish.
Fine Arts
The Upper School fine arts curriculum includes a variety of courses in theatre, music and visual arts designed to give students the opportunity to practice their creativity and explore the techniques and skills of each discipline. Students have performance opportunities in each division and showcase their artwork in galleries throughout the campus. Upper School students can dig deeper into the arts with special electives, such as Advanced Dance in Choreography, Stagecraft, Directing, Music Theory and Public Speaking. Our robust Music Department includes an award-winning Concert Band, Jazz Band, Pep Band, Pit Orchestra, Orchestra and Show Choir that perform several concerts throughout the year both on and off campus. Our theatre students perform in both large-scale musicals in our auditorium and intimately staged plays in our studio theater multiple times each year.
Technology
Our Upper School technology curriculum allows students to explore areas of robotics, computer science, applied programming, engineering, cyber security, artificial intelligence and more. Students also have multimedia courses including Digital Media, Graphic Design, Film & Video and AutoCAD. Upper School robotics students compete in various competitions throughout the year. They have the opportunity to work with students abroad by participating in and leading virtual classes about programming, building and the engineering design process.
At Walker, we believe in the infinite worth and dignity of the individual, and students are encouraged to develop a perspective that embraces diversity and global awareness.