WESTMINSTER Upper School
Those who love challenge grow up to lead change.
“In the Upper School, engaged and caring teachers create an environment where students are nurtured by challenge and prepared to lead with conscience.” — Cindy Trask, Head of Upper School
OUR MISSION WESTMINSTER IS A CHRISTIAN, INDEPENDENT DAY SCHOOL FOR BOYS AND GIRLS WHICH SEEKS TO DEVELOP THE WHOLE PERSON FOR COLLEGE AND FOR LIFE THROUGH EXCELLENT EDUCATION.
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Leadership Keith Evans President
Tiffany Boozer Director of Operations and Communications, US
Jim Justice Dean of Academics and Curriculum
Chanley Small Dean of Academics, US
Marjorie Mitchell Director of Enrollment Management Cindy Trask Head of Upper School
Steve Frappier Director of College Counseling Claire Strowd Director of Admissions
Nicole Justice Dean of Student Life, US Brooks Batcheller Dean of Students, US
Additional members of the Upper School Leadership Team include Grade Chairs, an Equity and Inclusion Education Coordinator, College Counselors, Learning Strategists, and Counselors.
By the Numbers faculty members
80%
of our faculty hold graduate degrees
12% 2
Upper School faculty members
average number of years in the teaching profession
17
of students receiving financial aid
1896 students
300+ 127
cities in the greater Atlanta area
37%
students of color
1306 families
26
266
new Upper School students
new students
39
79
different zip codes schoolwide
For more facts and figures, visit westminstr.co/adm_facts_us
Student Life Upper School students are challenged to integrate an evolving sense of who they are and what they value with the needs, demands, and opportunities of the world around them. Our Upper School provides students opportunities to embrace and solve these challenges with the following support: SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL • Assembly programming • Small group advisement program • Guidance curriculum • Counseling and Wellness Center with on-site team of counselors • Parent education • Equity and inclusion programming • Affinity groups
PHYSICAL • Health curriculum • Physical education • Nutritionally balanced meal choices • Certified athletic trainers and staff • Concussion awareness, guidelines, and support team • On-site team of registered nurses and a pediatric nurse practitioner
Course Offerings Arts 31 courses, including AP Studio Art and Music Theory
Modern and Classical Languages 36 courses, including 5 APs and cultural study options
Bible and Religion Old and New Testament Bible and Social Ethics
Mathematics 15 courses, including 4 APs and Multivariable Calculus
Computer Science 5 courses, including 2 APs
Physical and Life Sciences 17 courses, including 5 APs, Engineering, and Neuropsychology
English 4 courses, including AP Literature and AP Language for all students History 10 courses, including AP European and US History
Physical Education Fitness for Life, Personal Fitness, and Sports Performance Special Programs Independent Study, Global Online Academy, and more
JANTERM offers students three weeks of interdisciplinary, collaborative, project-based study in an area of special interest to them. Students fully immerse themselves in their choice of more than 42 courses offered on and off campus. For a full list of courses, visit westminstr.co/adm_janterm_us.
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For more information, visit westminstr.co/adm_academics_us
Upper School Weekly Schedule Our seven-day rotating schedule allows students to engage in intensive study, fieldwork, and other enhanced learning opportunities. Advisors meet with students twice a week. Faculty office hours provide ample time to connect with teachers to review challenging topics. Monday
Office Hours 8:00-8:30
Class 8:30-9:40
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
PLC 7:45-8:30
Faculty & Dept. Meetings 8:00-9:00
PLC 7:45-8:30
Class 8:30-9:40
Class 8:30-9:40
Friday
Office Hours 8:00-8:30
Class 8:30-9:40
Class 9:00-10:10 Break: 9:40-9:50
Break: 9:40-9:50 Break: 10:10-10:25
Class 9:50-11:00
Class 9:50-11:00 Class 10:25-11:35
Class & Lunch* 11:05-1:10
Assembly 9:40-10:25
Class 10:25-11:35
Class & Lunch* 11:05-1:10
Advisement 9:40-10:05
Class 10:05-11:15
Class & Lunch* 11:20-1:20 Class & Lunch* 11:40-1:45
Class & Lunch* 11:40-1:45
9/10 Perf. Arts 11/12 Advisement 1:10-1:50
9/10 Advisement 11/12 Perf. Arts 1:10-1:50
Break: 1:45-1:55
Break: 1:45-1:55
Class 1:55-3:00
Class 1:55-3:00
Class 1:55-3:00
Class 1:55-3:00
Office Hours 3:00-3:30
Office Hours 3:00-3:30
Office Hours 3:00-3:30
Office Hours 3:00-3:30
Class 1:25-2:30
* Each day, students have one 65-minute class, two 70-minute classes, and one 90-minute class. A 35-minute lunch break is scheduled during the 90-minute class. Each course meets four times during every seven-day rotation.
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Learning Beyond the Classroom GLOBAL PROGRAMS • Camino de Santiago
• Mt. Kenya Academy Exchange
• Costa Rica Ecology and Culture
• Oxbow School (arts boarding school)
• Discovery Experiential Trips
• Running through History: A Study of England and Europe
• Experiment in International Living • Exploring the Holy Land • Governor’s Honors Program • Guatemala Service Learning Program • Maine Semester School (Chewonki)
• School Year Abroad • Sustainable Ocean Studies • Westminster-in-Argentina Exchange • Westminster-in-Strasbourg Exchange
• Marine Biology
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion We honor the unique traits and backgrounds of each member of our School and recognize cultural competency as an essential skill for meaningful and effective leadership. We foster this competency and celebrate our diverse community by consistently engaging in affinity dialogue, inclusion programs, and equity-based professional development experiences. In the Upper School, numerous student affinity groups provide space for students to examine their complex identities and discuss important issues. Students work with faculty sponsors to organize educational programming such as division-wide assemblies and cultural celebrations. Student Diversity Leaders collaborate with the Upper School Equity & Inclusion Coordinator to implement a series of Student Equity Seminars. In addition to student programming, there is a focus on examining curriculum and providing ongoing professional development opportunities for all faculty members. Parents have opportunities to connect with affinity groups and the Common Ground Parent Committee.
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College and Beyond Working with our team of five college counselors to find the best fit, students go on to attend top colleges and universities across the country and the world. Over the past six years, our graduates have matriculated to: University of Georgia
112
Dartmouth College
22
Georgia Tech
65
Duke University
22
Auburn University
35
University of Alabama
19
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
35
University of Southern California
19
Emory University
31
Texas Christian University
19
University of Texas
30
Princeton University
18
Washington University in St. Louis
30
University of Chicago
16
Cornell University
16
University of Virginia
29
University of Michigan
16
University of Pennsylvania
27
Brown University
15
Vanderbilt University
27
Columbia University
15
Wake Forest University
25
Harvard University
15
Southern Methodist University
26
Yale University
15
University of Notre Dame
23
Stanford University
11
Washington & Lee University
23
Howard University
8
Class of 2020: Test (# of Takers)
Section
Middle 50% (Median)
ACT (163)
Composite
30 - 35 (33)
SAT (117)
ERW
650 - 760 (705)
Math
680 - 790 (735)
Total
1300 - 1540 (1420)
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For more information, visit westminstr.co/adm_college_us
Leadership Opportunities Christian Life Council Discipline Council Discovery Leaders GERLS
Honor Council Service Corps Student Ambassadors
Student Diversity Leadership Council Student Government Writing Fellows
Affinity Groups AWARE (Alliance for White Anti-Racist Education) Café con Leche (Latino/ Hispanic Students) Cocoa Conversations (African-American/ Black Students)
Jewish Student Group Mooncakes (Asian American/Pacific Islander Students) Muslim Student Group
SAAG (South Asian Affinity Group) UNITED (LGBTQ+ Students)
Student Clubs Wildcats participate in a variety of clubs and activities. Below is just a small sample of clubs offered. Academic Quiz Team Active Minds Around the World Club Art Heals Astronomy Club Biology Olympiad Chinese Literature Club Circle of Women Climbing Club Coding Club Dance Corps DECA DirtCats (Gardening) Drama Club Drew Charter Health Outreach Club Dynamic Chess Club
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Entrepreneur Club Environmental Campus Organization Fashion Club Film Diversity and Appreciation Fly Fishing and River Ecology French Club GamerCats Gender Equality and Relations (GEAR) Girls Who Code HOSA iClub Junior Classical League Math and Science Team
Mock Trial Mu Alpha Theta Pre-Med Club Science Bowl Team Science Olympiad Sketchbook Club Spectrum Spirit Club UNICEF Water Polo Club WCAT Westminster Classical Society Wildcats for Change WiredCats (Robotics) Young Conservatives Club Zen Cats
For more information, visit westminstr.co/adm_clubs_us
The Arts PERFORMING ARTS General Music AP Music Theory Band Symphonic Wind Ensemble Jazz | Pep Orchestra Symphony | Chamber | Pit Choral Music Ninth & Tenth Chorus Eleventh & Twelfth Chorale Ensemble Men’s & Women’s A Cappella Theatre Arts Acting Filmmaking Producing & Directing Technical Crew Westminster Players
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VISUAL ARTS AP Studio Art Ceramics Drawing & Painting Graphic Design Open Studio Photography/Digital Portfolio Sculpture ORATORICAL ARTS Public Speaking Model United Nations Debate COMMUNICATION ARTS Bi-Line Student Newspaper (Print & Online) Embryo Literary, Visual, and Musical Magazine Evolutions Creative Writing Magazine Lynx Yearbook WCAT Broadcasting Station
Athletics 68% of Upper School students participate in athletics 36% of faculty members are coaches 46 Upper School teams; 74 total teams 18 different sports 24 graduates of Westminster’s Class of 2020 signed with college athletic programs 2019 GADA Director’s Cup winner; Westminster has earned that title 18 times since 2000 (not awarded in 2020) 290 state championships 4 state championships in 2019-20 (fall and winter only) SPORTS OFFERED Baseball Basketball Cheerleading Crew Cross Country* Football*
Golf Gymnastics Lacrosse Soccer Softball Squash
Swimming & Diving* Tennis Track & Field* Volleyball Wrestling*
*non-cut sports
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For more information, visit westminstr.co/adm_athletics_us
Community Engagement Westminster’s Glenn Institute facilitates opportunities for students to authentically engage with the Atlanta community. Students learn about Atlanta’s successes and recognize opportunities to address real needs as they develop critical competencies for civic leadership. Every single Upper School student is encouraged to explore what it means to be engaged in civic life through opportunities such as building homes with Habitat for Humanity, tutoring students at local schools, and launching their own sustainable social impact initiatives with the support of our Service Corps. Immersive programming such as Philanthropy 101 helps Upper School students grow into active citizens who care about their communities and desire philanthropic connections. UPPER SCHOOL COMMUNITY PARTNERS INCLUDE: • Agape Youth & Family Center
• Global Village Project
• American Red Cross
• Latin American Association
• Atlanta Community Food Bank
• Plaza Fiesta
• Atlanta Habitat for Humanity
• Scott Elementary School
• Campbell-Stone Retirement Home
• Soccer in the Street
• Collins United Methodist Church
• Truly Living Well
• Drew Charter School
• UNICEF
• Garden Hills Elementary
• William Bremen Jewish Home
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For more information, visit westminstr.co/adm_glenn_us
Notes
Please keep these important admissions dates in mind: October 1 - Online application opens January 15 - Online application closes January 29 - Supplementary materials due February 1 - Financial Aid deadline April 3 - Decisions announced online To start the application process for the 2021-22 school year, visit: westminster.net/apply. Follow Westminster:
WESTMINSTER Love. Challenge. Lead. Change. WESTMINSTER.NET | 404-609-6202 1424 WEST PACES FERRY ROAD, NW | ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30327