VIEWPOINT SCHOOL PROFILE 2 014 - 2 015
ADMINISTRATION Robert J. Dworkoski, Ph.D.
President of the Viewpoint Educational Foundation Paul F. Rosenbaum
Interim Head of School Alan Howie
Head of Upper School
COLLEGE COUNSELING Rhody Davis
Director of College Counseling
rdavis@viewpoint.org; 818-591-6481
Stephanie Rubin
Associate Director of College Counseling; Alumni Liaison
stephanie.rubin@viewpoint.org; 818-591-6142
Rebecca Heller
Associate Director of College Counseling
rebecca.heller@viewpoint.org; 818-591-6455
Gregg Murray
Assistant Director of College Counseling
gregg.murray@viewpoint.org; 818-591-6452
Martha Yarnell
Registrar & Administrative Assistant
myarnell@viewpoint.org; 818-591-6450
Travis Kikugawa
Director of Counseling for College Bound Athletes & Director of Soccer & Tennis Operations tkikugawa@viewpoint.org; 818-591-6417
Chris Adamson
Director of Football Operations and College Counselor chris.adamson@viewpoint.org; 818-591-6553
ACCREDITATION & PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS •• California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) •• Cum Laude Society •• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) •• Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC) •• National Association of Principals of Schools for Girls •• National Association of Secondary School Principals •• A Better Chance •• Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS) •• National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) •• Western Association of College Admission Counseling (WACAC) Viewpoint is a nominating school for the Morehead-Cain Scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and for the Jefferson Scholars Foundation Scholarship at the University of Virginia. Viewpoint is the first school in the United States to sponsor The Duke of Edinburgh’s Young Americans’ Challenge Program. Viewpoint was awarded the BRAVO Award in 2005 for Excellence in Fine and Performing Arts by the L.A. County Music Center.
Viewpoint School 23620 Mulholland Highway Calabasas, CA 91302 818-591-6500 Fax: 818-591-7354 www.viewpoint.org CEEB Code: 050423
Viewpoint School was founded in the summer of 1961 by an inspired group of parents who wished to create an outstanding learning environment for their children. The founding principles of Viewpoint were simple, yet compelling: to provide an excellent college preparatory education in a wholesome and nurturing environment. This vision still defines Viewpoint School 54 years later as an independent, non-profit, coeducational college preparatory day school with an enrollment of 1,210 students in Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade and 510 students in the high school.
LOCATION AND FACILITIES
Viewpoint’s campus is on 40 acres in the City of Calabasas, near the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California. Many oak trees dot the campus, and Dry Canyon Cold Creek flows through its center. Facilities include: • The Dworkoski Family Hall, the Upper School academic building • Paul Family Athletic Center • Malcolm Family Art Gallery • Academic Hall that includes the Fletcher Family Library for the Upper and Middle Schools • Gates Academic Center for the Middle School • Modern science labs, art studios, photography labs • Carlson Family Theater, with a capacity of 406 • Ahmanson Foundation Black Box Theater • S. Mark Taper Foundation Dance Studio • Ring Family Field, Rasmussen Family Pavilion, two Olympic-sized swimming pools, batting cages, playing field for Primary and Lower Schools • Outdoor spaces for gathering, performing, and reflecting • Currently under construction are new Primary and Lower School buildings and an athletic training center adjacent to Ring Family Field.
FACULT Y AND ADMINISTRATION
Of the 86 members of the faculty and administrators who work in the Upper School as their terminal degree, 25 members hold bachelor’s degrees, 51 hold master’s degrees, nine hold doctorate degrees, and one holds a JD degree.
CURRICULUM AND ACTIVITIES
Offering a comprehensive liberal arts curriculum, Viewpoint requires students to complete a rigorous college preparatory program. In Ninth through Twelfth Grades, Viewpoint enrolls 510 students who take advantage of the School’s wide range of offerings including: • 28 Advanced Placement courses • 18 Honors courses • Opportunities in the performing arts, music, dance, filmmaking, and computer science • 34 interscholastic athletic teams • 50+ clubs and organizations • International travel programs in five countries • The Duke of Edinburgh’s Young Americans’ Challenge • Independent Senior Project • Viewpoint Scholars Program • Global Scholars Program • Global Studies curriculum • CORE (Community Outreach for Everyone) • The Shakespeare Project
VIEWPOINT SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT
Viewpoint School is a welcoming, vibrant, and collaborative community that offers a challenging and enriched college preparatory education in a nurturing environment for students in Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade. The School embraces students and families from diverse cultures of the world and teaches the history and wisdom of these traditions. Viewpoint inspires a love of learning and develops those qualities which provide strength and direction for a lifetime. The School promotes among its students respect, integrity, responsibility, and optimism. The School celebrates its love of country by commemorating our nation’s holidays and honoring its finest traditions. Viewpoint affirms in its assemblies and programs the ethical principles inherent in all religions. Viewpoint’s students learn the importance of service to others and to the greater community with the expectation that this introduction becomes a lifelong commitment. Viewpoint recognizes the uniqueness of each child and is committed to the preservation and development of that individuality.
UPPER SCHOOL CURRICULUM 2 014 - 2 015
ART
Additional English Electives:
Honors & AP Courses
• Art I− IV • Ceramics I−IV • Sculpture I−IV • Photography I−IV • Advanced Art I & II • Advanced Ceramics • Advanced Photography • Advanced Sculpture
• The Patriot - Upper School Newspaper • Journalism: Theory & Practice I, II • Creative Writing
• Geometry Honors • Algebra II/Trigonometry Honors • Math Analysis/Calculus Honors • AP Calculus AB, BC • AP Statistics • Advanced Topics in Calculus Honors • Linear Algebra Honors
AP Courses
• AP Art History • AP Studio Art: Drawing • AP Studio Art: 2D Design • AP Studio Art: 3D Design
COMPUTER SCIENCE • Ninth Grade Technology • Computer Science • Intermediate Programming • Computer Generated Imagery I, II • Programming for Video Games • Robotics Honors & AP Courses
• Artificial Intelligence Honors • AP Computer Science A
ENGLISH • English I, II • American Language & Literature Twelfth Grade Literature Seminars:
• Contemporary Short Fiction • Environmental Literature • Technologies of Power • World Literature Honors & AP Courses
• English I Honors • English II Honors • AP English Language & Composition • AP English Literature & Composition • World Literature Honors
FILM & VIDEO • Filmmaking I - III • Filmmaking IV-Advanced
WORLD LANGUAGES • Chinese I - IV • French I - IV • Cultural Themes in French Cinema • Latin I - V • Spanish I - IV • Hispanic Culture & Conversation • Cultural Themes in Spanish Cinema Honors & AP Courses
• Chinese V Honors • AP Chinese Language & Culture • French III Honors • AP French Language • The Supernatural in French Literature Honors • Latin Literature Honors (alternate years) • AP Latin (alternate years) • Spanish III Honors • Spanish IV Honors • AP Spanish Language • AP Spanish Literature
MATHEMATICS • Algebra I • Geometry • Algebra II • Trigonometry and Topics in Mathematics • Pre-Calculus • Statistics & Probability • Statistical Reasoning • Calculus
MUSIC • String Orchestra • Advanced String Orchestra • Jazz Ensemble • Wind Ensemble • Advanced Wind Ensemble • Chorus • Advanced Chorus • Vocal Jazz Ensemble • Contemporary Vocal Ensemble • Viewpoint Voices • Music Theory & Composition I • Music Theory & Composition II AP Courses
• AP Music Theory
SCIENCE
Honors & AP Courses:
• Biology Honors • Chemistry Honors • Physics Honors • AP Biology • AP Chemistry • AP Environmental Science • AP Physics 1
CURRICULUM NOTES
SOCIAL STUDIES • Ancient & Medieval History • Modern European History • U.S. History • Psychology • U.S. Government & Politics • Economics • Global Economics • Humanities • International Relations • Mock Trial • World Archaeology Honors & AP Courses
• AP European History • AP U.S. History • AP Psychology • AP Comparative Government & Politics • AP World History • AP Art History
GLOBAL CORE ELECTIVES
• Biology • Chemistry • Physics • Anatomy & Physiology • Behavioral Neuroscience • Biotechnology • Environmental Science • Microscopy & Biological Imaging • Nutrition • Oceanography • Science Projects
Enrollment in all Honors/AP courses is by department approval. • World Literature Honors—Highest-level senior English course comparable to AP English Literature, focusing on world literature and culminating in a research paper. • Advanced Topics in Calculus Honors—Post-AP Calculus BC course covering multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations. • Filmmaking IV—Advanced course in which students make an original short film, requiring in-depth knowledge of professional film equipment. • Behavioral Neuroscience—New lab course exploring the anatomy, physiology, language, and methods of neuroscience. • Robotics—A course and club focused on the modeling, simulation, design, and construction of autonomous robotic systems. Group hosts a tournament at Viewpoint and competes internationally.
• AP Physics 2 • AP Physics C (Mech.), C (E&M)
• AP World History • AP Comparative Government & Politics • AP Art History • International Relations • Global Economics • World Archaeology
THEATER ARTS • Theater Workshop I, II • Musical Theater I, II • Directing I, II • Advanced Theater Production I, II • Advanced Musical Theater Production I, II • Modern Dance/Jazz I−IV • Classical Ballet I−IV • Tap I−IV • Choreography I, II • Conservatory of Dance • Public Speaking • Global Dance Genres
UNIQUE FEATURES OF THE CURRICULUM • Global Studies Institute—Designed to promote the study of global issues and world languages. Global Scholars take a year of Global Core electives, engage in a Global Study Experience, and take four-years of the same World Language. • Viewpoint Scholars and Independent Study Program—For students who would like to engage in a self-directed exploration or research on a specific topic. Requires administrative approval and faculty mentorship.
JUNIOR YEAR GRADES C L A S S O F 2 015 111 students are currently in the Class of 2015. A English & English Seminars AP English Language Math Math / AP & Honors Science & Science Seminars Science / AP & Honors Social Studies Social Studies / AP & Honors World Language World Language / AP & Honors
A- B+ B B- C+ C C- > Total 22 9 8 2 1 0 0 0 42 32 19 17 7 1 1 0 0 77 20 18 9 13 5 1 1 0 67 11 13 10 7 1 1 1 0 44 26 10 14 9 2 1 0 0 62 29 22 16 4 6 2 0 0 79 13 14 19 11 1 0 0 0 58 7 18 10 16 2 3 0 0 56 18 19 15 10 6 1 1 0 70 16 13 9 3 1 0 0 0 42
NATIONAL MERIT AND ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAMS
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM
In the last two years the following number of graduates earned recognition:
Viewpoint offers 28 AP courses. Students enrolled in AP courses are expected to take the AP exam in May.
• Finalists: 6
• Commended Students: 26
STANDARDIZED TESTING Class of 2014 Class of 2015 Scores through Twelfth grade Eleventh grade SAT # Testing: 87 # Testing: 81 SAT Mid 50% 600-710 CR 570-690 CR 590-710 M 570-690 M 610-720 WR 600-710 WR SAT Mean 1954 1925 ACT # Testing: 64 # Testing: 36 ACT Mid 50% Composite 26-31 28-32 ACT Mean 28.1 29.9
SAT SUBJECT TESTS
Subject Tests with 5 or more testers Subject For Classes 2014 & 2015 Biology – Molecular Chemistry English Literature French Math Level I Math Level II Physics Spanish U.S. History
Mid-50% Range Mean # Testing 600-670 633 7 630-720 684 27 580-690 635 81 540-630 608 5 620-680 654 10 610-740 671 85 630-710 667 28 570-640 600 10 650-740 695 107
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Students are required to enroll in five academic classes per semester in Ninth and Tenth Grades, and a minimum of four academic classes and one elective each semester in Eleventh and Twelfth Grades. Second semester seniors may pursue an Independent Senior Project. The Arts – 2 sequential semesters in English – 4 years the same discipline Mathematics – 3 years Physical Education – 8 trimesters Social Studies – 3 1/2 years including Community Service – 45 hours 1 semester of Global Core Electives Computer Science – Ninth Grade Science – 3 years including Technology or Computer Science 9 2 years of laboratory science World Language – 3 years of one language in Upper School or 2 years each of 2 languages
At Viewpoint School in May 2014: • 241 students sat for 579 exams • 67% earned scores of 4 or 5 • 88% earned scores of 3 or above • 33% earned scores of 5 AP Exams # Testing Scores of 3 and Above Art History 11 91% Biology 17 94% Calculus AB 19 84% Calculus BC 20 100% Chemistry 21 67% Chinese 9 89% Comparative Gov’t & Politics 36 94% Computer Science 10 80% English Language 77 96% English Literature 54 98% Environmental Science 40 73% European History 25 100% French Language 9 100% Physics C (E & M) 14 100% Physics C (Mech) 23 100% Psychology 50 98% Spanish Language 29 100% Spanish Literature 2 100% Statistics 26 77% Studio Art 3D Design 20 60% U.S. History 57 100% World History 6 67%
AP Participation by Grade: • 20% of the Tenth Grade • 89% of the Eleventh Grade • 96% of the Twelfth Grade
GRADING SYSTEM
From the May 2013 and 2014 testings, Viewpoint School recognized: • 11 AP National Scholars • 110 AP Scholars with Distinction • 47 AP Scholars with Honor • 66 AP Scholars
• Viewpoint School does not rank. • Viewpoint reports both weighted and unweighted GPAs for work completed at Viewpoint only. • One point is added to the cumulative weighted GPA for each Honors and AP course. • Arts courses are included in GPA calculations.
COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES ADMITTING VIEWPOINT’S GRADUATES 2011- 2 014
Institutions in blue type indicate one or more matriculates from the Class of 2014.
American Jewish University American University Amherst College Arizona State University Art Center College of Design Babson College Bard College Barnard College Bates College Baylor University Belmont University Beloit College Bennington College Bentley University Berklee College of Music Binghamton University Boise State University Boston College Boston University Bowdoin College Bradley University Brandeis University Brigham Young University Brigham Young University, Idaho Brown University Bryn Mawr College Bucknell University Butler University California College of the Arts (San Francisco) California Institute of Technology California Institute of the Arts California Lutheran University California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo California State Polytechnic University, Pomona California State University, Channel Islands California State University, Chico California State University, Dominguez Hills California State University, Fresno California State University, Fullerton California State University, Long Beach California State University, Los Angeles California State University, Monterey Bay California State University, Northridge Carleton College Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University Chapman University Claremont McKenna College Clemson University Colby College Colgate University College of Charleston College of William and Mary Colorado College Colorado School of Mines Colorado State University Columbia College Chicago Columbia University Connecticut College Cornell University Cornish College of the Arts Dartmouth College Denison University DePaul University DePauw University Dickinson College Dominican University of California Drexel University
Duke University Eckerd College Elon University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - FL Emerson College Emory University Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts Florida Institute of Technology Florida State University Fordham University Franklin and Marshall College George Mason University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Gettysburg College Gonzaga University Goucher College Grinnell College Hamilton College - NY Hampshire College Harvard University Harvey Mudd College Haverford College Hawaii Pacific University Hofstra University Holy Names University Humboldt State University Hunter College of the CUNY Indiana University at Bloomington Ithaca College James Madison University Johns Hopkins University Kansas State University Kenyon College King’s College London Knox College Lafayette College Lake Forest College Lehigh University Lewis & Clark College Lindenwood University - Belleville Campus Linfield College Loyola Marymount University Macalester College Manhattanville College Marist College Maryland Institute College of Art Marymount California University Marymount Manhattan College Marymount University Massachusetts Institute of Technology McDaniel College McGill University Menlo College Miami University, Oxford Middlebury College Moorpark College Morehouse College Mount Holyoke College New York University Northeastern University Northern Arizona University Northwestern University Oberlin College Oberlin Conservatory of Music Occidental College Oregon State University Otis College of Art and Design Pace University, New York City Parsons The New School for Design Pennsylvania State University, University Park Pepperdine University Pierce College
Pitzer College Pomona College Pratt Institute Princeton University Principia College Providence College Purdue University Quinnipiac University Reed College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhode Island School of Design Rhodes College Rice University Rider University Ringling College of Art and Design Roanoke College Rochester Institute of Technology Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey at New Brunswick Saint Mary’s College Saint Mary’s College of California Salve Regina University San Diego State University San Francisco Art Institute San Francisco State University San Jose State University Santa Barbara City College Santa Clara University Santa Monica College Sarah Lawrence College Savannah College of Art and Design School of the Art Institute of Chicago School of the Museum of Fine Arts School of Visual Arts Scripps College Seattle University Skidmore College Smith College Sonoma State University Southern Connecticut State University Southern Methodist University Southern Oregon University Southwestern University St. John’s College St. John’s University - Queens Campus Stanford University Stetson University Suffolk University Swarthmore College Syracuse University Texas A&M University Texas Christian University The American University of Paris The Catholic University of America The College of New Jersey The College of Wooster The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art The Evergreen State College The George Washington University The Ohio State University The University of Alabama The University of Arizona The University of Georgia The University of Iowa The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill The University of Tampa The University of Texas, Austin Trinity College Trinity University Tufts University Tulane University Union College University of British Columbia
University of California at Berkeley University of California at Davis University of California at Irvine University of California at Los Angeles University of California at Merced University of California at Riverside University of California at San Diego University of California at Santa Barbara University of California at Santa Cruz University of Chicago University of Colorado at Boulder University of Colorado at Colorado Springs University of Connecticut University of Delaware University of Denver University of Edinburgh University of Florida University of Hawaii at Manoa University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign University of Kansas University of Kentucky University of La Verne University of Maryland, College Park University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Miami University of Michigan University of Minnesota, Twin Cities University of Mississippi University of Missouri Columbia University of Nevada, Las Vegas University of New Hampshire University of Notre Dame University of Oregon University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh University of Portland University of Puget Sound University of Redlands University of Rhode Island University of Richmond University of Rochester University of San Diego University of San Francisco University of South Carolina University of Southern California University of St. Andrews University of the Pacific University of Tulsa University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Washington University of Wisconsin, Madison University of Wyoming University of York Ursinus College Vanderbilt University Vassar College Villanova University Virginia Commonwealth University Wake Forest University Washington and Lee University Washington College Washington State University Washington University in St. Louis Wellesley College Wesleyan University Westmont College Wheaton College MA Whitman College Whittier College Willamette University Williams College Wittenberg University Yale University