Upper School

List of 3 items.

• Form III - 9th Grade

  After each department name, the number indicates how many times that class meets during the week.

  • English - 5
  • Latin I or II - 5
  • Modern Language (French I or II or Spanish I or II, Arabic I or II depending on previous experience) - 5
  • Algebra II - 5
  • Chemistry - 6
  • Introduction to Catholic Tradition & Scripture - 3
  • AP World History - 5
  • Studio Art, Music, or Drama- 2
  • Physical Education - 1 double period
  • Intramurals - 1 double period

• Form IV - 10th Grade

  After each department name, the number indicates how many times that class meets during the week.

  • English - 4
  • Latin III or II - 4
  • Modern Language (French or Spanish or Arabic*) - 5
  • Geometry and Trigonometry - 5
  • Physics - 6
  • Sacraments and Prayer - 3
  • AP US History - 5
  • Humanities - 4
  • Physical Education - 1 double period
  • Intramurals - 1 double period

  * In certain cases, and with departmental permission, Form IV students may begin a new modern language sequence. Form IV transfer students may also be placed into these classes, depending on their prior academic background.

• Forms V & VI - 11th and 12th Grades

  After each department name, the number indicates how many times that class meets during the week.
  
  English - 4 (four semesters)

  All Upper Division students must take an English course each semester. All Form V students must take an AP Language and Composition course in either the fall or spring semester to prepare for the AP Language and Composition exam in the spring of their Form V year.

   

  For the other three semesters, students may choose from a range of AP Literature and Composition classes offered on a rotating basis each semester. Recent AP Literature and Composition offerings include:

  • Moby Dick and the American Renaissance
  • Hell on Earth; Dante and His Followers
  • Literature of Witness in War Zones
  • Americans in 20th Century Wars
  • African-American Literature
  • The Bonds of American Culture
  • Great Literature of the American South
  • Voices From the Wasteland

  All of these seminars teach canonical literature and help Upper Division students prepare for the AP Literature and Composition exam, which they take in the spring of their Form VI year.

  Language

  • AP Latin - Epic Poetry: Virgil and Caesar
  • Advanced Latin Literature: Catullus, Cicero, Horace and Ovid
  • Ancient Greek I and II

  Modern Language- 4-5 (four semesters)

  FORM V

  • French III (for Form III Transfers), IV or AP
  • Spanish III (for Form III Transfers), IV or AP
  • Arabic III (for Form III Transfers) or IV

  FORM VI

  • French IV or AP
  • Spanish IV or AP
  • Arabic IV

  Mathematics - 5 (four semesters)

  • AP Calculus BC (one semester); AP BC Calculus (three semesters)
  • AP Calculus AB (two semesters); AP AB Calculus (two semesters)
  • AP Statistics (two semesters)

  Religion - 2 (two semesters)

  • Fundamentals of Christian Ethics (Req. in Form V)

  For the other three semesters, students may choose from a variety of Religion courses.

  • Science and Religion
  • World Religions in Dialogue
  • The Monastic Movement in the Church
  • Unity and Division in Christianity
  • Christian Ethics
  • Bioethics
  • Christian Spirituality
  • Philosophy of Religion

  Social Studies - 5 (three semesters recommended)

  • Two semesters American Studies required (Choose from:  AP U.S. Government & Politics, AP Economics/Macro, U.S. Constitutional Law, Native American Studies)
  • AP European History
  • AP Comparative Politics
  • AP Economics (Macro/Micro, one semester each)
  • International Relations
  • Middle Eastern Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Native American Studies
  • DC History

  Science - 5-7 (four semesters)

  • AP Biology (required in Form V)
  • AP Chemistry
  • AP Physics
  • AP Environmental Science
  • Fundamentals of Engineering (Civil and Mechanical)
  • Robotics

  Computer Education - 2 (electives)

  • Introduction to Programming: Visual Basic.NET
  • AP Computer Science

  Fine Arts: 3-5 (two semesters minimum)

  • AP Art History
  • AP Music Theory
  • Production & Theatre (Independent Study)
  • Fundamentals of Acting
  • History of Film
  • Men's Chorus
  • Studio Art

  Community Service (required each semester)

  Students in Forms V and VI are given assignments at the beginning of each school year. Service is performed on Tuesday mornings. Service hours must be completed in order for graduation requirements to be satisfied.

   

  Independent Study Project
  Students with a high level of curiosity, demonstrated achievement, and a developed interests in one or more fields (excluding science) may identify, develop, and complete an Independent Study Project with the guidance of an adult mentor. Students should consult with the Head of the Upper School, the student's Form Advisor, the project mentor, and the Chair of the relevant department(s).
  
  

  Note: Electives vary from year to year.