The Upper School offers a strong college preparatory program that graduates students who are resourceful, independent thinkers.
The curriculum fosters an appreciation for the diversity and interconnectedness of human experience. Small class sizes allow the faculty to respond to individual needs, making it possible to help each student adjust to the school’s pace and demands.
Students are gradually given more independence and more choice and are encouraged to pursue their special talents in a variety of elective and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. It is our goal that upon graduating from St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School, students are fully prepared for a demanding college program and that knowledge acquired here will serve the individual, the school, the community, and the world.
Students are encouraged to participate in class discussions, make ethical and aesthetic judgments, think critically, and articulate their ideas by writing and speaking clearly.
Our Nine Areas of Study
Learning extends well beyond classrooms—in clubs, service work, academic competitions, global travel, and more. Our proximity to Washington, D.C., takes students out of the classroom and allows them to learn in such places as The Shakespeare Theatre, The Kennedy Center, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, and Corcoran Gallery of Art to name but a few.
Advanced Placement (AP)
When you think of AP, chances are you picture rigorous, fast-paced survey courses that cover a lot of information in a subject, assessed in one culminating exam. Enter AP Seminar and its follow-up, AP Research - two classes that also provide great challenge and preparation for college-level work, but are definitely not your father’s AP.
Rather than content, AP Sem and Research are all about skills—specifically, high-level research, writing, communication, and collaboration skills relevant to any discipline. Co-taught by a history teacher and a science teacher, the courses allow you to look at broad topics through multiple lenses and delve into those that speak to you.
Through first-semester group projects and a second-semester AP project linked to a theme, AP Seminar builds a foundation in teamwork, research, report-writing, and presentation across a variety of subject areas. Though there is room to put your own stamp on work, truly individualized, you-driven projects are the purview of AP Research. Working largely independently on a topic of your own creation, you conduct original (not secondary) research, consult with an expert advisor in the field, write an extensive research paper, and deliver a 20-minute defense. It’s the sort of capstone experience usually reserved for seniors in college, not high school.
The AP awards “certificates” to those who achieve success on the varied assessments of both courses, and “diplomas” to those with high scores on four additional APs. But the real reward goes much deeper. Mastering a blend of independent inquiry and collaboration, analysis, and synthesis is the stuff of real college work and of real-world work, too.
The College Board has awarded St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes school with Platinum recognition on the AP School Honor Roll. The AP School Honor Roll is earned based on qualifying criteria anchored in research-based relationships between AP and college outcomes.
- College Culture: 91% of students in the SSSAS graduating class took an AP exam at any point before graduating high school.
- College Credit: 79% of students scored 3+ on an AP Exam.
- College Optimization: 30% of students who took 5 or more AP Exams in high school, took at least 1 exam in their 10th grade year.
Signature Programs
Here, our signature programs provide students with an opportunity for deeper study and exploration in specific academic areas. Students who complete the requirements for a Certificate are recognized through notation on the final academic transcript as well as in the program at Commencement.
The Fine Arts Certificate Program aims to recognize and celebrate the achievements of Upper School students who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and talent in the arts. A Fine Arts Certificate is earned through completion of coursework, sustained involvement in arts leadership and engagement and completion of an independent arts-related capstone project.
The STEM Certificate Program supports students with a deep interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields. A STEM Certificate is earned through completion of coursework, application of STEM thinking through participation in a STEM-related activity, and through completion of an independent STEM-related experience.
The purpose of the World Languages Certificate is to:
- Prepare our students to be engaged, global citizens
- Create an opportunity for students to be recognized for studying two world languages and engaging deeply with global issues
- Support and increase student engagement in the study of multiple world languages at the Upper School
- Promote and support intercultural experiences beyond the World Language classroom.
In order to earn the World Language Certificate students must study two languages at the Upper School (Chinese, Spanish, Latin, French), participate in an off-campus cultural learning experience, and finally must create and present a capstone presentation based on a global, intercultural theme of their choosing.
Students can apply at the end of their ninth grade year.
Supporting Our Students
Beginning in the summer and lasting through the ninth grade year, it is a program designed to foster connection-building between our rising 9th grade students and the cohort of new classmates.
In addition to orientation programming, team building, educational skill development, new students are carefully partnered by various adults in our community with a current Saint in order to make their transition to SSSAS both smooth and strong.
At the Upper School, our Academic Center provides support to all students, including students with mild to moderate learning needs, in order to help them become more effective learners and successful self-advocates. In the Academic Center, assistance may be provided with:
- Organization, planning, and time management
- Study and research skills
- Implementing a strategic approach to reading comprehension and writing assignments
- Assisting with setting up teacher meetings
- Monitoring anxiety related to academics
- Understanding math concepts
In addition to supporting students, our learning specialists collaborate with teachers/advisors and partner with parents in our community.
Counselors on each campus are available for consultation to all students of the school community, and are also resources for parents with concerns regarding students or school-related issues.The Chaplains are also available to all members of the school community, students and parents, as well as faculty and staff who wish to talk about ethical or spiritual issues or personal relationships. During the year a variety of mental health and wellness programs are offered for students and adults.
The Wills Library is an active and vibrant part of the Upper School, designed to foster creativity, curiosity, and competency in our students. The librarian works side by side with departments, classes, and individuals to provide instruction on effectively using and evaluating library resources and to offer current and appropriate curriculum resources. A love of reading is encouraged through student book clubs and our extensive and diverse collection of books, audiobooks and ebooks. Three collaborative study rooms provide spaces for group work, meetings, or online interviews. Students and faculty are welcome to come during their free periods, lunch, and before or after school.