Academics & Curriculum

Overview

The academic program at the Upper School is purposefully designed to both prepare our students for success in college and to inspire a genuine interest and love of learning. It is the goal of our academic program to bring these aspects of our mission together in the daily lives and daily learning of our students. Furthermore, it is our hope to integrate learning opportunities and field trips as well as community service experiences that promote responsible citizenship and participation by our students in their communities.

We offer a rigorous curriculum in English, Math, Spanish, Social Studies, and Science. Furthermore, we offer students courses in Physical Education, Fine Art, Performing Arts/Music, and Computer Science as well as several electives, including Advanced Placement (AP) classes, classes at local colleges and universities, and the chance to pursue individual projects through our Senior Seminar program. All of these foundational elements prepare students to be successful in college and beyond.

Our academic program also recognizes that students possess a variety of learning styles, process information at different rates, and desire to pursue different interests. While the school addresses the needs of struggling students in a variety of ways, it also focuses on ensuring that all students are challenged to reach their fullest potential. Best practices such as differentiating instruction, leveling of courses (particularly in Spanish and in Math) and student choice provide students with opportunities to define and pursue their own interests, to learn material beyond the requirements of the curriculum, and to advance in subjects in which they are particularly talented.

Student Choice

As early as tenth grade, students begin to make choices when selecting their courses, and in every grade, within the courses students take, teachers allow for choice as students complete projects and other written assignments. A combination of papers and projects involving the use of the school building as the basis for completing a series of calculations, to re-enacting the French Revolution, to choosing a current event to write a science class report are all used to engage students in their learning.

Exhibition Night

On a grander scale, students in each grade work on one larger project each year to be shown at a Grade-Level Exhibition Night to which parents and community members are invited. At all grades, students have many choices to make regarding the focus of their project culminating in the choice as a senior to engage in a year-long multi-faceted, individually-designed research project—the Senior Project.

Each project presented at an Exhibition Night is evaluated by the faculty as well as outside judges. Judges include subject-matter experts, Trustees of the Board, and select community members. Students are evaluated according to a rubric which incorporates content measures as well as presentation skills.

College Readiness

Through both the solid foundation we require all students to obtain and the options to pursue individual interests within those requirements, our students experience a balance in education that mirrors that of a college. By the time students graduate from Prospect Hill Academy, they are not only ready for the challenges of college but have clear academic interests and passions because they have been allowed to explore on their own already.

Graduation Requirements

In order to receive a High School diploma:

• Student must take, and pass,
  • four years (or the equivalent, with the approval of the Upper School Director) of English, Math, and Spanish, and
  • three years of Social Studies (including one year of United States History), and Science.
• Student must pass the Math and English Language Arts sections of the MCAS exams.
• Beginning with the Class of 2010, students are also required to pass the 10th grade Science MCAS exam.
• Student must complete the Community Service Graduation Requirement.

Programming Highlights

Electives (10th – 12th Grades)

The Upper School Elective Program is designed to provide Prospect Hill Academy’s oldest students with opportunities to expand and pursue their academic interests through rigorous, year-long seminar courses. Each of the courses engages the students not only in advanced academic discourse but also in real-life applications of learning. All sophomores, juniors, and seniors are required to take one elective course per year (or the equivalent, as approved by the Upper School Director). Electives are offered in English, Computer Science, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and the Arts.

Senior Seminar

To encourage students to remain engaged and accountable throughout their final year of high school, Prospect Hill Academy provides seniors with the opportunity to propose and conduct an independent research project through the Senior Seminar course. The Senior Project is designed to be the culmination of each student’s academic experience at Prospect Hill Academy. It is a genuine opportunity for students to merge their various interests, passions, and curiosities with their academic lives at school. Similarly, the Senior Project is a vehicle through which students should demonstrate autonomy, complexity, and awareness one final time before graduation. Arguably, there is no better preparation for college and the real world.

The Senior Project assessment is based on four parts: process, product, exhibition, and reflection. All students must design a process that will help them work consistently on their projects over the course of a year. All students are required to create tangible products that are related to their overall projects. Additionally, students must exhibit their learning before a panel of judges and their grade is determined by the panel. Lastly, every Senior Seminar student is required to write a paper that thoroughly reflects on their process of completing their senior project.

EPICS Senior Seminar 2007-2008

EPICS, which stands for Engineering Projects In Community Service-learning, exposes high school students to the engineering design process by partnering with organizations in the community that have a real need and the lack of resources to meet that need. Students in this course work in integrated teams to design and complete a project that makes a difference in the lives of people in our community. Students gain hands-on experience with the following: understanding and practicing the engineering design process; developing and maintaining community partnerships; developing and practicing team-building skills; designing, organizing, and meeting project goals using contemporary project management tools.

Purdue University founded the EPICS Program in 1995 and it has since been adopted by 18 Universities. Prospect Hill Academy is one of 20 high schools across the country pioneering the EPICS High program.

Junior Journey

Junior Journey is a program integrates Spanish language instruction, cultural immersion through homestays, and community service learning for all eligible Prospect Hill Academy Juniors. Learn more [LINK TO MAIN JUNIOR JOURNEY PAGE]