Upper School Curriculum
Upper School Curriculum
Calhoun's Upper School curriculum is a strong foundation for meaningful intellectual growth. The breadth of academic opportunities—from advanced seminars to independent studies—challenges students to dig deeper, think outside the box and unlock their own potential.
Upper School students complete required courses in English, math, science social studies, world languages, the arts and physical education. From there, they can choose from a wide range of advanced electives that read more like what you would see in a college catalog than on a high school course list.
Learn more about the Upper School curriculum below, or read the full course catalog online.
Upper School Program Highlights
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Community Service
Upper School students are required to do a minimum of 60 hours of community service on an individual level, with at least 30 of those hours completed outside of school.
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English
English courses include a progressive study of vocabulary, punctuation, grammar and writing skills. Students learn to wrestle with demanding texts, with an emphasis on close reading and discussion.
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Life Skills
Upper School students round out their studies with special courses in life and study skills.
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Math
Upper Schoolers take foundational classes in algebra and geometry before pursuing advanced math electives and special courses.
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Music
Upper School students can choose from a wide variety of music classes, and work in small groups with professional music faculty.
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Physical Education
Each Calhoun student is required to complete two P.E. credits per academic year.
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Science
Upper School science courses begin with required studies in physics, chemistry and biology. From there, students dive deeper into science and STEM topics through advanced electives.
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Social Studies
Upper School students begin their exploration of social studies with required core courses in world history and U.S. history. From there, students choose from a wide range of advanced seminars in social studies.
Theater
Students have access to a wide range of theater electives in acting, directing, playwriting, tech and design.
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Visual Arts
Visual arts classes include pottery, sculpture, painting, printmaking, graphic design, filmmaking and photography.
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World Languages
Upper School students are required to take three years of a world language course in French, Mandarin or Spanish.
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![9th Grade Camping Trip]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1580828746/calhoun/htkjytnq9ox4trc0bdgx/PeerLeadershipTripbyShameenaSept2019-61.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1580828746/calhoun/htkjytnq9ox4trc0bdgx/PeerLeadershipTripbyShameenaSept2019-61.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1580828746/calhoun/htkjytnq9ox4trc0bdgx/PeerLeadershipTripbyShameenaSept2019-61.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1580828746/calhoun/htkjytnq9ox4trc0bdgx/PeerLeadershipTripbyShameenaSept2019-61.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1580828746/calhoun/htkjytnq9ox4trc0bdgx/PeerLeadershipTripbyShameenaSept2019-61.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1580828746/calhoun/htkjytnq9ox4trc0bdgx/PeerLeadershipTripbyShameenaSept2019-61.jpg","width":2200}])
![Upper School Anthropology Museum Trip]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1576011502/calhoun/lsisd8kbkijdfyiurdoc/USAnthropologyFieldTripToNMAIOct201933.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1576011502/calhoun/lsisd8kbkijdfyiurdoc/USAnthropologyFieldTripToNMAIOct201933.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1576011502/calhoun/lsisd8kbkijdfyiurdoc/USAnthropologyFieldTripToNMAIOct201933.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1576011502/calhoun/lsisd8kbkijdfyiurdoc/USAnthropologyFieldTripToNMAIOct201933.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1576011502/calhoun/lsisd8kbkijdfyiurdoc/USAnthropologyFieldTripToNMAIOct201933.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1576011502/calhoun/lsisd8kbkijdfyiurdoc/USAnthropologyFieldTripToNMAIOct201933.jpg","width":2200}])
![Student speaks during panel]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1579894191/calhoun/rce7fz7vodujchapcwgs/MSandUSStudentPanelJan202023.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1579894191/calhoun/rce7fz7vodujchapcwgs/MSandUSStudentPanelJan202023.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1579894191/calhoun/rce7fz7vodujchapcwgs/MSandUSStudentPanelJan202023.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1579894191/calhoun/rce7fz7vodujchapcwgs/MSandUSStudentPanelJan202023.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1579894191/calhoun/rce7fz7vodujchapcwgs/MSandUSStudentPanelJan202023.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1579894191/calhoun/rce7fz7vodujchapcwgs/MSandUSStudentPanelJan202023.jpg","width":2200}])
![Upper Schoolers Put Down Their Phones to Build Community]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1576612569/calhoun/x9clfshtaque1dz48r73/USDemoDayMandarinOct20194.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1576612569/calhoun/x9clfshtaque1dz48r73/USDemoDayMandarinOct20194.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1576612569/calhoun/x9clfshtaque1dz48r73/USDemoDayMandarinOct20194.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1576612569/calhoun/x9clfshtaque1dz48r73/USDemoDayMandarinOct20194.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1576612569/calhoun/x9clfshtaque1dz48r73/USDemoDayMandarinOct20194.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1576612569/calhoun/x9clfshtaque1dz48r73/USDemoDayMandarinOct20194.jpg","width":2200}])