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Academics
Upper School
Upper School
Grades 5th - 8th
An appreciation for character and scholarship inspires teaching and learning in the Upper School. The Upper School fosters a challenging and supportive environment where students discover their strengths as individuals and as partners in collaborative endeavors. With increased confidence and social awareness, students build on strong foundations to refine their skills in critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, and cosmopolitanism.
Teachers are dedicated to implementing effective classroom practices and personalizing support methods in order to bring out the best in each of their students. In turn, students are expected to take ownership of their learning and are offered more opportunities to make choices than in traditional educational environments so that they can, with adult support and encouragement, understand natural consequences in the decision-making process. Through this approach, students acquire work and organizational habits best suited for their individual learning styles and they are empowered to self-advocate at a maturity level not typically found in students of this age range.
English Language Arts
The Upper School ELA program extends the foundational literacy skills developed in Lower School by challenging students both to read and to respond to novels, poetry, and informational texts through essays and class discussions. Students engage in deep study of topics and themes for weeks at a time, which allows meaningful critical analysis and synthesis of multiple resources to be the norm. Over the course of four years, students also develop their ability to complete original research, which is showcased in their 8th Grade research project – a cross-curricular effort conducted in conjunction with the Sustainable Development Goals course.
Mathematics
The SEA mathematics program provides a remarkably rigorous course of study. After completing a curriculum based on the principles of the Singapore Math Method, which is designed to deepen conceptual understanding of mathematical concepts – students take Pre-Algebra in 6th or 7th Grade, depending on their readiness. At the completion of the Upper School math sequence, all students graduate from SEA having completed Algebra, with those students in the accelerated sequence having completed Geometry as well – a distinction true of a small minority of 8th Grade students across the country.
Science & Engineering
The science & engineering programs emphasize Upper School students engaging in course content in a hands-on, experiential manner. Through experiences like collecting water samples in Schenley Park in collaboration with the Creek Connections program, students build foundational content knowledge across the subdisciplines of science. With two dedicated laboratories, one for traditional science and one for engineering and design, students have frequent opportunities to apply their knowledge of the scientific method and design thinking.
Social Studies
In 5th and 6th Grades students complete a two-year course of study in World History, further developing their global awareness, nonfiction reading literacy skills, and geographic knowledge. In 7th and 8th Grades students return their attention to the United States in an innovative, thematically organized course. The curriculum presents students with open-ended questions like “What is American democracy and what should it be?” From there students study roughly a dozen primary sources spanning American history to inform their original answer to the question. This inquiry-based method of studying the past builds both historical knowledge and the decision-making skills required for meaningful citizenship.
World Languages
As they begin 5th Grade, students are invited to choose a four-year course of study in French or Spanish. Both language courses emphasize traditional literacy through reading, writing, speaking, and the development of cultural literacy through special projects and thematic topic explorations. In 7th and 8th Grades students take national exams to test their proficiency and earn distinctions. After completing the program, students are prepared to place in second or third level courses in secondary school.
In 7th and 8th Grade students also study Latin. Designed as a corollary to the language skills that students acquire in the ELA and modern language classrooms, the Latin course explores more deeply those linguistic elements of grammar and syntax that are common to all languages. The objective of the course is to gain foundational proficiency in translation that will prepare students for reading authors in their original Latin at the high school level; however, emphasis is also placed on derivatives and English etymology, as well as the lessons that modernity can learn by analyzing the ancient world.
St. Edmund's Academy
Guided by our Core Values and commitment to high standards, St. Edmund’s Academy provides a diverse, inclusive, and nurturing learning community where students are known, valued, and challenged to achieve their potential.
