Academics

AT EVERY LEVEL, WE CELEBRATE INTELLECT AND REVEL IN INQUIRY

Our renowned academic program is fueled by educators who know and believe in their students’ capabilities.

Core subjects balance proven best practices with innovation, challenge with curiosity, and reach with resiliency. With unrivaled learning spaces, growth-promoting opportunities, and unyielding support, our expectations are great, and our love of learning is even greater.

Learning needs change over time: it’s common practice to regularly evaluate what you teach (curriculum), how you teach (instructional practices), and how you measure student progress (assessment). As a TK-12 school, we have the luxury of establishing our foundation in Lower School and building on it. We will always seek out opportunities to improve our teaching and learning practices at all grade levels. We want to ensure that our curriculum is vertically aligned and that students are prepared to meet the challenges of each grade level and from one division to the next. Dr. Sonja L. Taylor
Associate Head of School

Dynamic TK-12 Curriculum

Each year of a Latin education comprises foundational and innovative concepts that are essential to students’ ongoing growth and success. As subject matter advances in complexity, teachers support their students in developing deep understanding, mastery of skills, and the ability to dynamically connect learning from one year and one subject to the next.

From TK through 12th grade, this is an academic program that is well-rounded, purposeful, and, most of all, exciting.

Deeply Committed Faculty

From TK through senior year, teachers and coaches celebrate milestones and expand limits. Continual professional development ensures faculty are able to align with the best pedagogical practices and educational approaches. Teachers become mentors who collaborate and curate engaging lesson plans and experiential opportunities.

Every student-faculty conversation lifts students and cultivates their preparation — for college and life.

Optimal Schedule and Student Experience

Classes are on a “waterfall” schedule

Our students have a full range of biological clocks: some are more intellectually engaged in the morning, others later in the day. When a class meets at the same time every day, there can be a mismatch between subject and schedule. For better balance, Latin classes now rotate through the periods of the day. Also supporting the focus and the well-being of students: fewer classes each day, along with more short breaks built into the day, so students can reset between subjects.

Upper School and Middle School schedules are synchronized

This allows more opportunities for the two divisions to share resources, and in some cases, classes. It also allows the entire Upper School to have lunch together, building fellowship among students.

Standard class time is 50 minutes

This growth gives our faculty more opportunities to engage with students, awakening their curiosity and strengthening their intellectual skills.

Extended-length classes allow for deeper dives

Each subject regularly has an extended-length class block. While this is especially useful for science classes doing lab work, every subject benefits from opportunities for students to immerse themselves more deeply in projects.

Advisory time is prioritized

The schedule includes regular advisory sessions with a structured curriculum, one of the best things we can do for student wellness. Giving our students essential life skills not only safeguards their physical and mental health, it allows them to achieve at the highest level.

Class time is protected

To minimize disruptions to regular classroom time, community meetings and special assemblies have a specifically designated slot on the schedule.

WHERE CURIOSITY MEETS PURPOSE

At Latin, curiosity leads, creativity thrives, and every student achieves excellence that fulfills them. From spelling their first words through writing compelling essays, our intentional academic program empowers students to think deeply, lead boldly, and pursue learning with purpose.