Upper School

In the Friends Academy English Department, students develop the ability to think clearly, read thoughtfully, communicate effectively, and listen intelligently.

Our students learn to think and re-think, write and re-write. Through individual conferences and group workshops, students develop and refine their individual voices. By formulating and defending well-honed arguments, our students deeply explore what they learn and evaluate why it matters.  Our students cultivate a variety of writing and analytical skills – literary, rhetorical, and personal – while also developing the visual literacy necessary to be savvy consumers of modern media.

The Friends Academy History department champions historical inquiry and the way historians themselves study history, forging a curriculum that is global in scope, inclusive in content and culturally responsive in practice.

At Friends Academy, students engage in the work of historians, marshalling evidence-based arguments in their written and oral work, delving into thoughtful research papers and discussions, and reflecting critically on learning experiences. Students wrestle with competing interpretations of the past, exploring primary sources from a spectrum of historical voices and developing skills in articulating their own critical conclusions.

We employ the Harkness Method, enabling students to engage with others in meaningful discussions, guided by principles of civil discourse. Students bring their diversity in thought, perspective, and experience to reflective conversations on topics that matter.

This student-centered, inquiry-based approach is anchored by dynamic and global curriculum, preparing our students for enlightened, active citizenship in the world beyond the classroom.

In the Upper School program, students become fluent in the language of Mathematics, communicating their thinking clearly and using a variety of strategies and techniques to approach problems authentically. They learn to see problems in multiple ways, and to evaluate and use many different techniques to approach problems flexibly.

Students increase their awareness of problem solving, promoting their appreciation of different applications, and providing a solid foundation for further study in mathematics. Because we focus on fluency and understanding process, math students at FA have more agency over their own journey towards understanding. 

Our Upper School Science program seeks to stimulate curiosity, promote collaboration, and inspire careful investigation. Students learn to embrace science as a deeply creative and essential discipline for their lives, knowing that as citizens and as human beings, their decisions and awareness will shape the future of our planet.

Students explore and analyze ethical issues in science and technology through experimental observation. By testing ideas and asking open-ended questions, students develop scientific explanations based on evidence. The program integrates the higher-level mathematics of applied concepts and laws. Students also hone their scientific literacy and writing through journal reflections, research notebooks, and lab reports.

Mastery of technology in the Upper School is developed through Computer Science and Digital Arts classes, and a wide array of interdisciplinary project work which incorporates research, information literacy, and digital citizenship.

In Computer Science classes students develop and deepen their understanding of computer systems and coding to hone problem-solving skills, learn about logical operations, appreciate attention to detail, and the value of iteration and learning from failure. Students apply their skills in Robotics and Engineering classes and through participation in coding and other competitions.

Our world is a global village where both communication and cultural understanding are increasingly important. The World Languages and Cultures Department helps students build proficiency in a second language – Mandarin, French, Spanish, and Latin – and to help build cultural understanding and further world language proficiency, we arrange cultural trips and exchange programs for Upper School students in Spain, France, and China.

Learning about a variety of foreign communities deepens self-awareness while promoting greater empathy and international understanding. As a Quaker school, we educate students beyond their intellects; students' moral, emotional, and social growth takes place when they move beyond the self to try to understand others.

The breadth and depth of cultural studies within Mandarin, French, and Spanish courses at Friends Academy elevates a student's linguistic proficiency. Chinese students learn about the diversity of Chinese ethnic groups; French students learn about many of the countries and territories where French is spoken; Spanish students develop a broader appreciation of global interconnectedness and cultural differentiation.

Every year, our language students receive gold medals in the National Spanish, French, and Latin Exams. Our Chinese students also perform in the top percentiles of the Youth Chinese Test, an international standardized test of Chinese language proficiency.