OUR HIGH SCHOOL

Personalized with streamlined graduation requirements

Introducing

The High School Program

Our high school provides one of the most personalized programs anywhere. It combines ongoing Socratic and personal growth conversations and one-on-one coaching with increasingly sophisticated personal projects based on student interests. With streamlined graduation requirements, students can take courses which are both interesting and relevant to their post-high school plans rather than being forced into a one-size fits all school program. We provide the best of community and individual choice.

Preparing students
for the 21st century

PERSONAL PROJECTS

Students learn to develop meaningful personal projects based on their interests.

SOCRATIC PRACTICE

Students analyze classical texts and their ideas through reason-based dialogue.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Students learn to be a happier, more successful person through daily conversations on purpose, goals, and life.

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

Students are supported in a carefully-crafted, positive peer environment.

SCHEDULE

A typical day for a high school student

An informal guide-led conversation that is wide-ranging and may include discussions of books, movies, games, current events, projects, laughing, hanging out. The idea is to start the day socially, much as they would at an in-person school, with an opportunity simply to be themselves together.

Each day the guide sets a topic that may be big picture issues, such as how to set goals, how to learn from failure, etc. Alternatively the topic may be more personal, such as how to deal with anger, how to address bullying, etc. The goal is to provide an opportunity to discuss how to live a better, happier, more successful life.

A discussion about a complex text in literature, philosophy, or social thought. The conversation is a balance of discussing important issues in life and analyzing sophisticated texts, similar to the work required by the SAT verbal exam. The students develop a deep understanding of key concepts in the humanities.

Students work on essay topics of their own choosing based on the intellectual dialogue they've just completed in their Socratic discussion. They are coached by guides and through peer coaching on high-level issues such as organization and the use of evidence. Students learn to organize their thoughts and write well-organized essays.

Each student is expected to do a personal project based on their own interests. The expectation is that they develop a substantial outcome over time. They are coached on how to move from an interest or idea to an impressive project by their guide, through peer feedback, and through the topics covered in Personal Growth. By graduation their project should be equivalent or better than adult-level professional performance in their chosen domain of expertise.

Students have an hour off each day for lunch. They are encouraged to get off the computer and engage in some movement.

Students work either in group classes or through self-paced adaptive math curricula suitable to their level and ability. They set annual math goals with their guide and are coached on how to meet monthly and weekly targets for math progress. The guide works with them in small groups and one-on-one. On alternate days, the class works on mathematical problem solving in group sessions designed to develop their ability to work through difficult unfamiliar problems, often problems similar to those on the SAT math exam.

Students take science courses appropriate to their interest and ability levels, as well as in alignment with graduation requirements. Students typically may choose between courses offered within our program or external courses if their interests are more specialized (human health optimization or biochemistry). Guides support students in selecting and working through external courses. Select courses prepare students to perform on Advanced Placement exams.

Students may take the history course of their choice, including World History, U.S. History, and other more specialized history courses available externally. Our history courses include an appreciation for those institutions that led to modern human rights and prosperity, including rationality, science, innovation, entrepreneurship, and the classical liberal institutions that provide a foundation for those achievements, while also covering the sheer brutality of humanity across time and space.

Foreign language learning is optional and provided through external providers.

On Wednesdays students may take Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, based on the original Oxford course but which includes the content of a course in U.S. Government. They have the option of taking a technology course that introduces them to everything from hardware and software 101 through machine learning, data analysis, and robotics. They have the option of taking an art class that includes drawing, animation, and graphic novel design. They have the option of taking a music class featuring world music appreciation, musical performance, and basic music theory.

Let's have a conversation

Schedule a conversation with our team by selecting a date and time from the calendar, or download our “Parent Guide” PDF if you need more information.

Personalized with streamlined graduation requirements

Introducing

The High School Program

Preparing students
for the 21st century

A typical day for a high school student

Let's have a conversation

Programs

Learn

School

Sign up to our newsletter

Personalized with streamlined graduation requirements

Introducing

The High School Program

Preparing studentsfor the 21st century

A typical day for a high school student

Let's have a conversation

Programs

Learn

School

Sign up to our newsletter

Preparing students
for the 21st century