As a college preparatory community, The Wardlaw-Hartridge Upper School provides the final stage in preparing students to succeed in demanding college programs. At the same time the Upper School goes beyond a narrow concept of “college preparation” and educates students in the broadest sense of that term. Its aim is that students possess those qualities—intellectual, aesthetic, social, and moral—that are necessary for an individual to achieve his or her potential. Wardlaw-Hartridge graduates are well prepared for success in college and leadership in life, and with an appreciation of the school that helped them on their way.
To challenge students intellectually, the Upper School provides a wide selection of college preparatory courses, including honors and advanced placement courses. All classes are taught by knowledgeable and caring faculty and are designed to elicit the best work that students can achieve. Encouraging students to wrestle with complexity, extend their understanding of nuance, and refine their sense of self is at the core of the Upper School’s commitment to intellectual excellence.
The Upper School affirms not only intellectual excellence but also excellence in the arts. Most students are active participants in the fine and performing arts, whether as a member of the band, concert choir, a drama production, an art class, or other areas of the arts program. Involvement in the arts provides the basis for life-long avenues of self-expression.
The number and variety of extra-curricular activities provide a valuable means for Upper School students to develop interests, to exercise leadership, and to share in achieving common goals with their peers. Interscholastic athletics, though not required, attract most Upper School students, who learn the value of committing themselves to a team and developing sportsmanship, competitiveness, and teamwork. For those students who do not participate in interscholastic athletics, physical education classes contribute to their physical fitness and well-being.
In all that it does, the Upper School seeks to promote the moral growth of its students by maintaining an environment in which the qualities of kindness, civility, integrity, and respect are not only encouraged but put into practice each day. |