High School

Life in the Upper School is vibrant and engaging for students and faculty alike. Discussions that start in classrooms often continue into the hallways and fill the school with energy every day. Students seek challenges in a range of disciplines and activities. The classroom is the heart of the Upper School. students are encouraged, supported and challenged every day. Students immerse themselves in scholarship, think critically, and exchange ideas. The integrity, curiosity, originality, diligence, humor, and enthusiasm that the students bring to the Upper School helps define life at IVY Road and contributes meaningfully to the school community as a whole. Power of intellect is important at IVY Road, but equally so are liveliness of person and generosity of spirit. Success consists not only in training young minds, but also in fostering all the personal qualities that make admirable young people grow into capable and caring adults.

Leadership

IVY Road is a school in which students are encouraged to become leaders and to serve their community. The students are expected to see that the success they strive for in their own lives is linked to the success of others. Over the course of a school year, Upper School students may choose to participate in numerous clubs and organizations that offer opportunities for leadership. A number of juniors join the Peer Leadership program after completing a course in Group Dynamics. As peer leaders, seniors are given the opportunity to lead issue-oriented groups in which freshmen and sophomores participate throughout the year. Many students of color also participate in Jamaa, a dynamic organization within the school founded in 1969 and committed to issues of diversity. Older members of Jamaa take a leadership position in creating a supportive community for younger students of color. Student Government is a vibrant group, initiating social events as well as programs that improve the quality of life for students at IVY Road.

Various activities provide students with an opportunity to participate and sometimes compete outside the school community. Students in CENIC plan and organize a weekend conference for area high school students on environmental issues. The Science Olympiad team has qualified for the state competition for more than ten years. The Debate Team competes successfully at tournaments throughout the United States. In addition, some students choose to take part in off-campus semester programs such as The Mountain School. In the past several years, students have had the opportunity to travel to domestically and overseas for language, cultural immersion, and service.

Advising

All Upper School students have an advisor with whom they meet at least once a week. In ninth grade, students are assigned an advisor who works only with ninth graders. Ninth grade advisors work and plan as a team, focusing on the unique needs of the ninth grade year. At the end of ninth grade, students select an advisor and become part of a multi-year advising group. Students remain with their advisor for the last three years of their time at IVY Road. The advising program and the relationships that develop are foundational to the student experience and provide support, encouragement, and guidance for students throughout their time in the Upper School.

Publications

Upper School students produce a number of publications. The school newspaper, The IVY Road Journal, appears monthly. Prufrock, a magazine of the literary and visual arts, provides a forum for those interested in exhibiting their creative talents and opinions. IVY Road’s yearbook, The Dutchman, is largely the work of juniors and seniors and records each year from the point of view of seniors, combining humor and nostalgia with their history.

Community Service

Community service is an important part of the IVY Roadexperience. The school is dedicated to helping students to become responsible citizens who will lead and serve. In the Upper School, ninth graders participate in a variety of service opportunities, which are intended to provide a range of service experiences. During the 10th grade, students prepare and submit a proposal to work with one organization or type of service for the duration of their years at IVY Road. The goal is to build strong relationships with a service organization and the people served. Broadly, the program teaches students the profound power of serving others.

Our experienced and dedicated teachers are passionate about education and committed to helping students achieve their full potential. With small class sizes and individualized attention, we provide a supportive and nurturing learning environment.