Academics
The faculty has an average of 13 years of teaching experience and 60% hold advanced degrees. With a student to faculty ratio of 8:1, class sizes are small and offer many opportunities for individual interaction with the teacher and for student-centered activities. In addition to the care and instruction of classroom teachers, students in the Middle and Upper Schools are assigned to faculty advisers who monitor their academic and social development. Skills are woven throughout the curriculum. Educational Support Services (ESS) provides learning and teaching support in all divisions.
The Lower School begins with Kindergarten classes where students are first exposed to the Wilson Foundation system of language teaching. In addition to classes with their homeroom teacher in reading, the language arts, social sciences, and math, students have classes with specialized teachers for the beginning of their education in music, art, Spanish, music, science, technology, and physical education.
The Middle School offers traditional classes such as algebra, life sciences, and English, but there are also classes in life-skills such as decision making, desktop publishing, research, and independent reading. Students begin a formal, daily study of foreign language in the seventh grade with Latin. In the eighth grade students may elect to continue with the study of Latin or study Spanish or French. The eighth grade also presents an opportunity for students to develop public speaking skills: a formally prepared speech is part of their curriculum.
As a college preparatory school, the Upper School has a graduation requirement of several credits in English, math, history, science, and foreign languages to ensure that students are thoroughly prepared for the independent study required in college. Additionally, students are required to take courses in physical education and health, and the fine arts. There are also a wide variety of electives, and Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered in thirteen subjects including calculus, statistics, physics, chemistry, biology, U.S. history, and English literature. The Williams Scholars Program provides incentives for academic achievement, including a stipend for summer educational programs.
There are a multitude of opportunities in the fine and performing arts from music composition classes, to the production of music videos, painting, and building works of art. Private instrumental music lessons are available K-12, and music and art shows throughout the year showcase student achievements. The Upper School presents drama productions in the winter and spring, and each year a senior is chosen to direct the spring production. After working through a multi-draft writing process and attending several coaching sessions on presenting skills, all seniors are required to deliver a senior speech to the entire upper school. Finally, there is a wealth of club and co-curricular activities from chess clubs and mock trial teams to digital photography and student newspaper publications for all students to develop their interests.
Read more about this topic: Boys' Latin School Of Maryland
Famous quotes containing the word academics:
“Almost all scholarly research carries practical and political implications. Better that we should spell these out ourselves than leave that task to people with a vested interest in stressing only some of the implications and falsifying others. The idea that academics should remain “above the fray” only gives ideologues license to misuse our work.”
—Stephanie Coontz (b. 1944)
“Our first line of defense in raising children with values is modeling good behavior ourselves. This is critical. How will our kids learn tolerance for others if our hearts are filled with hate? Learn compassion if we are indifferent? Perceive academics as important if soccer practice is a higher priority than homework?”
—Fred G. Gosman (20th century)