Academics
Trinity's Upper School (its high school, grades 9-12) differs from other private schools in its relatively small offering of Advanced Placement classes outside of mathematics and languages. It offers AP classes in Statistics, Calculus, Spanish Language, Spanish Literature, French Language, Latin Vergil, Latin Literature, and Art History. As in most schools, students have the option of preparing for these AP exams independently, and many do. The school administers many, but not all, of the AP tests within its building. Though no strict core curriculum exists in the Upper School, the Lower and Middle School courseloads are highly structured, and ninth and tenth graders are offered limited flexibility in their courses. Juniors and seniors, however, are much freer to flexibly select electives and other such courses. English is the only subject mandated through four years in the Upper School. Math is mandated for three, the languages for three, and the lab sciences for two. There is also a Physical Education requirement.
Trinity is also notable for having a full Classics department, which is widely recognized as one of the strongest in the nation. Nearly 40% of the student body takes either Latin or Greek, while more than 60% take two languages. Students from Trinity place highly in the New York Classical Club High School Sight Translation Contest, which is held every year for New York City private school students.
While Trinity is known for the strength of its humanities departments generally, the academic program is also unusual in that it mandates for all students at least one semester of religion. These courses range from those examining religious themes in literature to those analyzing world religions to those relating ethical or religious issues to modern life.
Trinity's departments award a variety of academic prizes, most of which are reserved for seniors. There are Hawley Prizes awarded each year to the three members of each Upper School grade with the highest weighted grades (Trinity does not tabulate GPAs). There are also a small number of graduation prizes.
Read more about this topic: Trinity School (New York City)
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)