Academics at the Upper School

The Academic Program at Sem is a comprehensive and rigorous course of study that is designed to prepare students for academic success in college while exposing them to a broad based liberal arts education. With many classes taught on the college level, Sem alumni often note the ease with which they adapt to their university or college workload.

Because Sem's faculty actively encourage their students to meet with them in conference after school, Sem's graduates have the confidence to ask for help, set and reach high academic goals and become independent learners. With an 8:1 student/faculty ratio, the teachers know their students well, address their individual needs and keep parents well informed.

In our classrooms, education is an active process that fosters confidence, achievement and interest in lifelong learning. Required courses such as Public Speaking teach students to write and speak clearly and effectively; upper-class students may choose from an unusually broad selection of challenging electives in English, history and science; and Sem's distinctive individualized academic program allows academically talented students to take honors courses as early as ninth grade and Advanced Placement (AP) courses as early as tenth grade.

Sem offers more than 160 courses, including AP courses in all major disciplines, more than most other independent schools in the country. These courses prepare students for at least 25 AP subject exams (please visit our course sequences for a comprehensive overview and our course catalog online for up-to-date listings).

For more details about our academic program, please view our Upper School Student-Parent Handbook.

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