Welcome to Upper School at SCH Academy

The Freedom to Forge Your Own Path

Upper School students in grades 9–12 are encouraged to kindle their own fire—pursuing big questions, discovering their strengths, and shaping their own paths. Our rigorous college-prep curriculum combines a strong liberal arts foundation with hands-on learning, innovative electives, and opportunities in entrepreneurship, engineering, the arts, and biomedical science. In a supportive Philadelphia private high school community, students build the confidence, skills, and relationships to thrive in college and beyond.

Upper School At-A-Glance

curriculum overview

Through our rigorous college-prep curriculum grounded in project and passion-based learning, SCH students build resilience and ownership while gaining an unparalleled academic foundation for life.

Offering a solid foundation in the liberal arts (Arts, English, History, Math, Science, World Languages), SCH's Upper School has an array of electives that are tailored to our unique educational environment. Whether your student is looking to foster a love for math and dabble in video production, take an in-depth look at courses offered in Upper School.

Upper School Course Catalog

Activities, Clubs & Councils

With over 30 choices, activities, clubs, and councils provide opportunities for students to discover new interests, take on leadership roles, contribute to the upper school student experience, and make new friendships across grade levels. In the beginning of each school year, Upper School holds a Clubs & Activities Fair for students to browse and select ones they're interested in.

Student Experience

Advisory

All incoming students are placed into advisory groups of 10-12 that are paired with a faculty advisor. The heart of the advisory program is the relationship that develops between students and their advisor over the four years of Upper School. Advisories meet twice a week and spend time working on studentship skills, discussing topics such as current events and the responsible use of social media, setting goals, reflecting on experiences, and bonding over breakfast. Advisors oversee the academic and extracurricular life of their students and act as the first point of contact on campus for students’ families.

College Process

The College Counseling Office at SCH is committed to helping our students navigate the challenging yet exciting journey to finding your college match. Our college team is here to guide you through the college admissions process and to clarify the critical factors that colleges and universities consider when selecting students. We encourage our students to take ownership of the college process, and we are here to offer quality information, honest evaluation, and plenty of encouragement.

College Counseling Program

Outward Bound

At the start of 9th grade, all students participate in a five-day Outward Bound expedition along the Appalachian Trail (within 1-2 hours of SCH) guided by the Philadelphia based Outward Bound School. Outward Bound has more than fifty years of experience, and our partnership with them ensures that the program will be an intentional, safe, and dynamic experience.

Outward Bound’s learning approach, one that “emphasizes high achievement through active learning, character development, and teamwork,” is an excellent complement to our existing orientation, advisory, and sports programs that will make the transition to Upper School both easier and more meaningful for our students. Our students affectionately call all our Outward Bound experiences "Type Two Fun". You have to live it to love it.

Outward Bound

Student Resource Center

The Student Resource Center (SRC) is a place for high school students to work independently, collectively (as a study group), or with an assigned faculty for support. Workshops held in the SRC focus on skills such as presentations, exam prep, self-care, or college essays. Writing Wednesdays is peer-to-peer English support where students can work 1:1 to improve their writing. Examples of faculty support include homework planning, extra help, test taking, supplies & resources for special projects, and more! Listen to what our students and faculty have to say about the SRC.

Learn more about Student Support

BioMedical Track

Building on a rich history of excellence and award-winning student research, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCH) in Philadelphia is launching an exclusive Biomedical Sciences track. Starting in 9th grade, students passionate about healthcare and science can apply to this specialized high school program, earning a certificate of excellence alongside their diploma.

Program Highlights:

Exclusive Experiential Learning: Field trips and guest speakers from Philadelphia’s top pharmaceutical companies, healthcare industries, and university labs.
Hands-On Research & Shadowing: Access to coveted summer and after-school lab research positions and healthcare shadowing opportunities.
Expert Mentorship: One-on-one guidance from BioMed Program Coordinator Lisa Queeno, plus valuable networking connections in the scientific community.
Culminating Project: A capstone project allowing students to dive deep into real-world biomedical challenges.

From Creative Collaboration to Industry Recording

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At SCH, one of the largest independent private high schools in Philadelphia, you will be challenged as an individual and as a leader. You will leave here a different person than when you entered. Whether it’s the collaborative experience of 9th grade Outward Bound, the bonds forged during four years of advisory, or the opportunity to stand up in front of your peers and speak, SCH will transform you. You will be encouraged to take risks, learn from failure, and meet the goals you set for yourself.

MATT NORCINI |HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL

Academics overview

Led by our deeply committed and progressive faculty, Upper School students gain a thorough grounding in the core liberal arts and are encouraged to learn about the array of electives offered. SCH is a dynamic environment, encouraging students to pursue their academic passions and, unknowingly, discover new ones—there are smaller communities within our larger community that offer connections and opportunities for friendship, curiosity, and grit.

Engineering & Robotics (details)

Engineering & Robotics (details)

Located in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, SCH Academy challenges every student in the Upper School to explore designing and fabricating complex objects and systems. Through a broad-reaching STEAM curriculum starting with the 9th and 10th grade seminars on design, prototyping, and fabrication through the 12th grade advanced programming and CAD/CAM courses, SCH allows each student to develop the skills to see and work in three dimensions, employ rigorous design processes, and learn the techniques of prototyping and fabrication. Students who choose to are able to participate in our world-class robotics program where they will compete with the best pre-engineering students from around the world.

Robotics Course Offerings

Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL details)

Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL details)

Whether the problem is water pollution or food product production, our students take on interesting challenges rooted within their passions. SCH student entrepreneurs have gone on to develop their own ventures and apps, build companies, and even launch and sell their own products. We're proud to see our trademarked CEL curriculum taught internationally, enabling younger generations to gain the skills that will help them better shape their future.

CeL Course Offerings

History (Course Details)

History (Course Details)

In today’s dynamic global environment, a strong knowledge of history and the ability to think critically is an essential part of a 21st century education. SCH students study history in inquiry-driven classrooms that promote experiential learning and develop historical empathy. Understanding the perspective of historical figures and their diverse experiences allows students to reflect upon their own lives and to understand more fully the world and cultures they live in and will help shape.

History Course Offerings

Arts (Details)

Arts (Details)

Between musical and dramatic productions, an SCH recording studio, 3D modeling, digital art, and more, self-expression is at the heart of our Arts and New Media program. Our faculty are working artists who teach foundational skills, foster courage to take creative risks, and believe in the value of each unique perspective and ability.

Arts & New Media Course Offerings

Math (Course Details)

Math (Course Details)

The Mathematics Department strives to develop opportunities for students to engage in active inquiry at every course level and to encourage students to achieve their highest mathematical
potential. All students are required to take four years of mathematics and some elect to take one or more additional elective math courses. The typical four-year sequence of mathematics begins with Geometry and extends through Algebra, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, or Statistics.

Mathematics Course Offerings

World Languages (Details)

World Languages (Details)

The goal of the Upper School world languages program is to offer our students the opportunity to communicate with purpose in either Chinese, French or Spanish. We provide students with the skills to negotiate meaning and take risks in order to confidently engage with the world beyond our classroom. In Latin, students become competent readers and translators of Latin in order to master the subtlety of usage in original Latin texts. This training provides students a window into the historical and cultural world of the Romans, as well as a mirror into the human experience of today.

World Languages Course Offerings

Science (course details)

Science (course details)

The Science Department at SCH Academy provides students with opportunities for using the most up-to-date equipment and
technologies as they ask questions, design experiments, explore, collaborate, and become efficient and effective problem solvers. The basic courses in physics, chemistry, and biology provide an excellent general background in the discipline along with other valuable experiences through our STEM curriculum at our private school. Electives, such as Environmental Science, Oceanography, and Pharmacology, are offered on a semester basis. SCH has also started a BioMedical track for students interested in the biomedical sciences.

Science Course Offerings

English (course details)

English (course details)

Our English program cultivates a lifelong passion for reading and writing and promotes student discovery and engagement. SCH students learn to think, read, write, and speak with clarity and conviction. They identify questions and share opinions about texts, wrestle with complex ideas, build persuasive arguments and interpretations, and use writing as a means of creative expression. Students examine classic and contemporary literature, as well as diverse forms of media.

English Course Offerings