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.
Contact Allison Gatter, Director of Upper School Admissions, with any questions about grades 9-12 at (215) 754-1021 or agatter@sch.org.
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
upper School Curriculum
![Students make noodles at a restaurant in Philadelphia's chinatown]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1787235577/schorg/qhnsfwh1pdsy27polqld/IMG_6991.heic","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1787235577/schorg/qhnsfwh1pdsy27polqld/IMG_6991.heic","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1787235577/schorg/qhnsfwh1pdsy27polqld/IMG_6991.heic","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1787235577/schorg/qhnsfwh1pdsy27polqld/IMG_6991.heic","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1787235577/schorg/qhnsfwh1pdsy27polqld/IMG_6991.heic","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1787235577/schorg/qhnsfwh1pdsy27polqld/IMG_6991.heic","width":2200}])
![Robotics Team working on their robot]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1787230579/schorg/xq31wfntayfymwnxriiy/IMG_0789.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1787230579/schorg/xq31wfntayfymwnxriiy/IMG_0789.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1787230579/schorg/xq31wfntayfymwnxriiy/IMG_0789.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1787230579/schorg/xq31wfntayfymwnxriiy/IMG_0789.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1787230579/schorg/xq31wfntayfymwnxriiy/IMG_0789.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1787230579/schorg/xq31wfntayfymwnxriiy/IMG_0789.jpg","width":2200}])
![Sands Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL)]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1787229576/schorg/ymamkdojm88gopzddmlz/1.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1787229576/schorg/ymamkdojm88gopzddmlz/1.png","width":512}])
![Upper school boys soccer]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1787230668/schorg/xsqni80amjwbq2snukik/untitled20of96.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1787230668/schorg/xsqni80amjwbq2snukik/untitled20of96.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1787230668/schorg/xsqni80amjwbq2snukik/untitled20of96.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1787230668/schorg/xsqni80amjwbq2snukik/untitled20of96.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1787230668/schorg/xsqni80amjwbq2snukik/untitled20of96.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1787230668/schorg/xsqni80amjwbq2snukik/untitled20of96.jpg","width":2200}])
![Fashion Students working on a dress]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1787229913/schorg/ldb1qivakp9ojmrgemb9/FashionInnovation.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1787229913/schorg/ldb1qivakp9ojmrgemb9/FashionInnovation.png","width":512}])
![Students testing water in the Wissahickon]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1787230478/schorg/fchv69cvghdomxwfam0z/IMG_1774.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1787230478/schorg/fchv69cvghdomxwfam0z/IMG_1774.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1787230478/schorg/fchv69cvghdomxwfam0z/IMG_1774.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1787230478/schorg/fchv69cvghdomxwfam0z/IMG_1774.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1787230478/schorg/fchv69cvghdomxwfam0z/IMG_1774.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1787230478/schorg/fchv69cvghdomxwfam0z/IMG_1774.jpg","width":2200}])
![A math teacher is at the board going over a lesson]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1787229695/schorg/vlcfqmjqmnv8ue5galww/4.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1787229695/schorg/vlcfqmjqmnv8ue5galww/4.png","width":512}])
![History]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1787229596/schorg/mhf2jo2jh5u5fkrcfezi/3_1.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1787229596/schorg/mhf2jo2jh5u5fkrcfezi/3_1.png","width":512}])
![Students listening in class]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1787229737/schorg/azmddiwbljethhlhxjaj/5.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1787229737/schorg/azmddiwbljethhlhxjaj/5.png","width":512}])
![A smiling young woman sits with a laptop in a classroom setting on the left, while another smiling woman stands before a "Garden Club" poster on the right.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1790814686/schorg/k7ix0vdhkyrhsztclfuf/CallanandIsha.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1790814686/schorg/k7ix0vdhkyrhsztclfuf/CallanandIsha.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1790814686/schorg/k7ix0vdhkyrhsztclfuf/CallanandIsha.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1790814686/schorg/k7ix0vdhkyrhsztclfuf/CallanandIsha.png","width":1164}])
![SCH Student Debuts Play at Philly Fringe Festival]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1790860576/schorg/tifo1iv3e7frs0e5w9k1/CallanFringeFestival.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1790860576/schorg/tifo1iv3e7frs0e5w9k1/CallanFringeFestival.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1790860576/schorg/tifo1iv3e7frs0e5w9k1/CallanFringeFestival.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1790860576/schorg/tifo1iv3e7frs0e5w9k1/CallanFringeFestival.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1790860576/schorg/tifo1iv3e7frs0e5w9k1/CallanFringeFestival.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1790860576/schorg/tifo1iv3e7frs0e5w9k1/CallanFringeFestival.png","width":2018}])
![Transforming the Commons: SCH Officially Opens the New Quad]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1790128983/schorg/wvmejljsxnzujftudq4s/RibbonCuttingQuad.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1790128983/schorg/wvmejljsxnzujftudq4s/RibbonCuttingQuad.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1790128983/schorg/wvmejljsxnzujftudq4s/RibbonCuttingQuad.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1790128983/schorg/wvmejljsxnzujftudq4s/RibbonCuttingQuad.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1790128983/schorg/wvmejljsxnzujftudq4s/RibbonCuttingQuad.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1790128983/schorg/wvmejljsxnzujftudq4s/RibbonCuttingQuad.jpg","width":2200}])
![SCH in the Stratosphere]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1788377809/schorg/us7rpttaggjbpw0llkvs/SCHinSpaceNASAPhoto.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1788377809/schorg/us7rpttaggjbpw0llkvs/SCHinSpaceNASAPhoto.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1788377809/schorg/us7rpttaggjbpw0llkvs/SCHinSpaceNASAPhoto.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1788377809/schorg/us7rpttaggjbpw0llkvs/SCHinSpaceNASAPhoto.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1788377809/schorg/us7rpttaggjbpw0llkvs/SCHinSpaceNASAPhoto.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1788377809/schorg/us7rpttaggjbpw0llkvs/SCHinSpaceNASAPhoto.png","width":2192}])