Upper School Trademarks
ROBOTICSSCH’s Upper School engineering program offers an elite track tailored for serious aspiring engineers. Anchored by two flagship robotics teams competing at the highest global levels, students can complete 3+ years of intensive coursework in mechanical design, CAD, embedded systems, and rapid prototyping before graduation. This deep preparation gives SCH graduates a competitive admissions edge, placing alumni into top programs like MIT, Caltech, Princeton, Penn, Columbia, Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins, WPI, RPI, Rose-Hulman, and all three U.S. military academies.
CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP (CEL)Upper School students take their ideas further in Capstone and Venture Accelerator, developing ventures that address real-world problems, from transforming ocean plastics into 3D printer filament to creating apps, launching nonprofits, and designing socially responsible products, cultivating leadership, creativity, and practical skills that prepare them to impact the world.
BIOMEDICAL TRACKLaunched in 2025 and led by Lisa Queeno, the SCH Biomedical Sciences Certificate Program prepares high school students for careers in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and research. Students gain direct experience through summer labs, professional shadowing, and a biomedical Culminating Project, while connecting with Philadelphia’s scientific community via field trips, campus events, and guest lectures. Graduates receive individualized mentorship, industry networking, and a Certificate of Excellence in Biomedical Sciences alongside their diploma.
OUTWARD BOUNDOutward 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. The creation of a positive group culture emphasizes compassion, integrity, excellence, and inclusion—the same values we find in every SCH classroom.
ADVISORYAll 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.