Upper School at Pacific Ridge: Discover Your Path

UPPER SCHOOL

at Pacific Ridge Discover Your Path

The Upper School Experience When given the opportunity to pursue the breadth and depth of their interests, make their voices heard, and actively practice leadership, high school students can make amazing things happen.

In our upper school, students converse at the Harkness table, collaborate in the science lab, create in the studio, write across disciplines, share ways to solve math problems, and become fluent in world languages. They lead service groups, play sports, engage in community issues, travel worldwide, and enjoy the close-knit friendships that flourish in an inclusive community. Because of our robust co-curriculars and unique schedule, students can be athletes, mathletes, and artists, makers, speechmakers, and activists. They have the time, space, and support to find out who they are.

When our teachers and students sit together at the Harkness table, join hands to serve the community, and share the adventure of travel, they develop mentoring relationships that last beyond graduation. Our student support team helps students reach their academic potential while maintaining emotional well-being. Our college guidance staff work with students so that they not only get accepted to excellent colleges, they make excellent college choices for themselves.

At Pacific Ridge, we are committed to more than prepping students academically for college. By growing through an abundance of supported, meaningful experiences, students become ready to take on the world.

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS Diploma requirements: • • • • •

History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 years Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 years Mathematics . . . . . . . . . . 3 years English . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 years Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 years (of same language) • Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 years • Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 trimester • Athletics/Physical Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 years (or equivalent)

The Advisory Program In Advisory, teachers create spaces for students to engage in personal reflection on the themes of belonging, academic growth, and wellness. These themes apply to the experiences students have in each grade, continually supporting them as they grow. The goal of Advisory is for students to develop the habits and skills needed to overcome present and future challenges, preparing them for rewarding inner and outer lives.

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Signature Experiences

At Pacific Ridge School, signature experiences are designed to connect classroom learning with practical applications. Ideas and concepts have deeper meaning when experienced in personal, real-world situations.

9thGRADE

11thGRADE

Over the course of several months, ninth graders research, write, revise, practice and perfect an original speech on a topic of their own choosing, which they then deliver to a large audience.

Guided by their personal interests, juniors identify areas of business, science, social entrepreneurship, arts, politics, etc., that interest them, seek out local leaders in those professions to interview, and share their findings with their peers.

ORATIONS

10 GRADE th

MEMORIAL PROJECT

Reflecting on their study of history, sophomores consider how communities choose to remember the past. Researching a historical narrative, students use various media to create a public memorial that reflects their own interpretation of the narrative.

JUNIOR PROJECT

12 thGRADE

SENIOR SIGNATURES

Seniors identify a project that translates their skills, passions, and knowledge of the school community into a tangible project that can endure after they leave.

Course Map

SCIENCE

MATH

ARTS

ENGLISH

HISTORY

LANGUAGE

ELECTIVES

PHYSICAL EDUCATION ATHLETICS SERVICE LEARNING CLUBS YEAR-END GLOBAL TRAVEL EXPERIENCES

N/

9TH GRADE

10TH GRADE

11TH & 12TH GRADE

Science 9

Science 10

Honors Physics, Honors Environmental Science, Anatomy and Physiology, Engineering Design, Topics in Physics, Marine Biology, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics C

Algebra/Geometry 1-3*, Trigonometry*, Precalculus*, Essentials of Calculus, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, Multi-Variable Calculus, Statistics*, Data Science (Students are placed in math classes that best match their ability, regardless of grade level.) *Courses with both regular and honors sections.

Dance 1-4, Honors Dance Ensemble, Digital Photography, Honors Digital Photography, Advanced Digital Photography, AP Photography, Digital Filmmaking 1 and 2, Graphic Design 1 and 2, Honors Topics in Design, AP Graphic Design, Yearbook, Jazz/Rock Ensemble, Honors Jazz/Rock Ensemble, Honors Classical Music Ensemble, Vocal Ensemble, Vocal Ensemble Honors, Introduction to Visual Arts, 2D Design, 3D Design, Honors Visual Arts, AP Drawing, AP Music Theory, Theater Arts, Honors Theater Arts, Advanced Theater Arts

English 9

English 10

American Literature, Honors American Literature, Rhetoric, Genre Studies, Women in Literature, World Literature, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, African American Literature

Ancient World History

Modern World History

US History, AP US History, Middle East History and Diplomacy, Theories of Social Change, US Government and Politics, Contemporary Human Geography, Economics, Introduction to World Religions

Chinese, French, Spanish (Students are placed in the language classes that best match their ability, regardless of grade level.)

For each language, we offer multiple levels [1 to 5], plus honors and Advanced Placement sections.

Courses that are traditionally offered as electives in many schools, such as arts, languages and physical education, are required courses in grades 9 and 10.

Year-long courses: AP Art History, Financial Literacy, Programming, AP Psychology, Robotics & Applied Machine Elements, Film Studies, Journalism & Media Studies Trimester Electives: Forensics, Industrial Design, Entrepreneurship, Architectural Foundations, Hands-on Aerodynamics, Social Entrepreneurship

Athletic Teams, Health, Physical Education, Strength and Conditioning, Independent Physical Education

Upper School students choose from more than 30 student-designed service learning groups, under the umbrellas of education, science, innovation, social justice, environment & climate, peace and justice, and gender equality.

Upper School students choose from more than 30 student-designed clubs, including: Model United Nations, Robotics, Science Olympiad, Finance and Investment, Gardening, Student Council, and Art Studio—to name a few.

Community and Outdoor Leadership

Becoming World Travelers

Students choose from a number of small-group experiences around the world, including in past years: Post-Colonial Studies in South Africa, Urban Planning in Berlin and Copenhagen, Wilderness Medicine in the Rocky Mountains, and Social Justice in Cambodia - to name a few.

“Every stop on the path to what’s next is a learning opportunity.”

6269 El Fuerte, Carlsbad, CA 92009 | 760.579.4901 | pacificridge.org