Upper School 9-12
Finding Individual Purpose and Direction
An engaging curriculum greets Upper School students. Students graduate from Bullis Upper School with the ability to navigate and adjust even when the way forward is not always clear. Students call upon the habits they have formed—critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, and resourcefulness.
In Upper School,
- We challenge ourselves and find our direction.
- We stretch-and-soar and embrace opportunities for exploration.
- We push the boundaries of what’s possible.
Whether composing an incisive thesis statement, grappling with stage resolving conflict, or working through a tricky mathematical proof, they routinely face—and overcome—exciting challenges.
The Challenges May Vary, the Approach Remains Consistent
At Bullis, teachers and students reflect together on what the student does well and how they can improve. Self-awareness is critical to growth and learning. By tackling challenges and solving their own problems, students build confidence and strengthen intrinsic motivation.
Moments of Discovery Happen in Upper School
- They happen in the Entrepreneurship program, as students team up to create new businesses, developing an idea from prototype through market analysis, and planning for scale.
- These moments happen in the art studio, where a student working in a less familiar medium reaches a state of flow, or on the stage when the lights go down, the curtain goes up, and the performance transcends.
- They happen on the field, when sore muscles and hot practices pay off in a big game.
- And moments happen with Bullis Student Tutors, when a student makes a breakthrough and it’s hard to tell who’s more excited— the tutored student or the student tutor.
Preparation for College and Beyond
The Bullis Upper School curriculum is challenging and personalized with a focus on developing skills needed for success in college and to enjoy a balanced, fulfilling, and meaningful life. Upper School students thrive in a caring and engaging environment that provides access to an abundance of resources and high quality learning spaces.
We graduate committed and resilient students who are kind and considerate people. We draw on a wide variety of teaching practices and learning opportunities to cultivate respect, understanding, and compassion for others.
Divider Hazel
At Bullis, we believe in academic choice built on a solid foundation.
Bullis operates on a trimester system: the first trimester ends at Thanksgiving, the second ends in early March and the third at the end of the school year in early June.
Each student’s schedule is tailored to meet their academic needs. After students meet these minimum requirements they are free to explore electives.
- English every year, all year
- 3 years of Social Studies
- 3 years of Science
- 3 years of Math
- 2 years of World Language
- A Visual or Performing Arts Class
As our graduates head to college, they are prepared with these courses, plus the electives, activities, service, athletics, and leadership that they choose.
Divider Hazel
Signature Programs
Bullis Upper School offers planned courses of study in three Signature Programs — Entrepreneurship, Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM), Visual & Performing Arts (VPA).
The Signature Program model entails opportunities for:
- Interdisciplinary study
- Experiential education
- Research-based culminating/capstone experiences
- Student choice among curricular offerings
Signature Program classes enable students to prepare the foundation for a Signature Program honors capstone experience, if they so choose.
What is Senior Capstone?
A senior capstone allows students to choose a topic that they are passionate or curious about and develop a year-long project.
- Seniors who choose to do a capstone project explore beyond the Bullis course catalog with an intensive, meaningful project of their own design — in close collaboration with a mentor.
- Capstone students present the results of their deep explorations to the community in the Spring at the Signature Program Symposium or Shark Tank competition.
