Upper School (9-12)

Westchester Country Day School's Upper School is focused on preparing students for success in college and beyond. Students are encouraged to make impactful contributions and as alumni they carry on in serving their communities in a great variety of ways.

Westchester students are encouraged to explore service and leadership opportunities. Responsible citizenship is expected and preparation for college is emphasized. 

Upper School Curriculum

Students in grades 9-12 continue to build on the sequence of learning established in the earlier grades through the Upper School curriculum. Teachers guide their small classes in critical thinking, analysis and problem solving, and there are many opportunities for hands-on learning across disciplines.

The academic program combines a broad liberal arts base with opportunities for specialization and enrichment. Course requirements emphasize skills in analysis, problem solving, and communication. Emphasis is placed not only on the material being presented in each class but also on study habits and a healthy work ethic. 

All classes are taught at an honors level and Advanced Placement courses are available to qualified students. AP courses follow the syllabi of the College Entrance Examination Board. Students are selected for AP courses based on teacher recommendations, test scores, and past performance. All students taking AP courses take the College Board AP exam in May.

Advisory Program

The Advisory Program in Upper School is designed to enrich the entire student experience and facilitate communication and teamwork among students, teachers, and parents. The focus is on each student's academic and personal development as faculty/staff advisors offer guidance in a one-to-one relationship with advisees.

Group and individual discussions and instruction occur on such matters as learning styles, goal setting, conflict resolution, time management, and leadership skills. The goal of this program is to promote a student's experience of the school in a setting in which concerns are heard, access to resources to address these concerns is available, and assistance is given for each student to become a capable, independent learner.

Clubs and Extracurricular Opportunities

In addition, the Upper School offers a wide range of student activities to facilitate personal growth. The opportunity to participate in clubs is a vital component to our Upper School experience.

While Student Government is the central club of Upper School, there are many others including:

  • Art Club
  • Blue Key Club
  • Environmental Club
  • Honor Council
  • National Honor Society
  • Human Relations
  • Mock Trial
  • Model UN
  • SADD
  • Science Club
  • Spanish Club

College Preparation

100% of Westchester seniors receive college acceptances each year. Our college counseling program begins as early as the ninth grade assisting students and parents with college exploration, decision making and the application process. A dedicated Director of College Guidance provides individualized support throughout the Upper School years with a focus on finding the right college fit for each student.