Upper School

Upper School is a community. In these four years, students face challenges and rewards as they grow and prepare to move out into the world.

The distinguishing characteristics of the Upper School are close relationships between teachers and students and high standards of academic, athletic, and artistic achievement. Students work hard, in an atmosphere that pushes and supports them, to master the essential skills necessary for academic success. They also pour their energy and talents into athletics, the arts, debate, journalism, community service, and independent projects.

In acknowledgment of the emphasis placed by the school on academic achievement, the Upper School faculty annually elects deserving students to the Cum Laude Society, a national honor society for independent schools. In 2007, Berkeley Carroll celebrated 75 years of membership in the Cum Laude Society, making us just one of three schools to have achieved this distinction. Click here to read about Berkeley Carroll and the Cum Laude Society.

The Upper School academic program stresses critical thinking and informed decision making, Class size is small, and students are encouraged to speak their minds clearly and honestly. In classes and beyond, students are challenged by teachers and their peers to grow intellectually, academically, socially, and emotionally.

Strong advising and peer leadership programs help students learn to meet the demands of an active student life. Berkeley Carroll graduates go into the world not only with highly developed academic skills and habits of mind, but also with a high degree of self-awareness, confidence, and resilience.

The Upper School also offers students the opportunity to work independently with a mentor. To learn about Independent Study, click here.

Upper School Gallery

IMG_2109.JPG

"Once Upon a Mattress" April 2008

Once upon a time....there were kings, queens, princes, princesses, castles, knights, fair fights, and happy endings. Well, maybe. But maybe not! Once Upon A Mattress takes place in 1428 in the magical kingdom of Claristan and asks us to re-examine all the fairy tales we learned to love as children. This Upper School theater production of the funny re-telling of the story of The Princess and the Pea has all the requisite royalty, a beautiful ballet, gorgeous sets and costumes, lots of singing, dancing and laughter, and maybe even a happy ending!

To view all the photos in this gallery, click on the first photo. This is a sampling of the photos. If you would like to order high-resolution, professional copies of these photos, go to the online gallery (http://clickoftheshutter.zenfolio.com/p58209594) and order copies by clicking "Add to Cart."

Photos by Ron Sartini, Berkeley Carroll class of 2002.

View More

Upper School News

  • The Middle/Upper School Spring Dance Festival

    choreographers_bios.pdf
    Posted 5.9.08

    The Middle/Upper School Spring Dance Festival features over 50 Middle and Upper school dancers in works choreographed by the students. Click here to purchase tickets for May 20 (afternoon or evening) or May 21. Seating is limited. Tickets are also available for purchase at school during specified times (click of "read more" for the details).

    Read More

  • The French Foreign Exchange Program Needs YOU (VOUS)

    Posted 5.8.08

    Click on "read more" if you might consider hosting a foreign exchange student during spring break 2009. Host families needed!

    Read More

  • Film: 10 Years Out--and The Interschool Student Film Festival

    Posted 4.25.08

    Congratulations to the participants, members of the professional panel, and to the student and faculty who worked around the clock putting together Berkeley Carroll's first interschool student film festival held April 24, 2008. Click on "read more" to find out about this event.

    Read More

  • The Upper School Paper, The Blotter, Wins Scholastic Prize

    Posted 4.17.08

    The Upper School newspaper, The Blotter, won First Place with Special Merit recognition from the American Scholastic Press Association in its annual review and contest (the designation of "first place with special merit" is Scholastic's highest level of recognition). The Blotter earned perfect scores in the categories of content coverage, editing, and creativity. Congratulations to faculty advisors Liz Perry and Will Wilmot; Co-Editors-in-Chief Robin Riskin, Abigail Hopper, and Rebecca Ballhaus; and the editors and staff of The Blotter. For a complete list of The Blotter editorial board, click on "read more."

    Read More

  • Upper School Play: Once Upon a Mattress

    Posted 4.17.08

    Every performance of the Upper School spring musical, Once Upon a Mattress, sold out. No wonder, it was charming. A photo gallery of the show can be viewed by clicking here or by going to the "performing arts" page of the Berkeley Carroll website.

    Read More
More News