Semester Programs
As part of our commitment to preparing our graduates to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world, Berkeley Carroll encourages Upper School students (generally 11th graders) to spend a semester or year living and studying in an alternative educational environment. The school also supports educational programs that transcend the traditional walls of a brick-and-mortar school. Following is a sample of some of the more popular options. The 10th grade dean initiates this process with students and parents/guardians in the fall of the 10th grade year.
An offshoot of the Milton Academy, the Mountain School provides high school juniors the opportunity to live and work on an organic farm in rural Vermont.
The High Mountain Institute Semester is for those who want to combine academics and backpacking, who want to travel through and study in the mountains of central Colorado and the canyons of southeastern Utah, and who want to hone their outdoor skills while sharpening their academic abilities.
The Chewonki Semester School (also known as the Maine Coast Program) is a recognized model for the sustainable management of natural resources; the program emphasizes farming, working with one's hands, recycling, and a commitment to renewable energy.
Located in California's Napa Valley, the Oxbow School combines visual arts with academics. Studio time along with visits to museums, galleries, and artist studios are built into a typical Oxbow day.
Traditional academics, supplemented by a hands-on study of marine biology, are the hallmarks of the Island School's program. Located in Cape Eleuthera in the Bahamas, the Island School's program emphasizes classroom work with that done in the ocean, tide pools, and along the beach.
The School for Ethics and Global Leadership in Washington, D.C., provides students with the opportunity to live in the nation’s capital while studying politics, policy, and diplomacy.
School Year Abroad (SYA) offers students a year-long opportunity for immersive language and cultural study in France, Spain, Italy, or China.