Welcome to Upper School

As Head of Upper School at Episcopal, I invite you to learn more about our program.  From our robust academics to our stunning visual and performing arts, from our competitive athletics to our meaningful service program and our intentional community time, we offer our students unparalleled opportunities to learn, to grow, and to prepare for college and for purposeful lives.

I have worked in Episcopal schools for my entire career, and what I love most about the Episcopal experience is our unwavering commitment to the dignity and worth of each student as an individual, and our insistence that we are at our best when we are together in community, all within the context of an excellent college preparatory program.  I encourage you to visit our campus to see for yourself how these values manifest in our daily lives, and I welcome any questions you may have.

Thanks,

Dan Binder
Upper School Division Head

 

Dan Binder
Upper School Division Head

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Upper School Offerings

For over 50 years, the Upper School at Episcopal has provided students with a dynamic and nurturing community in which to holistically grow. Through personalized guidance and a range of opportunities, our students find their paths to excellence at Episcopal in and out of the classroom. Our alumni have accordingly experienced tremendous success at the very best universities, are leaders in all sectors of industry throughout the world, have competed as Olympians and professional athletes, and lead lives of service in their communities every day.

Academically, our students’ days are filled with challenge and opportunity as they make the most of a variety of rigorous offerings, including AP, Honors, and dual-enrollment courses, meaningful mentorship and original research in our signature Thesis program and lab-based ESTAAR programs, global learning journeys, as well as innovation and hands-on learning while working with faculty to explore passion projects in our robotics and makerspace. We also offer a broad spectrum of arts courses taught by masters in their fields, through which students develop different aspects of their creativity and take part in sold-out productions that draw audiences from throughout the region. Our highly successful athletic teams also give our Episcopal Knights the opportunity to contend for championships and learn lifelong lessons about teamwork, perseverance, and leadership under the guidance of coaches who have competed at the highest levels of their sports and are renowned for producing top athletes. Underpinning these pursuits is our Episcopal spiritual identity, which is warm, open, and focused on developing young people who live lives of purpose and service in college and beyond. Through regular Chapel service, as well as the dynamic activities of our Center for Service Learning, we integrate our spiritual lives into all aspects of the Episcopal experience.

We invite you to see Episcopal in action! You may find yourself enjoying our jazz band playing beneath the oaks at midday, our annual national college fair drawing hundreds of students and dozens of universities, or our cross country team breaking records on a beautiful Saturday morning. Or you may bump into our students as they perform, compete, and serve throughout the region. In any place you find us, we welcome you to reach out, connect, and learn more about the Episcopal experience.

High School Students working on a Science ProjectLearning that Encourages Exploration

As students progress through our aligned curriculum, they discover their passions and find new interests. Episcopal provides electives and activities to encourage more in-depth study. Upper School students choose from a range of courses, such as Religion & Theatre, Faith in Southern Literature, or Spanish Ethnomusicology. Our highly trained faculty offer a range of compelling courses in everything from history to psychology. 

We know that each student has unique interests and passions. As a result, we offer opportunities for students to explore topics more closely. For students with a passion for writing and helping others, the Episcopal Writing Center provides an opportunity to further develop written communication while supporting fellow classmates. Students with a talent for tech may excel in the Episcopal engineering program, which offers an opportunity to code, design, build and innovate. Future Episcopal entrepreneurs have a range of business, finance, and economics courses in which to boost their expertise. Students may also participate in the Burkenroad Reports Conference or attend on-campus seminars hosted by experienced business leaders.

Upper School Curriculum

Episcopal offers a rich and varied academic program that connects students to their passions.  Driven and supported by outstanding faculty/mentors, the Episcopal curriculum is meant to evolve as human knowledge advances. Students are given the freedom to explore and discover new interests and apply what they've learned to real-world problems.

Academic Distinctions

​​Episcopal students earn distinctions in various academic areas through the Academic Distinctions tracks. The purpose is to recognize students who excel in different areas and to encourage students to follow their individual interests and passions. Distinctions can be earned in art, English, math, social studies, religious studies, science, world languages, ESTAAR and Thesis.

Advanced Placement* Courses

Episcopal’s personalized approach to learning means students who are ready for the challenge can take any one of the more than 20 AP* courses offered in the Upper School. Courses include: 

  • AP Biology

  • AP Calculus AB

  • AP Calculus BC

  • AP Comparative Government & Politics

  • AP Computer Science Principles

  • AP Chemistry

  • AP English Language and Composition

  • AP English Literature and Composition

  • AP Environmental Science

  • AP European History

  • AP French Language and Culture

  • AP Latin

  • AP Microeconomics

  • AP Music Theory

  • AP Physics C - Electricity and Magnetism

  • AP Physics C - Mechanics

  • AP Psychology

  • AP Spanish Language and Culture

  • AP Statistics

  • AP Studio Art

  • AP U.S. Government & Politics

  • AP U.S. History

Honors courses in the core disciplines provide opportunities for students who want to engage with the subject matter at an advanced level.

*Advanced Placement, AP are registered trademarks of the College Board.

Computer Science and Engineering

​Our engineering program extends throughout the year in and out of the classroom.  Students may also opt to take AP Computer Science Principles and engineering classes.  These year-long, project-based classes offer hands-on experience in coding hardware and software, design, 3D printing, and a host of other interdisciplinary work.

​Entrepreneurship

​Students interested in understanding more about business, finance, and economics can enroll in one of our entrepreneurship or economics courses, participate in the Burkenroad Reports conference, or attend on-campus seminars by experienced business leaders.  Some students have started their own businesses as a part of their experience.

ESTAAR

​​​ESTAAR, or Episcopal Students Take Action in Advanced Research, is a comprehensive two-year program in which students partner with Louisiana State University professors or other researchers and graduate students to conduct scientific or mathematical research.  Students spend as many as 100 hours engaging in lab work, reviewing scholarly research and preparing presentations. Students who successfully complete the ESTAAR program earn a Level I + Level II distinction.

Thesis

Thesis is a two-year program affording selected students an opportunity to develop critical reading, research, and analysis skills through a junior year interdisciplinary seminar and an original thesis or project reflecting scholarly research and investigation in a field of their choice. Students who successfully complete the Thesis program earn a Level I + Level II distinction.

University-Level Learning Opportunities

Upper School students have numerous opportunities to participate in university-level learning. In addition to AP courses, students have the opportunity to take post-AP courses in both world language and mathematics. Students can also enroll in dual-enrollment math courses through Louisiana State University, earning both high school and college credit. Students participating in our lab-based ESTAAR research program work with professors in math, science, and engineering at local research institutes. The performing arts program features Master-Seminar-level courses in both dance and musical theatre. Students report that these opportunities, along with our other rigorous courses, have prepared them to excel academically at some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the country.

​World Language and Culture
Our World Language Department offers advance language study beyond the AP level language courses in French and Spanish.  Other languages are available through one or more online providers that meet our rigorous standards.  We also offer an array of in-country, immersion experiences through various exchange programs and international trips. Recent destinations have included Spain, Chile, Costa Rica, Australia, France, Ireland, Scotland, and Italy.
Writing & the Writing Center

Students have innumerable opportunities in and out of the classroom to develop written communication and the expression of ideas—analytical essays, persuasive pieces, reflective writing, short-answer responses, lab reports, creative work, research projects, etc. Staffed by student Writing Fellows and a faculty advisor, the Writing Center supports writers of all levels of expertise, ability, and interest.

Danna Sabolik
Upper School Attendance Coordinator


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