Upper School life provides opportunities for students to explore a core curriculum of the humanities, sciences, and the arts. Some of these classes are coed, through the St. Albans–NCS
coordinate program.
Upper School graduation requirements include a minimum of seventeen credits, subject to the following minimum distributive requirements: English (4 credits); mathematics (4 credits); foreign language (2 credits through Form IV and Level III); science (2 credits); history (2.5 credits); and religion (1.5 credits). Students must also complete a minimum of two semesters in a Fine Arts course or the equivalent in a performance-based Fine Arts activity. Numerous elective courses are available at all levels, and Sixth Formers may, with faculty approval, undertake independent projects.
Students must complete a minimum of eleven seasons of athletics (three each in Forms III, IV, and V, and two in Form VI). Additionally, students must complete at least 60 hours of person-to-person community service, with the majority of hours at one agency, before the beginning of Form VI.
In the Upper School, all departments offer one or more Advanced Placement (AP) courses or preparation for the AP examination in their disciplines. The School offers thirteen official AP courses, in addition to several history and English courses, which, while not formally designated "AP," specifically prepare students for AP exams.