Academics

Upper School

— Sam Schaffer, Head of Upper School

“What do I want for our students? I want them to grow as young men, as citizens of their school. I want them to learn how to interact with each other and how to interact with their studies. I want them to move from within themselves—to figure out who they are—and then to look outside themselves, to how they work in a community. And I want them to be more intentional about that.” 

Forms III-VI (Grades 9-12)

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.

Contributing to Community

Located in Washington D.C.,  St. Albans School is a private, all boys day and boarding school. For more than a century, St. Albans has offered a distinctive educational experience for young men in grades 4 through 12. While our students reach exceptional academic goals and exhibit first-rate athletic and artistic achievements, as an Episcopal school we place equal emphasis upon moral and spiritual education.