Upper School

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As children progress from the 11s through the 13s (grades 6–8), their work demands greater independence in both thought processes and personal responsibilities. More emphasis is placed on developing abstract thinking skills, the formation and defense of opinion, and the connection between historical events and the present day through the lens of social justice.

The Jobs Program continues in earnest, with jobs becoming more complex. The 11s master the intricate workings of a 19th century Chandler Price Treadle printing press, printing most of the forms used by each classroom. The 12s work with the four-year-olds, often called “the adolescents of early childhood,” and the 13s are responsible for the School Newspaper, which they write and edit themselves. 

Year-long studies focus on Ancient Baghdad, Ancient China, and Ancient Greece in the 11s and 12s, and return once again to recent history with a focus on American studies in the 20th and 21st centuries. Our 13s overnight in Washington, DC, and spend a full School week in another major American city (New Orleans and Chicago most recently) to study American culture and understand the structures, systems, and hierarchies embedded within that culture.

As their time in the Upper School comes to an end, students go through the High School Placement Process. As educators, we understand and appreciate that, along with preparing children for life-long learning, we have a responsibility to prepare them as fully for the next step of their educational journey. Supported by teachers, staff, and recent graduates, 13s apply to and are accepted into a diverse slate of independent, public, and boarding schools. 

When children graduate from City and Country School, they do so with the core academic skills—Math, Language Arts, Science, etc.—necessary for high school. They are thorough researchers and strong writers. More importantly, our graduates understand at a core level how to pursue their curiosity about life, and they have the confidence to do so. They have developed a love for learning and the self-motivation to succeed. Empowered by their experiences as fully vested members of the School community, City and Country graduates become active members of their future school communities and ultimately of the world at large.