Upper School Curriculum

The Upper School Computer Science department aims to give students the skills to navigate a world connected through technology. Recognizing that computers will be a critical aspect of any path our students will take in the future, the Computer Science curriculum emphasizes flexible and critical thinking.

Students in classes 8 and 9 take a sequence of mini-courses that touch on foundational topics. These courses include Design Thinking, Computer Science Principles, Digital Citizenship, and Coding. In class 10, the elective "Chapin Girls Who Code" course introduces students to formal software development through iOS app development. Class 11 and 12 students can take AP Computer Science, and advanced students have the option to pursue independent projects of their own design.

Upper School English concentrates on reading, writing, speaking and thinking with precision, clarity and depth. The literature includes not only Western and global classics, but also contemporary works from around the world. This coursework leads to Class 12 electives ranging from Shakespeare to gender studies to in-depth exploration of major religious texts.

Students engage in activities and projects facilitating critical and creative thinking in response to the text, the self and the world at large. Because writing is a process, brainstorming, outlining, free-writing, drafting and revising are central to our teaching. By the end of their Chapin careers, students are able to write effectively in multiple genres, including analytic, personal, and persuasive essays. In addition, students are given opportunities to write creative fiction and nonfiction. Students also acquire an active vocabulary and the grammatical tools needed to express themselves for a variety of purposes and audiences. Finally, the Upper School English curriculum believes that the study of literature should foster not only critical thinking and creativity but also a profound sense of empathy and an awareness of the need for social justice.

Recognizing that the arts help us to appreciate and express both the individuality and shared threads of the human experience, we believe that cultivating artistic expression is a central tenet in our quest for our students to construct and demonstrate understanding. As we work with each student to build her capacity for innovation and creativity, we seek to deepen each student's experience in the visual and performing arts.

Our strategic initiatives demand that we examine how the arts can more powerfully interact with other subjects of study. To support this important work, each division has a dedicated Arts Specialist who, in collaboration with grade-level teachers, creates an arts curriculum that focuses on literacy in the visual arts, dance, drama and music, as well as cultivates a synergy between the arts and other subject fields, all to serve the important purpose of "education in the arts and education through the arts."

In the Upper School, students build on their geography and critical-thinking skills from the Middle School. They continue to examine causal relationships and historical perspective through a variety of primary and secondary source material and they hone their abilities to construct and defend an argument.

Students are required to take four years of history in the Upper School. In Class 8, the girls begin a three-year sequence in world history. In Class 11, they study U.S. history and also have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement U.S. history. Seniors have two full-year options: Senior History Seminar, an advanced level course that examines contemporary issues and puts them in historical context, and Advanced Placement Art History. Several different FOCUS (For Ongoing Creativity, Understanding and Scholarship) classes – on frequently changing topics that range from the ancient to the contemporary – are open to Classes 10, 11 and 12.

The learning resources department is committed to helping create an environment that respects and serves different learning styles. The members of the department work closely with both students and teachers; helping students realize their full potential and helping teachers to reach all the students in their classrooms.

Upper School students receive instruction in 21st century information skills through library research sessions taught in conjunction with research assignments, online help pages, and individual help. Students have access to Chapin's collection of over 29,000 volumes; online resources, including e-books and scholarly databases such as JSTOR, and entrance to several New York City research libraries.

The Upper School Mathematics Department strives to combine academic excellence with the development of habits of mind for lifelong learning. Through a discussion-based approach to mathematics, we help students discover concepts and experience excitement when mathematical ideas culminate in new conclusions. We encourage students to follow their instincts and speak clearly without apology. Building upon their experiences in Middle School, we encourage students to develop patience while they learn from mistakes. As students mature, they analyze their mistakes, edit their own work, self-assess, and advocate for themselves, seeking out the help they need. We foster students’ resilience through challenging activities and problems. Overall, we endeavor to promote enthusiasm for mathematics so that they may acquire a passion and interest that will carry on into their future studies.

We emphasize that mathematics is a universal language. Math crosses national, ethnic, and cultural boundaries, and is relevant to students of all socioeconomic backgrounds. We make it a priority to promote girls' interest in the fields of mathematics, engineering, and science. The single-gender environment of our school allows girls to thrive in a subject often dominated by male students.

Beyond the core Math curriculum sequence, elective FOCUS courses allow all students to pursue further interests in math at differing levels, from learning the important skills of personal finance to delving deeper into non-Euclidean geometry to the study of number theory. Apart from our curriculum, there are further opportunities to engage in mathematics with our Math Club and participation in math contests. Additional coursework is available through Interschool courses, Online School for Girls, and the Museum of Finance.

We also consider how our curriculum can support other disciplines. Mathematics provides the quantitative foundation for the study of science, and we have consulted with the Science Department in order to give students the skills they need at the appropriate times. Mathematical study also helps develop students’ logical reasoning skills and the use of precise language, supporting the study of other subject areas such as computer science, history, and English.

We enjoy access to a wealth of teaching resources. A number of math software packages such as Geometer’s Sketchpad, Geogebra, graphing calculator emulators, and Desmos are used for student exploration and teacher demonstration, helping address a variety of learning styles. Physical tools such as graphing calculators, algebra manipulatives, and three-dimensional geometric models further support hands-on learning.

The Upper School physical education program provides opportunities for choice in many activities. It is the goal of the program to prepare our students for sports and fitness participation beyond Chapin, in order to practice a physically active lifestyle and to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness. Students in Classes 10 through 12 participate in physical education classes designed to shape the understanding that physical activity provides opportunities for enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and social interaction. Students can choose from a wide array of activities ranging from traditional sports and fitness to dance and yoga. They can also fulfill credits by playing on school teams. Students in Classes 8 and 9 are given choices of traditional sports and fitness classes each term. Class 8 students also participate in an indoor rowing unit held at a local rowing club. Each Upper School student receives training and certification in CPR and First Aid as part of the physical education program. In accordance with Chapin’s mission statement, the Upper School PE program supports the social, emotional and overall well-being of every student.

The Upper School science department believes that students need a solid foundation in science to engage with a fast changing, technological world where many important challenges have a global scope with deep scientific connections. We aim to foster students' ability to gather and analyze evidence based data, and to think critically and openly about complex questions and their impact on the world.

The World Languages department believes that Chapin students must walk across the stage at commencement equipped with the linguistic and cultural literacy necessary to function in an increasingly global world. Communication skills in the Upper School Language classes are further developed and encouraged with the goal of promoting fluency, encouraging every student to achieve the highest proficiency possible in at least one other language, and fostering a broader cultural understanding. Class 8 students continue their study of a Modern language and complete the second year of their two-year Latin requirement. Students entering Class 9 must select a language (modern or Classics) they will pursue up to Level III. In some instances, and increasingly so, students undertake the parallel study of two languages. Greek is also offered as an elective starting in Class 10.

Studies at advanced levels are offered in Advanced Placement language, Advanced Placement literature and Advanced Topics in language and literature. Students continuing the study of the language at levels 4 and 5 pursue advanced levels of language and culture that include film, current events, and contemporary media.