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Personal Interest Meets Choice and Self-Awareness

 

George Walton Academy’s Upper School, which includes ninth through 12th grade, takes pride in balancing a challenging, college preparatory approach to academics with a wide array of elective offerings, co-curricular activities and other enrichment opportunities. Each student’s journey provides opportunities for them to refine skills, build depth of knowledge and understanding, and gain exposure to new perspectives. 

 

Philosophy

 

Through an appreciation of their own abilities and ambitions, high school students are encouraged to take ownership of the academic experience, both in and out of the classroom. Some may decide to pursue an Advanced Placement or honors track in one subject area while taking a less rigorous path in another.

These individual choices, which focus students’ academic interests and prepare them for greater selectivity in post-secondary education, are guided by their advisor, teachers, and the college counseling office. Working with students, parents and teachers, our college counselors are available to help tailor the high school years to each student’s needs and aspirations.

GWA graduates leave us as confident young scholars who are intellectually, socially and emotionally prepared to begin the next chapter of their lives.

Curriculum

 

The core of the upper school curriculum begins with our faculty. GWA teachers are encouraged to design active learning experiences that engage and challenge students to go beyond information in a textbook and take ownership and agency in their learning. Additionally, rich learning experiences are not restricted to the classroom; teachers facilitate a variety of field trips, regularly welcome guest speakers and encourage students to participate in service-learning projects throughout the year.

 


More Information About GWA's Upper School Program

 

More than 300 students are enrolled in the upper school, and classes are usually capped at 16 students. Learn more about the GWA upper school program by exploring the categories below.


High school courses operate on the semester system, each year composed of two semesters. Students take six classes along with a study hall on a hybrid schedule, allowing students to meet with all classes four times per week in both traditional length lessons and block lessons.

 

GWA offers Advanced Placement classes in 17 subjects, including the arts and computer science. Qualifying students may elect to take some AP courses as early as ninth grade. AP classes are typically small with an average class size of 10 students.

 

Students who choose to take an AP course must sit for the AP exam and/or turn in a portfolio of work, as required by the course, at the end of the spring semester. GWA students' AP exam scores consistently rank above state and national averages. 

 

 

Upper school students have the opportunity to earn college credit through Georgia's Dual Enrollment Program. All Dual Enrollment classes are taught on campus by GWA faculty and allow qualified high school students to earn college and high school credit simultaneously.  

 

 

All high school students are required to take the PSAT and SAT/ACT exams - all of which are administered on our campus. GWA students consistently score above the state and national averages on college entrance exams.

Kellie Watts

Upper School Division Head and Academic Dean
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