In all Upper School English courses, students and teachers deeply and actively engage with their peers at the round table to evaluate ideas, see nuance, and find comfort in ambiguity.  This studio experience promotes exploration and appreciation of the power and language of diverse ideas.  Using texts that are carefully selected to provide as many experiential “mirrors” and “windows” as possible, each class builds a complex understanding of challenging material and, more importantly, becomes a community of learners united through respect, intellectual curiosity, and empathy. The round table classroom ultimately empowers student agency and sophisticated written expression:  preparation for a future of ethical, purposeful, and fulfilling participation in a changing world. Upper School students are taught to think logically and creatively; speak confidently, articulately, and persuasively; listen carefully and sensitively; read perceptively; and write effectively. Students and teachers deeply and actively engage with their peers using the round table methodology developed by our faculty to evaluate ideas, see nuance, and find comfort in ambiguity. Reading and writing are the central strands in the curriculum. The reading strand focuses on both canonical and contemporary literary selections that develop a variety of themes, while the writing strand requires that all students write on subjects using a variety of rhetorical strategies to address audience, tone, and purpose.

The performance arts (music, drama, and theatre) and the visual arts (drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, and digital art) comprise the Upper School's Fine Arts department. Students develop their individuality and self-confidence and refine their artistic skills through plays, concerts, and art displays. Dedicated to the development of artistic literacy for all students, the Fine Arts promote appreciation and respect for the diversity of an individual's cultural and historical experiences, as well as self-discipline, collaboration, problem solving, and perseverance. Teachers emphasize both the craft and the content of the arts through history, analysis, criticism, and aesthetics.

History courses in Upper School are designed to promote cultural literacy, critical thinking, and active global citizenship, and the school has a strong commitment to promoting global awareness and understanding. USM's courses are different than other schools, as students only use primary source materials, and not textbooks, in their learning and understanding of history. The scope and sequence of the curriculum imparts and reinforces key concepts, skills, and values needed for success in college and life. Freshmen
study World Civilizations, sophomores study Western Civilization, and juniors study U.S. History, with many opting to take Advanced Placement U.S. History. Seniors may choose from a variety of semester-long electives.

In Upper School mathematics courses, students learn how to explore and logically develop mathematical ideas, and how to develop problem-solving skills. They acquire speed and precision in mathematical computation, as well as the ability to organize, analyze, and draw logical conclusions. Students cultivate self-discipline in their approaches as they work to achieve a basic vocabulary essential to reading the literature of mathematics, leading to the development of an appreciation of and a curiosity about mathematics, and mastering a strong foundation for life.

We provide opportunities to learn a wide range of skills, including the acquisition, application, and analysis of scientific knowledge, and also offer all of the Advanced Placement science courses. The school’s science fair is open to all Upper School students who wish to participate. Some students take their studies further, by engaging in the Independent Science Research (ISR) transcript distinction program. The school has an excellent track record in having annual student finalists in the prestigious Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. To facilitate
student work, six rooms in our Upper School science wing
are designated as student project labs, and there is a science
research component to our science honors curriculum.

USM believes that physical education is an integral part of the education of today’s young people, and we endeavor to provide opportunities that enable students to acquire the knowledge, skills, and understanding they need to be physically literate individuals. All freshmen take the semester-long FITT 4 Life course, and all sophomores take the year-long Wellness and Physical Education course. Juniors and seniors have a variety of elective physical education courses from which they may choose.

World languages courses in French, Spanish, Chinese, and Latin are offered in the Upper School. Teachers strive to help student learners develop oral proficiency in speaking, by teaching language as a process of communication. Teachers emphasize active student participation and instruction that relies on the use of the target language for 95% of the classroom instruction time. Teachers strive to establish a safe, comfortable environment that allows for risk taking. Students also develop an understanding and appreciation of other cultures, which enables them to see themselves and their own cultures from different perspectives.

For those students whose interest in technology moves into exploring software, design, and the inner workings of the computer, computer science courses offer differing levels of challenge, including Advanced Placement Computer Science. In addition, students have the opportunity to participate in the House of Technology, USM’s technology, software, and hardware design and assistance shop, located in the school’s Lubar Center for Innovation and Exploration.

Innovation is at the heart of all that happens at USM, so much so that it has evolved into its own academic department in the Upper School. The process of thinking creatively, exploring ideas, and developing new solutions spans the entire curriculum. Students and teachers utilize the school’s Lubar Center for Innovation and Exploration, overseen by the school’s innovation engineer and including state-of-the-art equipment and materials, for coursework, workshop series, integrated course projects, and individual projects. In addition, the school offers an innovation transcript distinction program for interested students.

The USM College Guidance program is committed to helping students understand themselves and the college search process to maximize postsecondary opportunities. By meeting with students regularly over the course of four years, the college counselors guide students appropriately and effectively toward colleges that will best help them continue their intellectual, social, and personal growth. The program begins in the freshman year through advising activities that help students adjust to high school and make smart decisions about extracurricular activities. In the sophomore year, students learn how to use PowerSchool (formerly Naviance), write a recommendation letter for themselves, and meet one-on-one with their college counselor to develop a standardized testing plan for the junior year. The process accelerates in the junior year, when students begin their college search in earnest. The College Guidance office sponsors an optional fall college trip where students explore different types of colleges up close. Then, in the spring semester, the College Counseling Seminar provides ACT test preparation for the April ACT, and examines the college process in detail, from setting up a Common Application account and discussing essays to explaining financial aid and scholarships. During the winter months, juniors meet again one-on-one with their counselor, which is then followed up with a family meeting. Seniors also participate in a college counseling seminar in the fall semester with dedicated time during the school day to work on college applications and essays. Seniors again meet with their counselors one-on-one early in the semester to finalize all aspects of the list and develop an application strategy. The College Guidance office supports the student throughout the process and also serves as the student’s advocate with the colleges.

Each freshman is assigned to an advisor and an advising
group for their four years of Upper School. During advising, groups of 10 to 12 students work together and share
a wide range of experiences designed to help students in their academic and social development. Advisors may conduct small group sessions, one-on-one talks, class meetings, or assist with college guidance sessions. USM's advising program has three goals: to connect students with a faculty member who knows them and their families well; to provide personalized academic counseling; and to create a community among peers.

The Stratton Upper School Library serves as a hub for research, reading, and community engagement in both silent and collaborative study areas. Students are exposed to the necessity of practicing positive digital citizenship in preparation for living in a global society. We strive to equip students with the skills to conduct research and synthesize information across multiple disciplines. The main area of the library provides a silent space for focused work, and collaborative study rooms for creating soundtracks, movies, and podcasts, as well as conversational group study. Author luncheons, book club meetings, tutoring programs, chess matches, and a creative mindfulness center are also hallmarks of the library. The librarian works with students to create literary magazines, film festivals, and school-wide book promotions. Beyond our physical book collection, students have access to our electronic libraries for both research and pleasure reading. We provide access to research databases, including JSTOR, ProQuest, and EBSCO. Our library fosters creative and intellectual growth by providing resources and space to accommodate each individual student in a collective and welcoming environment.