Rising to New Heights: Upper School Academics at WMA

'WMA is great for a lot of reasons ...'

A Community of Learners from Around the World

As a community of learners we are constantly engaged and learning from each other. We are a student-centered environment that embraces different student experiences from around the world. At WMA we ask a lot of our students in the classroom, but we are also there to guide them. Whether you are conducting independent research for an AP Capstone project, designing a robot in our iLab, building an investment portfolio in the Trading Center or traveling through the Amazon learning about cultural migration, we will meet you where you need to be met ... and raise you to the next level.

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Upper School, Grades 9-12

In a diverse, rigorous and caring environment, the Upper School promotes the intellectual, social and physical growth of adolescents. Students broaden their academic development as they prepare for the challenges of higher education and for success as compassionate, challenge-seeking global citizens and leaders in an increasingly interdependent world.

Curriculum Information

Diploma Requirements

The core requirements for a WMA diploma include:

Students must take a minimum of five credits per trimester.
57 credits are necessary for graduation.
42 of these credits must be earned from core requirements, across 6 disciplines.
The 15 remaining elective credits allow flexibility for students to broaden their intellectual development.
Equivalent transfer credits from other schools will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Additional requirements are:

All Grade 9 students are required to take First Year Foundations.
Students enrolled throughout the senior or postgraduate year will participate in Commencement.
Seniors and postgraduates must pass the equivalent of five yearlong courses in which they are enrolled.
All students must successfully complete the afternoon requirements.

Core Credits (42)

English (12 credits): Students must be enrolled in an English course every trimester.

Mathematics (9 credits): Three years of mathematics, including successful completion of Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2. All students take mathematics through Grade 11. Many colleges may require or prefer to see mathematics through Grade 12.

History & Social Sciences (6 credits): Two years of history, including U.S. History in Grade 11 or 12. World History is required of all students in Grade 9. Courses in the program constitute history/social science courses for college credit. Many colleges may require or prefer to see at least three years of history/social sciences.

Science & Technology (6 credits): Two years of laboratory science. STEM 9 Physics is required of all students in Grade 9. Many colleges may require or prefer at least three years of laboratory science.

World Languages (6 credits): Two years of the same language. Many colleges may require or prefer three or four years of the same language.

Fine & Performing Arts (3 credits): Three credits in the fine & performing arts.

Additional Requirements

Course Load Requirements

Upper school students are required to take five courses (credits) each trimester. However, students are permitted to take six courses (credits) each trimester. Students are discouraged from taking seven courses (credits) in a trimester due to the intensity and time commitment required. A student wishing to exceed six courses (credits) in a trimester must see the Dean of Studies.

Daily Academic Schedule

Postgraduate

Experience the benefits of a postgraduate year at WMA

Study in a diverse and rigorous college preparatory environment where each student can seek individual attention from committed faculty.
Participate in award-winning Athletics and Activities programs to further develop and hone talents and skills that students can carry into their college careers.
Work with our devoted College Counseling office to help select and apply to colleges and universities that would best fit each student’s individual talents, interests, and goals.

PG Diploma Requirements

PG Diploma Requirements

Postgraduate Requirements

Our goal is to equip postgraduates with the skills and experience necessary to thrive in a college environment. To achieve this goal, postgraduate students are required to enroll in a specific selection of courses in order to be eligible for our diploma.

These courses include:

A full year of English (full year or term electives) is required.
An appropriate Mathematics course
A yearlong course in Science & Technology, World Languages or CEEF (Center for Entrepreneurship, Economics & Finance).
Two additional yearlong courses (or a combination of three trimester courses) in CEEF, Mathematics, Science & Technology, World Languages, History & Social Sciences or Fine & Performing Arts

Postgraduates may elect not to follow the above course schedule, in which case, they are eligible to receive a Certificate of Attendance from the Academy.

Middle School, Grades 6-8

The primary goal of our WMA Middle School is to promote the intellectual, social and physical growth of young adolescents. We seek to stimulate and satisfy the innate curiosity of our young learners. Our academic program features an integrated humanities curriculum, an issues-oriented science program, an accelerated mathematics program, and extensive world languages courses, with a technology component incorporated into these courses. All Middle School students also take art, music, health and physical education.

Course Offerings

Daily Academic Schedules 2023-2024

Download a PDF of both Upper School schedules

Upper School - Blue Week

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