Self-Reliance & A Strong Work Ethic
Upper School students are busy preparing for college—learning to appreciate fine literature, engaging in the study of cultures throughout history, solving complex problems in AP Calculus and Chemistry, expressing their ideas in essays and research papers, and studying the latest trends in computer science.
You’ll see their artwork in the halls, their theatrical and musical abilities on stage, their tenacity on the playing field, teamwork during a club meeting, and empathy while participating in Service Learning. And all are prepared for college and the next steps, thanks to a committed and conscientious faculty that knows our students and helps them to know themselves.
Dedicated Upper School teachers continue to offer embedded support for bright students, including those with dyslexia, ADHD, executive functioning challenges, and academic performance anxiety, while still delivering a rigorous college preparatory curriculum. Students are equipped with the strategies to best support their own learning and further develop their self-awareness and self-advocacy skills.
The work of “learning how to learn” is very much a part of daily life, as students identify how they learn best and take action on what they need to be successful.
Upper SchoolParent to Parent
HighlightsUpper School
- Senior Projects, experiential education, and Service Learning opportunities.
- Competitive Athletics, Coaching, and Mentoring Program, including conference championships and undefeated seasons.
- Robust social offerings with clubs, after school and weekend activities, Spirit Weeks, a fall dance, Senior Farewell, and junior/senior prom.
- Comprehensive College Counseling and College Transition and Success Program
- CORE Program guides all students through a sequence of executive functioning skill building, social-emotional learning, and contextualized investigation of the world around them as they develop their personal identities and pursue an understanding of their place in local and global communities.
- Embedded executive function instruction in all academic classes, including direct support in Study Hall
- A tradition of grade-level field trips in September and May.
Q and AUpper School Support
What academic support is offered in the Upper School?
McLean faculty members have extensive knowledge of best practices in working with diverse learners, and all students benefit from the flexible educational styles used by our teachers. Along with the teachers, the Coordinator of Learning Services creates a Student Learning Profile™ (also known as a McLean Learning Profile) for each student and an Academic Achievement Plan for students when necessary.
Students also receive additional support from faculty in one-on-one or small-group tutorials during the school day. Accommodations such as extended time on tests and exams, laptop computers, class notes, and speech-to-text software are all available. When appropriate, students may also receive readers and/or scribes for tests and exams.
Does the Upper School offer independent or experiential learning opportunities?
Yes! Qualified juniors and seniors may enroll in courses at local colleges and universities, along with online AP classes, if schedules and course obligations permit.
Some students may also choose to pursue a passion or interest outside of school, such as EMT training. In addition, senior projects provide opportunities for independent study and internships.
What social/emotional support is provided in the Upper School?
Self-advocacy is a hallmark of McLean, and our Upper School Counselors work as part of a multidisciplinary team to create a safe and respectful environment where all students may learn.
Students become confident that they can handle tasks they encounter by working closely with their teachers and using the strengths of their particular learning styles. The advisory program also provides consistent social-emotional learning activities that are a cornerstone.
Additionally, our required CORE program for all grades creates deliberate and purposeful opportunities to support and guide students through executive functioning skill building, social-emotional learning, and contextualized investigation of the world around them as they develop their personal identities and pursue an understanding of their place in local and global communities.
Summarize the College Counseling process.
Our comprehensive college counseling program helps students identify and select schools that best match their academic strengths, learning styles, and personal interests. McLean’s college counselors meet regularly with juniors and seniors to review the college application process—researching schools, planning visits, writing essays, and practicing interview skills.
In addition, the counselors work with individual students and their parents or guardians to help families navigate and manage the college admission and financial aid processes. Students learn to use SCOIR to manage their college applications.
How does the Upper School prepare students for college?
We take our college preparatory role seriously at McLean, and all we do – beginning as early as Lower School – is geared toward helping our students become confident, capable learners ready for the world.
Our gradual release approach means that throughout their time at McLean, students receive various, appropriate levels of scaffolding and support – as well as self-advocacy skill building – with the goal being independence by the time they graduate and go on to college.