A teenage student with curly hair sits at a desk in a classroom, holding a pencil and looking attentively ahead. Another student is seated behind him.

Academics

Upper School

A crowd of enthusiastic students in bleachers cheer and wave blue pom-poms at an indoor sports event.Two students sit at a table in a classroom, looking at and discussing papers together, with a laptop and folders in front of them.A large group of students in blue graduation gowns and caps pose for a photo with bouquets outside a building labeled "Upper School.A soccer player prepares to throw the ball from the sideline while a teammate stands nearby on a grassy field with a leafy backdrop.A crowd of enthusiastic students in bleachers cheer and wave blue pom-poms at an indoor sports event.Two students sit at a table in a classroom, looking at and discussing papers together, with a laptop and folders in front of them.A large group of students in blue graduation gowns and caps pose for a photo with bouquets outside a building labeled "Upper School.A soccer player prepares to throw the ball from the sideline while a teammate stands nearby on a grassy field with a leafy backdrop.
Four students sit around a desk working together on a group project, discussing papers and holding pencils in a classroom setting.An instructor helps a student shape clay on a pottery wheel in a classroom setting, with shelves and pottery tools visible in the background.Two students sit at a table reading orange-covered books in a classroom with large windows in the background.A student in a black hoodie sits at a desk holding a pen and appears attentive in a classroom, with other students visible in the background.Four students sit around a desk working together on a group project, discussing papers and holding pencils in a classroom setting.An instructor helps a student shape clay on a pottery wheel in a classroom setting, with shelves and pottery tools visible in the background.Two students sit at a table reading orange-covered books in a classroom with large windows in the background.A student in a black hoodie sits at a desk holding a pen and appears attentive in a classroom, with other students visible in the background.

Rigor, But Not Rigid

College Bound

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, theatrical and musical abilities on stage, 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.

Upper School At a Glance

Two people sit and talk on a bench beneath a wall with motivational words, while another person walks past; a vertical garden is on the left side of the scene.

Upper School Behind the Scenes

Two students talk in a hallway with green walls. One holds papers and wears a backpack; others are visible in the background.

Upper School Highlights

Smaller Classes

With a 9:1 student-teacher ratio, Upper School classes provide the perfect balance of individualized attention and collaborative learning.

Smaller classes allow teachers to truly know each student and tailor instruction to their strengths and needs.

Students gain strategies to support their own learning, develop self-awareness, and strengthen self-advocacy skills.

Academic Rigor

All Upper School courses are college-preparatory, with opportunities to take Honors and AP courses for students seeking additional challenge.

A rigorous curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, and intellectual independence.

Students develop the skills and confidence needed for college-level work and lifelong success.

Meaningful Connections & Support

Teachers prioritize cultivating strong, meaningful relationships with each of their students – essential for student success.

All students have a McLean Learning Profile (MLP); a living document that captures a student’s academic strengths and challenges.

Teachers use research-based instruction and direct instruction in executive functioning strategies.

Superior College Counseling

McLean’s College Counseling program provides personalized guidance throughout Upper School, helping students find the best college fit for their strengths, interests, and goals.

Beyond graduation, our pioneering College Transition and Success Coordinator supports students as they adjust to college and continue to build time management, study strategies, organization, and self-advocacy skills.

Full Scope Program of Opportunities

From the stage to the studio, there’s something for everyone. Social offerings include clubs, robotics team, plays, musicals, weekend activities, Spirit Weeks, a fall dance, and junior/senior prom.

Whether it’s the annual NYC trip, traveling to Spain, or overnight experiences, we foster a strong sense of belonging and school pride, celebrate milestones, and encourage students to step into leadership roles, collaborate with peers, and create lasting memories.

Competitive Athletics

Our Athletics, Coaching, and Mentoring Program fosters teamwork, resilience, and leadership, highlighted by conference championships and undefeated seasons.

As proud members of the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference (PVAC), our student-athletes compete with integrity and school pride while developing skills that extend far beyond the field and court.

Senior Humanities

A key skill for college success is the ability to critically analyze and synthesize diverse sources of information.

Senior Humanities courses intentionally integrate English, Literature, and History to provide students with a culminating opportunity to refine these essential skills.

Students strengthen their ability to think deeply, make meaningful connections, and communicate complex ideas with clarity and confidence.

Senior Projects

Senior Projects are the capstone of the McLean experience. During the final quarter of senior year, students pursue a self-directed passion project that extends learning beyond the classroom and into the community.

Guided by a faculty mentor, seniors apply research, critical thinking, and problem-solving to real-world challenges while reflecting on their growth and future goals. They then present their work with confidence and purpose at the Senior Showcase.

Q and A

Upper School

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.

Learn More About College Counseling

We take our college preparatory role seriously at McLean, and all we do is geared toward helping our students become confident, capable learners ready for the world.

Our intentional approach allows us to scaffold the teaching of self-advocacy skills so that students are independent and ready to tackle the challenges of college.

Learn More About Our Alum Achievements

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 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.

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 needs. The advisory program also provides consistent social-emotional learning activities that are a cornerstone. Two counselors in the Upper School also provide

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.

Flexible scheduling allows qualified juniors and seniors to enroll in courses at local colleges and universities, along with taking online AP classes, if schedules and course obligations permit.

Senior Projects allow Seniors to use their four years of skills and apply them to internships, research, service, and creative experiences.

Service Learning projects, along with Off-Campus Education and Team Building experiences, provide valuable opportunities for our students to learn about themselves, others, and the world.

Explore Upper School

A teacher with pink hair helps three students with their assignments at a table in a science classroom.
Upper School Curriculum
Two students sit at a round table, working on laptops in a classroom decorated with colorful college pennants on the wall.
College Counseling
Four students sit at desks in a classroom, talking and writing on paper together during a group activity.
Graduation Requirements
Students work on various art projects at large tables in a bright, well-equipped classroom filled with art supplies and decorations.
Upper School Faculty & Staff

Upper School

Parent to Parent

How Does The Upper School Develop Self-Advocacy?

A young woman sits at a table holding an open book, looking slightly to the side. Shelves with books are visible in the background.

How Is The Social Environment In The Upper School?

Four students play foosball together in a bright room with large windows, wearing school uniforms of navy tops and khaki bottoms.

Is The Upper School Curriculum Rigorous?

A group of four students and an adult sit around a table, looking at papers together, with college pennants displayed on the wall behind them.

Is There Academic Support In The Upper School?

A teacher stands at the front of a classroom while four high school students sit at desks, some using laptops and phones. The classroom walls display colorful posters and decorations.
The entrance to McLean School.

Discover the McLean Experience

It’s critically important for a child to be in a school that respects them for who they are, and supports their academic strengths and challenges. This has always been true for McLean. 

Visit
Apply Now