Beacon’s rigorous academic programs reflect the goals and values that we set forth as a community of learners. By emphasizing interdisciplinary studies and collaboration across the curriculum, we strive to foster a greater sense of intellectual engagement and discovery in our students. Beacon provides students with a solid academic framework, as well as the freedom to create a personalized intellectual experience.
The hallmark of a Beacon education is our completely individualized approach. We believe that every student can harness his or her own learning style and flourish under the guidance of committed teachers and mentors. This means that each student, from our youngest to oldest, is involved in course selection and building a program. Additionally, our individualized approach gives the unique advantage of offering extra support or enrichment on a course-by-course basis, rather than assigning students to an overarching “track” that defines their experience. This approach can offer students an otherwise elusive balance between challenge and support in the classroom.
We believe that by involving students in the academic process, we can foster a resilient love of learning. Students at all grade levels participate in designing their programs and are encouraged to choose courses that inspire them while enriching their core curriculum. Course selection is a dynamic process based on each student’s unique interests, abilities, and ambitions.
In the lower school, we employ a core curriculum emphasizing higher order thinking skills and key content areas. Our middle school lays the foundation for secondary education by building a robust academic base, promoting intellectual inquiry, and emphasizing effective study skills. In the upper school, students have a more active role in designing their programs, guided by an awareness of both college requirements and personal goals. Given that our students are preparing for a variety of experiences beyond our Upper School, graduation requirements may vary by program.
