Academics

From Multidisciplinary to Interdisciplinary

In the Upper School, Riverdale students become independent thinkers and autonomous learners who think creatively and can analyze problems across disciplines. After completing foundational courses in 9th and 10th grade in all disciplines, students shift their focus to a series of electives and two capstone interdisciplinary courses: Constructing America, team-taught by English and history teachers, in 11th grade and Integrated Liberal Studies, a multidisciplinary examination of questions of fundamental human importance that draws on philosophy, psychology, art, and literature, in 12th grade. Students choose language courses from among Spanish, ancient Greek, Latin, French, Japanese, and Chinese. They round out their program by taking at least three years of arts courses, with a broad array of options, including film, choral music, sculpture, painting, jazz, or dance, and physical education courses, which provide many options from specific sports to yoga and pilates.

High Challenge,
High Support

The high challenge high support culture enables students to develop social and emotional skills while expanding their intellectual capacities. As in the Middle School, Upper School students are supported by a network of faculty, deans, and advisors who guide them as they make the important decisions about how to navigate their high school experience. Students pursue their own interests but also work collaboratively in and outside of the classroom. The assembly program gives them exposure to a variety of speakers and performers who help them build on their classroom studies and expose them to new concepts that don’t link to any particular discipline. One of the most impactful assemblies each year is the Why Learn assembly, where a beloved faculty member is chosen each year to share their thoughts on the purpose of education. Upper School students are pushed to consider many issues and possibilities as all of the strands they’ve pursued during their time at Riverdale begin to come together.

Unbounded Options

The required program ensures that students have a background in many different areas, but students also have many opportunities to create a program that allows them to explore their own interests. Students may choose from a wide array of elective offerings available in every discipline. Mini-courses offer enrichment opportunities in areas such as American Sign Language and debate. Students may choose to pursue independent studies or opt to create their own senior projects as a culmination of their Riverdale journey. Students take advantage of the campus environment, where they can participate in science research programs, develop apps in computer science, and even design vehicles and build tiny homes. We help each individual student understand that they cannot do everything, but collectively, Riverdale students do it all.