The Upper School | Grades 9-12
The Upper School at Ashley Hall features a dynamic and supportive community of faculty, staff, and students and includes seventh through twelfth grades. By emphasizing the growth of the individual through hands-on learning, the Upper School fully prepares students to become self-reliant, independent thinkers.
Classes promote student-directed conversations where everyone’s voice is heard and respected, and community partnerships connect students with valuable professional experiences and mentorships. With each succeeding year, students in the Upper School discover more opportunities to exercise their critical thinking through interdisciplinary studies such as those required by the Oral Defense Project, the Senior Seminar, and the Senior Project. Throughout, a global perspective infuses coursework and inspires extensive educational travel programs to both national and international destinations.
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Upper School Curriculum
The Upper School specializes in collaboration and teamwork while encouraging each girl to find and use her unique voice. Highlights include the following:
- Students explore the humanities through the Harkness philosophy developed by Phillip Exeter Academy. Positioned around the oval Harkness table so everyone is seen and heard, students learn critical thinking by the sharing of ideas and opinions.
- College counseling begins in earnest during ninth grade preparing the student for the formal application process.
- The Upper School features a strong science program that emphasizes hand-on experiences. Students capitalize on partnerships with the Medical University of South Carolina working closely with leading researchers in various fields of medicine.
- Fine arts opportunities abound with many girls participating in the school’s renowned Red Choir and Show Choir or various theater productions. Visual arts are explored through sketching and painting as well as sculpture.
Download The Upper School (Grades 7-12) Overview
The Power of An All Girls’ Education
Ashley Hall’s exceptional program is intentionally tailored to the way girls learn best—through collaboration, discussion, and individualized attention. The results are remarkable. Our graduates continue to impress with more than $9 million in merit scholarships garnered over the last five years, including three University of North Carolina Morehead Cain Scholars, one of the most prestigious scholarships extended.
Research About Girls’ Schools:
The Girls’ School Advantage at Ashley Hall
Why Girls’ Schools by the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools
Quick Facts about Girls’ Schools by the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools