Upper School Overview
A wide variety of electives and extracurricular activities awaits students in the Upper School, grades nine through twelve. Classes continue in the core academic subjects (English, foreign language, mathematics, science, social studies) and schedules can be tailored to include honors and Advanced Placement classes and independent study. Students have opportunities for self-determination, thus they are actively engaged in their education.
Upper School teachers are exhilarated by the prospect of helping to shape their students’ futures. These charismatic individuals continue to coordinate the learning of skills across subject areas, while navigating students through lessons using technology and directive, interactive and project-oriented teaching.
In the Upper School, a three-person college counseling office guides juniors and seniors in the search for their next academic opportunity. The office provides practical advice that supports students and their families with the college admission process while following a philosophy that puts students at the center of an exploration, not just for a college, but also for a deeper understanding of themselves. Thus, the investigation of colleges is a rewarding process culminating in acceptance at a school that is a good fit for the student.
It is rare for a student here to feel insecure about anything he or she is doing. We don’t falsely inflate their self-images but simply give them the chance to experience so much that ultimately, they find the things that make them feel the best about themselves — Andrew Delinsky, Upper School Principal
Upper School Administrators
Andrew Delinsky, Upper School Principal
B.A., Franklin and Marshall College
M.A., Middlebury College Bread Loaf School of English
Bobby Pollicino, Dean of Students
B.S., Washington College
Constance Giles, Academic Dean
B.A., Muskingum College
M.A., University of South Alabama
Ph.D., University of Florida
Graduation Requirements
A student must fulfill the following distribution of credits to receive a Bullis diploma:
- 4 credits of English
- 3 credits of Math (through Algebra II)
- 3 credits of Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
- 3 credits of Social Studies (including U.S. History)
- 2 credits of Foreign Language (through Level III)
- 2 credits of Visual and Performing Arts
- 1/3 credit of Health
- 2 credits of Physical Education
Students must take a minimum of five credits each trimester; however, students typically carry six courses each trimester.
In their senior year, students must successfully complete five units of credit and must pass all courses in the third trimester.
Graduation Honors
Graduating seniors will be recognized with High Honors for achieving an overall academic average of 92 or higher (cumulative average based on Bullis courses only).
Graduating seniors will be recognized with Honors for achieving an overall academic average of 88 or higher (cumulative average based on Bullis courses only).
Course Selection or Course Changes
Course Selection
In the spring, each student receives a Curriculum Guide, a course request form and a course-requirements worksheet and works with his or her advisor to plan a course of study for the following year. Each student and his or her advisor consider course offerings, teacher recommendations and graduation requirements in selecting an appropriate schedule. Students wishing to take Advanced Placement courses must secure the approval (signature) of the appropriate department chair. Completed course request forms must be signed by each student’s parent or guardian and returned to his or her advisor for final approval.
Course Changes
Course changes are not encouraged. Changes must be approved by the appropriate teachers, the student’s parent or guardian, the student’s advisor and the academic dean. A student who would like to drop or add a course must first obtain a course change form from the academic dean. Specific deadlines are detailed on these forms. The following general guidelines apply to course changes and are discussed as part of the approval process:
- Any yearlong course dropped after the third week of the first trimester will be indicated on the transcript as “withdrawn/passing” or “withdrawn/failing.”
- A student may not drop a yearlong course after the beginning of the second trimester.
- No partial credit will be given for a yearlong course not completed.
- A student may not drop a trimester course after the fourth week of the trimester.
Program Models
The following are program models for each grade. At higher grade levels, variations occur because of differences in a student’s prior program of study. For example, Physics is listed for grade 11, although it could be taken in grade 12. Each student must work out a proper sequence with his or her academic advisor.
Grade 9
- English I—World Literature
- Geometry, Advanced Geometry or Algebra I
- Biology
- World History
- Foreign Language (Level I or II)
- Arts Electives
- Physical Education
Grade 10
- English II—American Literature
- Algebra II, Geometry or Honors Algebra II
- Chemistry or Honors Chemistry
- Modern European History
- Foreign Language (Level II or III/III(H))
- Arts Electives
- Technology Electives
- Health
- Physical Education
Grade 11
- English III—British Literature
- Pre-Calculus, Advanced Algebra or Functions (H)
- Physics, Honors Physics or AP Chemistry
- U.S. History and/or Social Studies Electives
- Foreign Language (Level III/III(H)) or an elective (Level IV, Introduction to Literature or AP)
- Arts Electives
- Technology Elective
- Physical Education
Grade 12
- English IV—Senior Seminars
- AP Calculus, AP Statistics, Pre-Calculus, Calculus or Finite Math
- AP Science Course or Science Elective
- Social Studies Elective
- Foreign Language Elective (Introduction to Literature, Level IV, Tour de Monde Francophone, AP or Advanced
Literature (H)) - Arts Electives
- Technology (AP Programming)
- Physical Education
Class Standing / Grade Distribution
In order to provide an informative summary of a student’s academic record, Bullis maintains a transcript that shows a grade distribution for each course a student has taken. The distributions account for all sections of a particular course taught by an instructor in a given marking period; therefore, it is possible to determine a student’s relative standing in each of his or her courses.
Bullis does not determine a single rank in class for its students. Because our students do not take the same program and because grade distributions vary among teachers, a cumulative ranking system based on raw or weighted grades is arbitrary and may not fairly represent a student’s relative achievement.
To complement our transcript, a curriculum chart is attached to allow for an assessment of the difficulty of each student’s program.
AP and Honors Workload Ceiling
- Students may not take more than four Honors and/or AP courses in one trimester.
- Students must direct petitions for exemption from this ceiling to the academic dean.
Independent Schools’ Consortium
Bullis is a member of the Bethesda Independent Schools’ Consortium, which includes the following schools: Connelly School of the Holy Child, Holton-Arms School, Landon School, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School and Stone Ridge School. Bullis seniors are eligible to take consortium courses.
While each Consortium school has its own specific admission policy, all schools have agreed that admission is dependent on an excellent academic standing, strong recommendations from appropriate teachers and academic deans, a stellar attendance record, well developed writing and reading skills, intellectual curiosity and a committed work ethic. These courses commence the week after regular classes begin and meet at one of the member schools three times a week from 7:00 to 7:50 in the morning and one or two evenings per month; attendance at all class meetings is mandatory. For 2008–09, Consortium courses offered are AP Economics, Asian Studies, AP French Literature, Multivariable Calculus and AP Art History.
Interested seniors must be approved for enrollment in Consortium courses by the academic dean.
Independent Study
Seniors and juniors with specialized interests or abilities may request approval to explore, under the supervision of a teacher, topics outside of those available in the published curriculum. Though specific arrangements and expectations will vary, all independent study will include a final project and a presentation. The presentation will be made to a group of teachers and administrators, including the academic dean, the principal, the department chair and others the student wishes to invite.
To request approval for independent study, students must submit a written proposal to the academic dean a minimum of two weeks in advance of the trimester or year of proposed study. This proposal should be designed through discussions with the supervising teacher. Specific guidelines for written proposals may be obtained from the academic dean.
Summer Study
Students are encouraged to pursue summer coursework in areas that interest them. Summer courses do not need to be approved unless they are taken for the purpose of earning Bullis credit. In these cases, each course must be approved in advance by the academic dean. Credit is noted on the Bullis transcript upon receipt of an official institutional transcript indicating successful completion of the course.
Bullis graduation requirements may not be satisfied through summer work. Exceptions to this policy are made at the discretion of the academic dean for students who are required by Bullis to take a specific summer course and for students who are taking a summer course to advance the level of their coursework at Bullis.
