Curriculum

Upper School 9 - 12

Preparation for the Future

The Bullis Upper School curriculum is challenging and personalized with a focus on developing skills needed for success in college and to enjoy a balanced, fulfilling, and meaningful life. Upper School students thrive in a caring and engaging environment that provides access to unparalleled resources and learning spaces.

We graduate committed and resilient students who are kind and considerate people. We draw on a wide variety of teaching practices and learning opportunities to cultivate respect, understanding, and compassion for others.

At Bullis, we believe in academic choice built on a solid foundation.

Bullis operates on a trimester system: the first trimester ends at Thanksgiving, the second ends in early March and the third at the end of the school year in early June.

Each student’s schedule is tailored to meet their academic needs. After students meet these minimum requirements they are free to explore electives.

English every year, all year
3 years of Social Studies
3 years of Science
3 years of Math
2 years of Global Language
A Visual or Performing Arts Class

As our graduates head to college, they are prepared with these courses, plus the electives, activities, service, sports, and leadership that they choose.

Upper School Signature Programs

Bullis Upper School offers planned courses of study in signature program areas — Entrepreneurship, Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM), Visual & Performing Arts (VPA).

The Signature Program model entails opportunities for:

Interdisciplinary study
Experiential education
Research-based culminating/capstone experiences
Student choice among curricular offerings

Signature Program classes enable students to prepare the foundation for a Signature Program honors capstone experience, if they so choose.

Signature Programs

Entrepreneurship	Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)	Visual & Performing Arts
Business Model Design Entrepreneurial Finance International Trade & Business Personal Finance	Computer-aided design (CAD) Digital Media Engineering Making for Social Good Robotics	Dance Music Performance Music Technology Technical Theatre Theatre Performance Visual Art

What is Senior Capstone?

A senior capstone allows students to choose a topic that they are passionate or curious about and develop a year-long project.

Seniors who choose to do a capstone project explore beyond the Bullis course catalog with an intensive, meaningful project of their own design — in close collaboration with a mentor.
Capstone students present the results of their deep explorations to the community in April at the Signature Program Symposium.

Senior Capstone (Elective)

Entrepreneurship	Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)	Visual & Performing Arts
Year-long Startup Customer Development & Design Thinking Mentorship Shark Tank	Year-long Project Scientific Method of Inquiry Mentorship Signature Symposium	Year-long Project Portfolio Development Design, Create & Perform Mentorship Signature Symposium

Academic Resources

Academic Center

The Bullis Academic Center, located in the Marriott Family Library, supports Upper School students and teachers to optimize a student’s learning experience.

The Academic Center is a hub for learning and achievement. Students are encouraged to spend study halls in the Center, and all Upper School teachers are expected to spend two periods per week working in the Center.
The Upper School learning specialist and a media specialist are located in the Academic Center and help oversee the Center. The learning specialist and coach offer strategies to enhance the cognitive and academic performance of all students.
The Academic Center also houses a fully functioning Writing Lab staffed by a member of the English department for students who seek writing enrichment or help with various writing assignments.
In addition, Bullis Student Tutors operates out of the Academic Center, providing peer tutoring for a variety of courses.

Writing Lab

The Bullis Writing Lab is located in the Academic Center, and is available in-person and online.

The Lab serves as a resource for students and faculty to promote best writing practices, provide strategies, workshop student writing, and offer guidance through the writing process across the curriculum. For students who desire supplemental practice and guidance, the Writing Lab is an excellent place to start!

Bullis Online Learning Writing Lab (BOWL)

Access BOWL

Advisory Program

Upper School students receive social and emotional support from the entire Bullis community, grounded in our strong advisory program. The advisory curriculum meets student needs and focuses on each student’s wellness and social-emotional life, to help them explore and understand the weighty choices they face as they become young adults. At Bullis, we educate more than the academic mind. We focus on the whole child, recognizing our role in equipping students for healthy and successful lives.

K-12 Curriculum Guide

Discover Upper School at Bullis

« Overview College Counseling »

Main Menu

Explore More

Navigation