Curriculum
hero-banner
Preparation for College and Beyond
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 an abundance of resources and high quality 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.
Divider Hazel
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 World Language
- A Visual or Performing Arts Class
As our graduates head to college, they are prepared with these courses, plus the electives, activities, service, athletics, and leadership that they choose.
Divider Hazel
Signature Programs
Bullis Upper School offers planned courses of study in three Signature Programs — 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.
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 the Spring at the Signature Program Symposium or Shark Tank competition.
Divider Hazel
Academic Resources
Divider Hazel