Upper School

Upper School is all about preparing you to strive confidently towards the direction of your dreams. With immersive and interactive learning opportunities that are flexible, personal, and relevant, you will have the freedom to follow where your curiosity leads. To ask meaningful questions and leverage a variety of resources and skills to find complex answers (and more questions). To put classroom learning into real-world practice on campus, in our local community, and abroad.

We will challenge you to think critically about the world, your place in it, and your intended impact. And guide you in the development of character traits and soft skills—leadership, resilience, tenacity, to name a few—so that you thrive in college (we’ll work together to find that perfect fit) and beyond.

DEPARTMENTS

Virtual Reality headset during computer science week

Fitness center strength and conditioning room

Physical Education & Health

Physical Education & Health

Science

Social Sciences

World Language

Mandarin guest lecture on traditional Chinese medicine

Signatures

Our Upper School signatures allow you to explore new ideas, delve deep into your interests, and immerse yourself in opportunities outside the classroom. Heads up: that means getting comfortable with being uncomfortable, taking risks, and getting a new perspective—AKA when the magic happens.

Advanced Courses
Discovery Term
Electives, Independent Studies, and Online Learning
Interdisciplinarity
No GPA Ranking
Work Experience Program
World Language Exchange Program

Discover All Signatures

College Counseling

College. It is a wonderful, daydream-inspiring, thrilling, daunting, overwhelming—sometimes all of the above, all at once—prospect. Our dedicated and experienced college counselors are here to support you through the entire process. They’ll guide you on an incredible journey of self-discovery that ends with a custom list* of college options that best align with you interests, values, and goals.

* Make no mistake: there’s no standard list here. Our counselors are committed to continuously learning about a wide range of schools and programs—even those off the beaten path or that offer an unconventional approach—that might meet our students’ needs.

Learn More

CURIOSITY FOR THE FUTURE

Upper School News

November 11, 2024

Profiles in Purpose

Charlotte’s path to purpose started in MaLi Burnett’s biology class, where she worked as a teaching assistant during her sophomore year. The role would evolve into co-designing and leading an “Ecology at CA” Discovery Term, during which Dadd learned about native and invasive species and environmental design principles through field trips to botanical gardens and parks. She applied her newfound knowledge by collaborating with peers to design and construct a wildlife pond behind the Center for Math and Science, now used as a real-world interactive lab for studying aquatic ecosystems.

February 8, 2024

Science Olympiad starts the season off right.

Earlier this month, the Middle School and Upper School Science Olympiad Teams competed in their first tournament of the season, the NCSO Raleigh Regional Tournament. Overall, The MS varsity team earned an 8th-place trophy! The Upper School varsity team placed 6th overall- earning a bid to the state tournament in April at NCSU. Cary Academy […]

October 19, 2023

Time Well Spent

It is perhaps a (deceptively) simple question: How is your relationship with time? I mulled over this question after reading a chapter called “Generosity with Time” in Chris Balme’s Finding the Magic in Middle Schools. As someone who teaches in middle school but lives with teenagers of various ages—especially older ones—I found it resonant, offering […]