Charter High School - Our Approach

Our Approach:
High School

At Success Academy High Schools of the Liberal Arts, scholars encounter sophisticated, collegiate-style academics, discover and develop talents, and forge close bonds with peers and faculty as they grow into informed, thoughtful citizens. Our goal is to prepare scholars to graduate from college in four years and pursue a life of opportunity and personal fulfillment. Every aspect of our high school model is designed to cultivate the skills, mindsets, and knowledge our scholars need to successfully navigate the demands of college, citizenship, and professional life.

Explore our high school curriculum!

Learn more about our approach to high school and explore our academic core components — essentials for excellence.

High School Curriculum

A Day in the Life

Before classes begin, scholars convene at “basecamps” where they watch the scholar-produced news show The Hawk Eye TV and orient themselves to scale to new heights in the day ahead.
A Day in the Life

Our sports and fitness program consists of competitive sports, athletic clubs, core courses, and health-related classes.
A Day in the Life

Our math curriculum emphasizes the use of logic and reasoning to demonstrate problem-solving as a method of inquiry and investigation. Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, and AP Calculus and/or AP Statistics make up the core courses.

All scholars take four years of Math.
A Day in the Life

In literature, scholars delve into a wide array of challenging texts from both the Western canon and contemporary culture to examine themselves and the world. In writing, scholars compose argumentative, narrative, and research papers.

All scholars take four years of English.
A Day in the Life

The STEM Academies are selective programs that have been designed for scholars who are passionate about STEM and want to delve into specialized, college-level study. The Engineering Academy progresses through Environmental Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. The Pre-med Academy progresses through Pathophysiology, Microbiology, Genetics, Immunology, and Bioethics, and culminates in a senior-year capstone project.
A Day in the Life

Outside of academics, scholars also have a wide range of electives to choose from. These include photography, painting, portraiture, chess, theater, hip-hop, and music theory. We also offer a range of athletic electives for scholars to hone their skills, including basketball and track.
A Day in the Life

Our approach to history is set apart by an emphasis on inquiry and the examination and analysis of primary sources and authentic artifacts. Success Academy high school scholars engage in a rigorous four-year history program, including two years of World History and two years of an elective history course of their choosing.
A Day in the Life

Daily, inquiry-based science is integral to our curriculum. Ninth graders complete weekly laboratory exercises and write-ups, mastering advanced applications of the scientific method. Beginning in the sophomore year, scholars are able to engage in college-level science content in AP courses. All scholars take four years of Science.
A Day in the Life

All scholars can select from a range of fine arts classes, learning both theory and practical techniques for self-expression on the canvas, the stage, and in the music room.
A Day in the Life

Scholars benefit from enriching field studies and summer programs that prepare them for life after high school while exposing them to new perspectives and challenges. After school, scholars participate in clubs and teams, rehearsing for musicals, talking policy at a debate meeting, practicing for a competitive basketball tournament, or composing a compelling photograph.

Intellectual engagement at the highest levels

Our advanced liberal arts curriculum prioritizes student-led inquiry and cross-disciplinary perspectives, preparing scholars for the demands they will encounter at selective colleges and in the workforce. All our courses have all been calibrated to match

collegiate expectations, tasks, and grading standards and culminate in a high-stakes exam demonstrating college-level proficiency. The work is extremely challenging, but teachers are always available for individualized support.

Our advanced liberal arts curriculum prioritizes student-led inquiry and cross-disciplinary perspectives, preparing scholars for the demands they will encounter at selective colleges and in the workforce. All our courses have all been calibrated to match collegiate expectations, tasks, and grading standards and culminate in a high-stakes exam demonstrating college-level proficiency. The work is extremely challenging, but teachers are always available for individualized support.

STEM + STEM Academies

Our core science program encourages scholars to think flexibly and analytically, challenging them to systematically follow lines of insightful inquiry when faced with unfamiliar and difficult problems. The math sequence emphasizes conceptual understanding and applied problem solving. Select scholars can enroll in our STEM Academies — Engineering Academy & Pre-med Academy — taking additional classes such as Mechanical and Electrical engineering and Microbiology.

Humanities + Humanities Academy

All scholars take full-year literature and writing seminars, mastering the literary analysis essay. Underclassmen enjoy survey courses, engaging in close analysis that situates texts within the literary canon and broader historical context. Older scholars choose among courses focused on specific themes, literary movements, and time periods. The Humanities Academy is a diploma distinction that reflects a robust suite of AP level courses typically reserved for collegiate study.
Enriching experiences that enhance learning

We believe experiential learning is invaluable for developing resourceful, confident and capable students. Our schools nurture the creative interests and special talents of scholars, and we regard electives, internships, sports, clubs, and summer programs as vital to the high school curriculum. Whether combining creativity

with engineering skills in robotics, or training diligently for the nation’s largest track and field event, scholars are invested in their pursuits. We support them by providing high-level elective courses, truly excellent faculty, and sophisticated enrichment activities, including Broadway plays, trips to world-class museums, and travel to events in cities across the U.S.

We believe experiential learning is invaluable for developing resourceful, confident and capable students. Our schools nurture the creative interests and special talents of scholars, and we regard electives, internships, sports, clubs, and summer programs as vital to the high school curriculum. Whether combining creativity with engineering skills in robotics, or training diligently for the nation’s largest track and field event, scholars are invested in their pursuits. We support them by providing high-level elective courses, truly excellent faculty, and sophisticated enrichment activities, including Broadway plays, trips to world-class museums, and travel to events in cities across the U.S.

Electives

Scholars take at least six electives to graduate, selecting from visual arts, performing arts, sports, computer science, creative writing, and more.

Clubs + Teams

Scholars can explore new interests and feed their passions by participating in one of the many clubs or teams on offer. Clubs meet before and after school, and scholars who join a team commit substantial time to training and competitions at both regional and national tournaments. There are more than a dozen clubs — and eligible scholars can form their own — including Afrobeats Dance, Art, Theater, Theater Tech Crew, and Gay-Straight Alliance. Teams include Basketball, Chess, Conservatory Dance Company, Debate, OT3 Hip Hop Dance Team, and Track & Field.

Columbia Edge + Summer Programs

A small number of scholars will attain the highest level of academic achievement on the full suite of course offerings at HSLA. These scholars are eligible to apply for the Columbia Edge program; if accepted, scholars are able to take a course on campus at Columbia University alongside undergraduate scholars.We also help scholars apply to exceptional summer programs. Pre-college academic programs are particularly popular — most of our seniors have spent at least one summer on a college campus.
On the path to, and through, college

We have created a school design aimed at helping all our scholars gain college admission — and succeed once they arrive on campus. Our college advisors identify colleges that are strong matches and that will offer robust financial aid. We advise on the application and financial aid processes and provide comprehensive preparation for the PSAT, SAT, SAT II and AP exams.

At the same time, we’re completely focused on cultivating the attributes and mindsets of successful college completers. Our scholars encounter many opportunities to build independence, practice perseverance, apply feedback, and enjoy choice in all aspects of our academic model.

We have created a school design aimed at helping all our scholars gain college admission — and succeed once they arrive on campus. Our college advisors identify colleges that are strong matches and that will offer robust financial aid. We advise on the application and financial aid processes and provide comprehensive preparation for the PSAT, SAT, SAT II and AP exams. At the same time, we’re completely focused on cultivating the attributes and mindsets of successful college completers. Our scholars encounter many opportunities to build independence, practice perseverance, apply feedback, and enjoy choice in all aspects of our academic model.

Preparing for College Persistence

Every grade has a dedicated Dean who helps scholars develop strong moral compasses as well as crucial life habits such as time- and task-management, goal-setting, calendaring, and self advocacy. Deans gain an in-depth understanding of scholars’ strengths and areas for growth in academic and non-academic settings. With a focus on college persistence, Deans help seniors understand essentials for living independently on campus, such as financial literacy, accessing campus resources, managing stress, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

College Counseling

Though the average college counselor to scholar ratio nationwide is nearly 500 scholars to 1 counselor, at HSLA, we maintain a ratio of 60 scholars to 1 counselor. Counselors partner with scholars and families to help identify the best colleges where financial support is available, complete financial aid forms, and help scholars showcase their achievements in compelling applications. Scholars can begin working with counselors beginning in grade 9, ensuring they know early on what it takes to get into top universities and helping them craft action plans to get there.

Integrated Test Prep

Our high schools provide comprehensive preparation for the PSAT, SAT I and SAT II, and AP exams. Building this essential prep into the schedule means that scholars don’t need to seek out costly external tutoring. To graduate, scholars must pass AP exams and take the SAT test, as well as SAT II subject tests.

Dive into our high school curriculum guide
to get a deeper understanding of our approach.

Learn More

PARENT INVOLVEMENT

We Promise To:

Instill in scholars not just the curiosity and work ethic required to enrich their minds, but the independence and agency needed to succeed in college and beyond.
Ensure a balanced community, one that matches the ambitious goals of our curriculum with a small-school feel.
Provide a culture of high standards and personal responsibility that complements the deep, rigorous learning present in our classrooms.
Never compromise our mission to deliver an education that endures. Our philosophy isn’t about the short-term or the easy way — it’s about the difficult and necessary steps to achieving daily mastery and self-motivated inquiry.

We Expect Parents and Guardians to:

Encourage the hard work, discipline, and focus young people need to fully reap the rewards of their education.
Engage with the community. Strong school culture is a touchstone of our program, and parent involvement is critical in making co-curricular and community service events exceed expectations.
Support scholars’ interests and ambitions. We equip scholars with the tools to realize their own goals, not just the ones dictated by our curriculum.
Understand the process. The Success Academy program emphasizes how to learn as much as the learning itself, and therefore stresses mindset and attitude as much as preparation and practice. We want our scholars to see education as not a chore but a responsibility.

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Our Approach: High School

Intellectual engagement at the highest levels

Enriching experiences that enhance learning

On the path to, and through, college