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Upper School

Our rigorous Upper School academic program provides high school students with:

  • Small class sizes of 12 or less students
  • Laptops for each student and smart boards (interactive whiteboards) in every classroom
  • Curriculum that meets Maryland State Department of Education graduation requirements
  • Individualized guidance with Executive Function skills
  • Extra reading and writing support
  • Special area classes in music, art, drama, health, and physical education
  • Weekly classes in our Hands on Highlands program

Please note:

We are phasing out the Upper School to allow more resources to go toward our Lower and Middle School students. The class of 2024 will be our last graduating class. We are accepting junior and senior transfers for the 2022-23 academic year and senior transfers only for the 2023-24 academic year.  

Executive function (EF) skills are defined as “the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully.” Many of our students require support with developing these skills, which are essential for academic success. We provide individualized guidance with:

  • Establishing routines
  • Memory strategies
  • Organizing strategies
  • Emotional self-regulation
  • Planning and prioritizing
  • Shifting and flexible problem solving
  • Self-monitoring and checking strategies
  • Goal setting

Please note:

We are phasing out the Upper School to allow more resources to go toward our Lower and Middle School students. The class of 2024 will be our last graduating class. We are accepting junior and senior transfers for the 2022-23 academic year and senior transfers only for the 2023-24 academic year. 

At The Highlands School, we work with each Upper School student to develop a personal college and/or career plan. Opportunities include:

  • Junior Seminar where students begin to explore interests
  • Senior Capstone allows students to further investigate college and career plans
  • Guidance department to help students navigate the college and career process
  • Opportunities for internships
  • PSAT, SAT, and ACT testing
  • Hands on Highlands, our innovative Tech Arts program
  • Financial Literacy classwork

Our graduates have been accepted to many colleges and universities, including American University, Beacon College, Elizabethtown College, Harford Community College, Hood College, Stevenson University, Towson University, York College, Goucher College, University of Maryland, and more.

Please note:

We are phasing out the Upper School to allow more resources to go toward our Lower and Middle School students. The class of 2024 will be our last graduating class. We are accepting junior and senior transfers for the 2022-23 academic year and senior transfers only for the 2023-24 academic year.  

"Three years ago, our son in fifth grade wasn't confident. Words can never fully express what Highlands has done for our son in both education and self-esteem. He has blossomed into a fine, confident young man. His handwriting is now very legible, something we never thought would happen. He has been surrounded by a positive and encouraging staff that believes in what they do and it has been in all the wonderful and amazing progress our son has made over the past three years."

ChristinaParent