Upper School - Pace Academy

Upper School - Pace Academy Upper School The Pace Academy Upper School is a place of connections. In the past 65+ years, we've grown in size and stature, but one element remains fixed—the relationships between our talented, nurturing faculty and our students. With approximately 125 students in a grade and class sizes that average 13, the Pace Upper School is a place where students know their teachers as professionals and as people. Developing this connection is the core of what we do. Students are challenged and grow in a supportive setting. Our faculty inculcates in students both the joy of learning and the worthiness of intellectual excellence. Pace graduates often return to campus describing how well prepared they were for their college academic careers, but mostly they come back to visit with their former teachers and spend time with the people they consider mentors and friends. Pace is a place that presents numerous opportunities for each student. More than 85% of our students participate in athletics; we stage three outstanding theater productions annually; our chorus, vocal ensembles, band and orchestra are second-to-none; and through the Isdell Center for Global Leadership, students pursue their passions with the help of our supremely talented faculty and our global and community partners. Our students are involved in the life of their school and in the world around them. They want to succeed—but they want to do so while making a difference. We think that’s the measure of a true education. Michael Gannon Head of Upper School Students in the Upper School AP classes and 20 honors classes offered National Merit Semifinalists Percent of students enrolled in AP courses in 2025 took the AP exam; 92% scored 3 or higher Academic rigor is the name of the game in the Pace Upper School—and while we set the bar high, we provide the support students need to exceed expectations. Students may choose to follow a path toward Advanced Placement in one department while taking less rigorous courses in another. These individual choices, guided by caring and knowledgeable deans in consultation with parents, speak to students’ interests and talents. Elective courses offer opportunities for additional exploration, ensuring students find their place in the classroom and beyond. Our faculty are the heart of the Upper School academic program, and they have the freedom to create challenging courses that unfailingly prepare students for college, for their roles in a civil society and for the challenges of a global community. Types of Courses College Preparatory (CP) Courses These courses provide the core content that will prepare students for the college of their choice. Honors Courses These advanced courses require more extensive reading and preparation, taking students beyond the college preparatory courses. Students must satisfy the following requirements for admission to an honors-level course: Superior performance on aptitude and achievement tests Superior past performance in a specific subject area Combined recommendations of teachers, department chairs and division head. Advanced Placement (AP) Courses AP courses provide an opportunity for acceleration and/or credit in college. Students enrolled in AP courses are required to take AP examinations developed by the College Board. View Upper School Courses View Curriculum Guide At Pace, we believe that the key to a successful education is the appropriate balance of challenge and support; we set the bar high, and then help students jump over it. Our faculty and staff provide multiple layers of support to assist students in navigating the social, emotional and academic challenges they may face in high school. Our goal is for every child to have the opportunity to reach his or her full potential. Peer Leadership Pathways The Dean System College Counseling INSTEAD Academic Resource Center (ARC) Counselors Orientation to life in the Upper School is a yearlong process. All ninth graders are assigned to one of eight groups (roughly 14 students per group) that are matched up with two to three dedicated senior Peer Leaders. Freshmen meet weekly with their Peer Leaders throughout the year to learn about the Upper School culture and how to make a successful transition to the high-school years from the perspective of older students. All ninth-grade students take Pathways as part of their curriculum. Pathways is a program designed to help students navigate the transition to the Pace Upper School and to build social and emotional skills for future success. The program promotes seven essential skills for SUCCESS: Self-Awareness, Understanding Emotion, Communication, Connection, Exercising Resilience, Self-Care and Self-Efficacy. Pathways is facilitated by trained teachers, coaches and staff members. Class deans are critical to our Upper School students' success. One faculty dean supports each grade in our Upper School from the time students enter as freshmen through graduation, serving as a liaison between faculty and parents, and monitoring the academic, emotional and social well-being of the students in their care. With three full-time college counselors, Pace offers extensive resources for students and parents in the area of college counseling. Because of our small class size and knowledgeable staff, each student is given the careful, thorough attention necessary to find the college that best suits their academic, co-curricular and personal profile. Informing and Nurturing Students Through Education about Alcohol and other Drugs (INSTEAD) is a program established by PACE.LEAD to encourage faculty and students to work together to pursue non-disciplinary channels for concerns about student use of alcohol and other drugs. Our students bring different strengths into the classroom—that’s what makes the Pace student body vibrant. But some need help capitalizing on those strengths. The ARC equips all students with the skills and tools they need to thrive in the classroom and provides targeted support for those with learning differences. From organization and note-taking tips to peer tutoring, test prep and study-strategies courses, our teachers and learning specialists create customized plans for academic success. We know that children must feel loved, valued and respected in order to thrive, so our Upper School counselors, Amelia Harmon and Ellye Millaway , partner with students, teachers, and families to coordinate mental wellness programming and ensure students meet their potential in and out of the classroom. Pace requires 46 total units for its diploma—42 of which must be academic, four of which may be satisfied with academic or non-academic electives. In addition, students must satisfy a non-unit physical education requirement (either by participation on an interscholastic athletic team or a personal fitness course) as well as a non-unit requirement for 40 hours of community engagement. The curriculum is planned for maximum benefit to each student and not merely for the satisfaction of minimum requirements. A normal schedule consists of six classes per semester. The student’s dean and the Head of the Upper School must approve variation from this norm. A unit is one semester of study in a course.