High School Academic Program | Grades 9-12

High School Academic Program | Grades 9-12
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Academics
Curriculum
High School
We strive for balance among academic rigor, civic engagement, and community well-being.
At Burke, students can pursue subjects at a high-level – ranging from multivariable calculus to Spanish literature to
microbiology research
– while also having space to explore new interests and enjoy their high school years. We hold
students to high expectations,
and we find the challenges that motivate them as individual learners.
Our focus on access (and "
no cut
" policy) means that students can pick up a new instrument, try out a new sport, and delve into robotics or creative writing for the first time during high school. We also
build civic engagement into the school day
, keeping students attuned to the broader world – and how they might make positive change within it.
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List of 5 frequently asked questions.
What courses do 9th graders take?
English 9: Genres
History
- History 9: The Ancient World
Math
- Algebra 1, Algebra 2 (or Advanced Algebra 2), Geometry (or Advanced Geometry), or above, as determined by a placement test
Science
- Chemistry or Environmental Science, often linked to the student's math placement
World Language
- French 1, 2, 3, or 4 or Spanish 1, 2, 3, or 4, as determined by a placement test
Several trimesters of
Performing and Visual Arts
electives, such as Ceramics, Drama, Instrumental Music, and Photography
One trimester of
Computer Science
One trimester of
Health, Values & Ethics
("HVE")
One trimester of
9th Grade Seminar
What courses do 12th graders take?
By senior year, students' schedules can look vastly different based on their own interests and pursuits. All seniors take one trimester-long
Senior Seminar
course, culminating in a position paper on an area of global challenge, based on extensive research.
Here are three sample schedules from the
Class of 2024
during the
Fall Trimester:
Student 1
Student 2
Student 3
Advanced Art History
AP Biology
AP English Literature
Advanced Instrumental Music
AP Calculus BC
Advanced Statistics
AP English Literature
AP Physics C: Mechanics
Calculus AB
Social & Economic Systems
Advanced Topics in Spanish
Drawing and Painting 11/12
Senior Seminar: Technology & Innovation
Digital Photography 11/12
Ethics and Literature
Statistics and Financial Management
Nobel Winning Literature
Physics
What long-term vision informs our educational program?
A Burke Graduate is ...
An ethical, active citizen;
Their best, authentic self;
Prepared for any future
Further explore Burke's Portrait of a Graduate:
What is our phone and device policy?
To keep focused on intellectual growth and community building while at school, Burke limits the use of personal phones and devices as follows:
Middle School
We have been phone-free (and device-free) in the middle school since 2023. We have a device “check in” process in the morning. Students can only use Burke-issued/managed iPads, which remain at school overnight.
High School
We are phone-free in the high school. Students lock their phones in Yondr pouches, which can only be unlocked when they leave campus or after 3:30 PM.
9th graders can only use Burke-issued/managed iPads. 10th-12th graders can use laptops, but they must be connected to Burke' network.
Further reading:
Get Phones Out of Schools Now
by Jonathan Haidt (
NYU Stern
How do we approach AI?
Technological advances have changed how we teach and learn countless times: hand-held calculators and Excel sparked changes in math instruction, spell checkers and
translation software
did the same for language learning, and so forth.
AI is not a recent invention
. But the technology has become powerful and easily accessible in a relatively short time.
In 2025-26, teachers choose among three AI policies for their courses:
No AI:
learning objectives are not advanced by the use of AI tools
Some AI:
teacher details specific tools and their use in the course; students must cite the tools accurately, may be asked to submit logs, etc.
AI Agnostic:
course does not take a stance, but students should discuss with the teacher before using LLM, chatbots, etc.
Inquire
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Class Spotlight - High School - Part 9
4/22/2026
pictured:
Digital Photo 9/10 with Kirsten '01 at the National Zoo
Out On the Farm
4/22/2026
Director of Civic Engagement
Kamilah
reports, "To support the 9th grade
civic engagement
framework on Food Justice and Addie's Environmental Science curriculum, Burke high school students, along with Steve, Addie, Branden, and Kamilah volunteered at Asawana Farms in Upper Marlboro, MD, over the weekend."
Student Spotlights - April 2026
4/8/2026
In
Vidya's
Advanced Statistics
class, students complete independent projects that apply statistical methods to areas of social justice.
Miriam T. '26
conducted an observational study that revealed discrepancies in playground conditions among different wards in DC. Miriam sent her report to Mayor Bowser's office, recommending that the city "allot more resources into maintaining playgrounds in lower income areas" and asking how students could "support more equitable public spaces." She received a follow-up from DPR's Community Engagement Manager – who happens to be a Burke graduate (Class of 1988)! He has since shared the work with the capital projects team and agency leadership.
The Better Project
4/8/2026
In the
Behavioral Psychology
and
Advanced Psychology
electives with
David
, students wrapped up the winter trimester by exploring how to improve areas of their lives (sleep, healthy eating, and time management) based on psychological concepts and producing short documentaries on the experience.
Class & Club Spotlight - High School - Part 8
3/18/2026
Path to the Ocean
Last Friday,
Isaac B. '17
joined
Addie's
Environmental Science
class (via Zoom) to talk about his work with NOAA Fisheries. Isaac joined their Office of Science & Technology right after graduating from Emory University in 2021. While earning a master's degree from Duke University, he researched the use of drones to study changes to coastal ecosystems; today, Isaac "uses drones to monitor the health of endangered North Atlantic right whales from the skies"
for the NEFSC Whale Ecology Branch
Bengals on the Road - High School
2/15/2026
A small snippet of field trips and travel from January 2026.
Close Up on Leadership
"From January 27-30,
Zora P. '27
Noa F. '27
Payton A. '27
Leyu F. '28
, and
Curtis
(HS History) attended the NAIS Close Up Student Civic Leadership Summit in Arlington. At the conference, the Burke cohort networked with other students from around the United States and built knowledge, developed strategies, and honed leadership skills to make a positive impact in their community. At the end of the conference, the cohort presented a proposal to implement an improved peer-to-peer tutoring program at Burke. We are excited to see the action plan come to fruition!" –
Kamilah
(Director of Civic Engagement)
Ways of Well-Being
2/5/2026
On January 22, we sampled techniques for mental wellness and reset. During the community period, students could try different activities, based on their preferences – peaceful or high-energy, athletic or artistic, and more.
Class & Club Spotlight - High School - Part 7
1/22/2026
Stacks of Possibility
In
AP US History
, research at a collegiate library is a requirement for the social justice paper in the winter trimester. This past Saturday,
Maureen
reports that 11th graders met up at the Georgetown University Library, assembling a wealth of scholarly and primary sources and enjoying the study spaces.
Framing the City
Digital Photography
9/10 and 11/12 are finding plenty to fill the frame – from the National Zoo to the Botanic Gardens to our neighborhood streets in Van Ness. Be sure to pause on the Hobbes stairs as the walls fill with new photography in the coming months.
The Right Notes in NOLA
1/22/2026
Our Advanced Band recently returned from a whirlwind musical adventure in
New Orleans, LA
. Burke musicians and faculty took part in the
JENerations Jazz Festival
and annual
Jazz Education Network (JEN) conference
, which spans "research, technology, jazz industry and music business, improvisation, composition," and more. Students explored the cultural and food scenes, performed and played onstage, and absorbed the city's vibrant jazz history.
Organic Chemistry & Molecular Biology
12/10/2025
Considering Organic Chemistry
Science aptitude abounds in the senior class, which includes numerous students looking to continue beyond the AP Chemistry course. So this fall and winter trimester, six seniors are engaging in an
Independent Study (IS)
in Organic Chemistry with Bob K.
Described as
"the study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-containing compounds," Organic Chemistry is often one of the more challenging pre-med courses in college.
Class & Club Spotlight - Part 4
11/5/2025
Tabletop Greatness
Maureen
reports that 9th grade
Ancient World
classes recently created tabletop games about Alexander the Great's campaigns in the 4th century BCE: "Interweaving 9th grade studentship skills with game design, as well as incorporating historical facts, students made these games from scratch and then tested each other's games in the Atrium."
Environmentalism Abounds
10/22/2025
In the high school, the
Sustainability Club
(led by JP P. '27) is working to clear the tree boxes and replace invasive plants with native ones.
Class Spotlight - Part 1
9/24/2025
On the Airwaves
Curtis' 11th and 12th grade
History of the DMV
elective visited our Van Ness neighbors at WAMU 88.5. They watched Jen White of
The 1A
host the show live (the topic of the day was anthropomorphism), experienced the inner workings of radio interviews and production, and then met with Jen when the broadcast concluded.
Environmental Immersion
5/29/2025
In 11th grade, the
civic engagement framework
is environmental justice, culminating in a couple significant projects.
Poster Competition
In collaboration with our partners at the
Ocean Conservancy
, small groups of 11th graders participated in a poster competition to highlight the negative impact of microplastic pollution on people, animals, and the environment and ways to address pollution in marginalized communities. The top three groups will have their posters displayed at Ocean Conservancy and in their online gallery: 1st - Water Pollution in the Chesapeake Watershed, 2nd - Watch Out for Our Bay, 3rd - Plastics in Our Waters.
Humanities Spotlight - June 2025
5/29/2025
Inspecting the Insects
"When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself changed in his bed into a monstrous vermin,"
reads the opening line
of Franz Kafka's 1915 seminal novella
The Metamorphosis.
The protagonist's exact form remains ambiguous,
especially when translated from the original German
, so 10th graders Nathan's
Modern World Literature
class headed to the  O. Orkin Insect Zoo at the Museum of Natural History to explore the possibilities.
Seniors on the Road
5/29/2025
For the last two weeks, seniors have been scattered around the region (and even around the country) for their
Senior Projects
, focused on an interest or cause outside the classroom. Each senior project must include clear learning objectives, 5-7 hours of work each day, and guidance or coaching from an expert in the field.
50 different sites have hosted our seniors
, including
Arlington Food Assistance Center (VA), Brookland Middle School (DC),
Children's National Hospital (DC),
German Historical Institute (DC), and
Traveling Players Ensemble (VA), among others. Today, seniors returned to campus to present their work and learnings to the full community.
On Their Soapboxes
5/15/2025
For the 10th grade civic engagement framework (
Action Civics in the DMV
), each student identified a social issue that spoke to them and volunteered at an organization addressing that issue – ranging from clean rivers to affordable housing. This spring, each student researched their issue in depth and wrote a "soapbox speech," based on
Mikva Challenge's Project Soapbox
public speaking program.
Bioethics and Beyond
4/16/2025
High school students in Morgan's
Bioethics
class have welcomed incredible guest speakers this trimester, including:
On Food Justice
4/16/2025
As part of their grade's civic engagement framework (Hunger and Food Justice), each 9th grader spent a day at the
Capital Area Food Bank
, either on April 2 or April 4.
Class Spotlight - HS History & Social Science
4/11/2025
Memorial Consideration
10th graders in Curtis'
Modern World History
class headed to the World War I Memorial on April 1. He shared, "after learning about World War I in class, we analyzed the memorial using three big questions: 1) What story is the memorial telling? 2) What story is it not telling? and 3) What story should it tell?"
Co-ed, progressive, college prep school in Washington, DC featuring a challenging curriculum in an inclusive environment for grades 6-12.
4101 Connecticut Ave NW Washington, DC 20008
Phone
202-362-8882
Fax
: 202-362-1914