Upper School at The Woods includes grades 5-8. Our program encourages the development of responsible young men and women through a rigorous academic sequence that emphasizes critical and independent thinking. Above all, we respect students as thinkers and learners. Young adolescents have different interests, strengths and learning styles. The Upper School structure is designed to emphasize team teaching, varied student groupings, and activities geared to meet individual needs.

The program acknowledges and appreciates young adolescents’ need for structure as well as autonomy, and their desire for acceptance and success. Strong arts, athletics and guidance programs buttress academics and support a climate in which middle school students can thrive. Our community service program, adviser system and small class size reflect our commitment to developing students’ sense of social responsibility. Students develop essential skills through exploration, inquiry and reflection.

Transition from Lower School

Each student in the upper school is assigned a teacher advisor, to whom he or she reports every morning and afternoon. The advisor acts as an advocate for each student and serves as a conduit for home-school communication. In addition, the advisor works with the school administration to monitor the academic progress of each student in all subject areas. Advisor groups meet regularly to plan group activities including service projects.

Students experience a departmentalized academic program and move from classroom to classroom. Students are expected to maintain lockers and pass between classes with all necessary materials

The Upper School is organized into Fifth-Sixth and Seventh-Eighth Grade Teams. Teachers meet regularly as teams to discuss the progress of students and plan curriculum. Teams also meet to plan special grade level events such as the 5^th and 6^th Grade Portfolio Celebration and Mini-Courses. Teachers of each subject area offer instruction that meets the needs of all students and challenges each to achieve his or her highest potential.

Transition to High School

The upper school academic program prepares all students for the intellectual and social challenges at public, independent and Catholic high schools.

The Head of School with the High School Placement Coordinator meet with each family to provide support through the high school admission process. The Woods Academy’s High School Handbook details procedures for high school admission. In addition, the handbook provides advance notification of independent and Catholic school open houses. An annual “High School Night” is offered each fall to provide an overview to the admissions process.

High School Acceptances

In past years, graduates have received acceptances to the following day and boarding schools:

• Academy of the Holy Cross
• Berkshire Academy
• Brebeuf School (Canada)
• The Bullis School
• Colonel IB Program (Canada)
• Connelly School of the Holy Child
• Georgetown Day School
• Georgetown Preparatory School
• Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School
• Gonzaga College High School
• Good Counsel High School
• The Heights School
• Holton-Arms School
• Loomis-Chaffee Academy
• International School of Slovenia
• Kent School
• King Edward School (England)
• Landon School
• Madeira School
• Maret School
• MCPS IB Program
• Monfort School (Belgium)
• National Cathedral School
• St. Albans School
• St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
• St. Anselm’s Abbey School
• St. James School
• St. John’s College High School
• Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart 

Technology Integration

Students are encouraged to use computers and related educational technologies. Computer integration is facilitated by our mobile laptop workstations. Students also visit the technology lab for scheduled technology classes and have access to the lab throughout the week.

Student projects include digital video production and editing (Adobe Premier), use of presentation software (PowerPoint), desktop publishing software (PageMaker and Publisher) and web site development software (FrontPage), use of graphing calculators and Geometer Sketchpad program, and on-line research.

Library

Students use the library as an educational resource. They investigate a variety of resources using reference material, books and computer programs to complete research.

Students regularly check out library materials, and the librarian acts as a resource. Upper School teachers bring classes to the library to prepare projects and presentations.

Overnight Trips

Fifth grade students spend two days and one night and sixth grade students spend three days and two nights attending an outdoor educational experience led by Calleva. The goal of this trip is to foster a sense of teamwork and build confidence in the students.

Seventh grade students go on a three day trip to the Jamestown Settlement, Colonial Williamsburg, and Yorktown Victory in order to enhance their study of Colonial America and the Revolutionary War in social studies.

Eighth grade students go on a four day trip to Manassas National Battlefield Park, National Civil War Medicine Museum (Frederick, MD), Antietam National Battlefield Park, and Gettysburg National Battlefield Park in order to enhance their study of the Civil War in social studies