Academics
Upper School
About Our Program
Upper school students start making informed choices about their classes in order to prepare for their college selections. Students are required to take Mathematics, English Language and Literature, Sciences, history, French or Spanish in high or standard level.
Learning is engaging, experiential, and real-world connected.
Students also participate in the following extra curricular classes: Spartan Space, Financial Literacy, Health, etc.
Upper school students have multiple milestone projects that are experiential. Personal Project allows students to discover their passions to learn a new skill and create a product as a result of it.
Diploma program students are critical thinkers who can evaluate information and make informed decisions. During the Theory of Knowledge classes they question how they know what they claim they know. This highest level of thinking transfers to other subject areas during their studies, for example when they answer “To what extent can the natural sciences provide us with a definitive account of the physical universe?”
Students balance their rigorous academic studies with creativity, activity, service (CAS) in order to be well-rounded individuals. This component supports the experiential learning which is an important aspect of Harrisburg Academy education.
Diploma program is the “application” stage of the knowledge and skills gained in the prior programs. The research skills gained in the primary and middle years program are applied in an “extended essay” when students write a 4,000 word research paper on the subject of their choice.
By the time students complete the IB programs at the Academy, they are more than ready for college and beyond.