Upper School
Leadership and Life
Tatnall’s Upper School students are not only active learners, but they are also leaders. As our students prepare for the next steps in their educational journeys, they engage in a rigorous and innovative college preparatory program that inspires inquisitiveness and encourages collaboration. The program, which balances academics, arts, and athletics, includes 29 AP and Honors courses and creative electives such as Molecular Gastronomy and Experimental Design and provides each student countless opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills in authentic contexts.
Philosophy
Upper School students need ever-expanding opportunities to realize their fullest academic potential in a climate that encourages decision-making. They need opportunities to clarify their values and to mature socially, emotionally and intellectually in an environment which has well-defined expectations and which teaches the importance of individual responsibility. We believe that an innovative faculty, exercising warmth, nurturing and understanding, will contribute to a challenging total learning environment.
Goals & Objectives
To implement the philosophy, the Upper School goals and objectives are as follows:
- To provide a demanding liberal arts, college preparatory education in which students are taught to think analytically and critically.
- To provide a challenging curriculum; one, which is flexible and balanced; one, which is supported by small classes, appropriate classroom space, up-to-date technology and high quality instruction; and one that encourages all students to reach their fullest potential.
- To prepare students to assume their positions in a diverse, democratic society by encouraging self-government, setting ethical standards and fostering self-discipline.
- To recognize individual personality, to encourage its development and to promote well-being through a program of guidance directed by skilled personnel and supported by the entire faculty.
- To provide a variety of extra-curricular experiences which will give the students full opportunity to recognize and develop their particular talents and abilities.
- To broaden the students' horizons by inviting guest lecturers and artists into the school and by exploring the educational, cultural, historical, service oriented, business and scientific resources of our immediate community, nation and world.
- To foster professional development among the faculty by encouraging advanced study and participation in professional conferences and associations.
- To provide an atmosphere conducive to close student-teacher relationships.
These goals and objectives encourage flexibility, high standards for academic and personal development, small classes, a balanced curriculum offering a broad range of courses, service to the community, and strong student-teacher relationships.
INDEPENDENT SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Building on the success of Tatnall's 85th Anniversary Scholars Program, the Upper School established the Independent Scholars Program to honor Tatnall's belief in the importance of providing students with opportunities to pursue independent work as a “means to nurture curiosity and to encourage students to grow in curiosity and self-esteem.”
The program gives students the autonomy to direct their own learning by allowing them to make interdisciplinary connections between different parts of our existing curriculum and to explore subjects and ideas not covered in our curriculum. The Independent Scholars Program can also allow students to take the knowledge and skills that they have and put them to use in the undertaking of a project that seeks to generate a solution to a problem, create a new idea, or design an innovative product. Ultimately, the Independent Scholars Program gives our students an opportunity to pursue existing passions and potentially discover new ones.
The program gives students the autonomy to direct their own learning by allowing them to make interdisciplinary connections between different parts of our existing curriculum and to explore subjects and ideas not covered in our curriculum. The Independent Scholars Program can also allow students to take the knowledge and skills that they have and put them to use in the undertaking of a project that seeks to generate a solution to a problem, create a new idea, or design an innovative product. Ultimately, the Independent Scholars Program gives our students an opportunity to pursue existing passions and potentially discover new ones.
The Tatnall School
The Tatnall School is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school for students in PK3 through Grade 12 located in Wilmington, Delaware.