Curriculum

All ninth graders take a literature course in which students read classic novels, short stories, and plays while they focus on purpose through academic writing, analysis, and reflective and creative writing.

All tenth graders take  Communities and Their Stories, in which students craft thought-provoking questions that they explore in essays, poetry, and short story writing, using challenging and diverse literature as a lens.  

All eleventh graders take American Literature during which students use critical lenses and literary analysis to explore the meaning of “American values and ideals” and how they are conveyed through major works of literature.  

Twelfth graders culminate their study of literature by selecting from a range of term-long courses which offer deep dives into specific topics or authors (including a course on Toni Morrison, a course on modern & contemporary poetry, as well as a course on Russian literature). Students are required to complete twelve Language Arts credits over 4 years to graduate.

The Math department offers a range of options from Math 1 through Calculus II, with a number of options in between including Advanced Statistics, Calculus I, and Pre-Calculus.

Term-long math electives are offered based on student interest. These courses have explored Advanced Topics in Calculus, Economics, Personal Finance, and Robotics.

Students can move through the curriculum in a variety of ways based on the recommendation of the teachers. Nine math credits (three years of math) are required to graduate, but most students take four years of mathematics in order to be prepared for college admissions.  The entry requirements for the University of North Carolina school system, for example, currently mandates that every student applicant have a year of high school math beyond Math 3. CFS students can enroll in Pre-Calculus or Statistics to meet this requirement.
 

The Modern Language department is committed to creating a dynamic and inclusive learning environment where language acquisition is enriching for and achievable by every student. We empower students to become proficient communicators by fostering curiosity and dedication to their learning. Grounded in the principles of acquisition-driven instruction, contextualized learning, and meaningful communication, our program prioritizes a target language-rich classroom in which students explore their identities and cultures in connection to those of others. We foster intercultural competence and understand that languages can perpetuate or resist injustices and hierarchies present in society. 

The Modern Language program requires every student to complete two consecutive years (6 credits) of the same language to graduate from the Upper School. Students can choose from Spanish or American Sign Language  with most of our students completing four years of study at and some enrolling in ASL and Spanish simultaneously. If a student wishes to study another language in addition to those offered, accommodations may be arranged. 
 

American Sign Language

Students have the opportunity to fulfill their modern language credit requirements through an immersive exploration of  American Deaf Culture and American Sign Language (ASL). These courses nurture ASL communication skills both receptively and expressively following The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language (ACTFL) guidelines. A comparative study of American Hearing culture and American Deaf culture provides students with deeper understanding of cultural nuances and historical developments of Deaf communities in America. Each level is designed to challenge students appropriately and support their journey towards ASL proficiency. To meet students' proficiency levels, we offer Novice ASL I through Intermediate ASL I.

Spanish

Spanish classes at the Upper School follow the world readiness standards of The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). We provide a target-language rich classroom where each student can practice interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational communication and negotiate meaning with authentic materials. Our courses support a space for connection to the many communities and cultures that speak the Spanish language, including our local communities in the Triangle.  To meet students' proficiency level, we offer classes from Novice Spanish I to Advanced Spanish III.  

Dance

There are many opportunities to be involved in the Upper School Dance program. Students new to dance can enter the program by taking a beginning-level course that exposes students to a variety of dance styles and movement literacy concepts. We also offer a beginning choreography class. More experienced dancers may perform in the annual Winter Dance Concert through participation in the Intermediate and Advanced classes. These levels offer students the opportunity to collaborate and choreograph for the Performing Arts Center stage, working together with student designers to create a concert with high production values. There are also dance electives.

Dance classes can fulfill the Performing Arts category of the Cultural Arts graduation requirement or they can serve as Physical Education classes.

Music

Through a range of music offerings, students can encounter music history and theory, as well as sharpen their skills in voice and multiple instruments. Performance-based classes include introductory courses focused on specific instruments and ensemble groups that depend upon the talents of the students in a particular class. Introductory and intermediate courses include Afro-Brazilian Drumming, Guitar, and Voice. In addition, we offer introductory through advanced courses in music production, as well as courses on music history and appreciation. All music classes fulfill the Performing Arts category of the Cultural Arts graduation requirement.

Theater

The Upper School Theatre program puts on two shows a year: a fall production of a non-musical play with an emphasis on ensemble-building and character development, and a spring musical. Students in performance classes have the opportunity to explore script analysis, style, voice, and movement through monologue and scene work.  Other Theatre classes include Clowning, Improvisation, Technical Theatre, Costuming, Playwriting, and Directing. All Theatre classes fulfill the Performing Arts category of the Cultural Arts graduation requirement.

Physical Education credit can be earned by playing on one of the Upper School interscholastic athletic teams or by serving as a team manager. Students can also take any of the many physical education courses that are offered each term. From Aikido,  yoga, biking and hiking, to gym sports and weight training, there are a number of courses to fit different abilities and interests. Students are required to take 6 PE credits (2 years) to graduate.

All first-year students take Introduction to Biology as their entry into the Science department. From there, most tenth graders take Chemistry to fulfill their year of required Physical Science. Other offerings within the Science department are varied. Interested students can pursue advanced-level courses in Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Genetics (1 term) and Physics. Term-long electives offer a focus on specific topics such as Field Ecology, Geology, Ornithology, and Science of Cooking. Students can also choose from a range of classes in Engineering, delve into Computer Science, or even join the Science Olympiad team. While students are required to take three full years of science courses to graduate (including at least one year of biological science and one of physical science), most students take four years of science and some take more than one class each year.

Community Service is at the heart of a Quaker education. Service is a part of many of the all school activities that we do. On campus service takes a variety of forms. Students work on campus maintenance and repair, build sets for the theater and dance productions, work on the school yearbook, or serve as teaching assistants, either in the Upper School or in other units. . Seniors may earn community service credits by teaching a class (based on a proposal subject to approval) in an area of expertise. Students are required to take 6 credits of Community Service (2 years) to fulfill graduation requirements.

Ninth graders take a year-long study of civics, using a comparative democracy approach in a class, called Understanding Democratic Systems. Tenth graders spend their year in Global Histories, and eleventh graders in United States History (required for all students). Most seniors choose from a range of seminar-style courses that provide a deeper focus on specific topics or time periods.  Such courses include Histories of Modernity, The History of Non-State Societies, The Middle East Experience, and World Philosophy, or The Structures of Power. Nine credits (3 years) of Social Studies are required for graduation.

Studio Art

The Upper School offers a wide range of single term Studio Art classes that offer deep dives into specific mediums and art-making approaches. Classes include Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, Design, Printmaking, Fiber Arts, Sculpture, Handcrafts, and Photography. In each class students are supported in experimenting and developing their own unique visual voice. Students are required to take eight Cultural Art courses to graduate, at least two of which must be Visual Art courses. Eleventh and twelfth graders who have already taken two visual art courses can sign up for Advanced Ceramics and/or Advanced Portfolio to develop their work and reflect on their processes. Advanced Portfolio also prepares them for college admission through the National Portfolio Day regional events. 

 
Film

Our film classes nurture independent and collaborative filmmaking through personal and experimental projects, service projects, and an apprenticeship opportunity. Students may explore fictional or documentary filmmaking through its various stages from conception to production, using a variety of techniques currently available through the following courses: Writing for Short Film, Film Projects, Music Video Production, Animation Film Studio, the Legacy Film Lab and Cinema Studies Seminar.