It is the school's philosophy that an active agenda helps to enrich the educational experience of young people. For this reason, all students are required to participate in academics, athletics and the arts. Grier's academic day include seven academic periods, an afternoon sports time and required study hall in the evening. Squeezed into short periods in the day are times for involvement in clubs and special classes such as the Healthy Lifestyle Program or the Etiquette Class

Grier offers a well-balanced educational program for girls in grades 7 through 12. In addition, a post-graduate program is offered on a limited basis. Generally speaking, the 7th and 8th graders are considered as members of our middle school.

Grier's high school program includes all students in grades 9 - 12. Core academic classes such as English and History may be grade specific meaning that a 9th grader would be in a 9th grade English class with fellow 9th graders. All other classes have a mixed enrollment, based on ability. It is not unheard of for a math class to have kids from three or four grades in the same room since a student's involvement is determined by academic ability and preparation.

Yu Hsiu and her sister Yu-Hsuan enjoy breakfast together.

The Grier School offers a multi-track system in the area of academics. The fact that Grier is a boarding school for girls ensures that a very supportive approach to education is practiced by all faculty members. Small classes are complemented by easilty available extra help sessions. Additional support can be offered by evening and weekend tutors.

Classes within the Honors Program are designed to challenge the most academically gifted students in the school. These offer a rigorous college preparatory program that prepare students for highly competitive colleges and universities. During the 2006-2007 school year, 71 students were enrolled in at least one Honors Program class. Grier also offers at least five Advanced Placement classes each year. These classes end with the students taking the Advanced Placement exam which is a requirement for each student in the program.

Outside of the Honors and A.P. Programs, most classes are offered in both "A" and "B" tracks so that a student may take a class best suited to her abilities and interests. Though some students take all classes within one level of the tracking, it is common to take a mixture of classes, some "A" and some "B", depending on one's ability in different disciplines.

The scheduling of classes is done in consultation with our academic office. Mrs. Davis, our Registrar, communicates with teachers, students and parents to determine a program of study that will help a student advance toward graduation.

Amnah in Drawing Class.

Students with learning differences or specific learning disabilities are scheduled into our Learning Skills Program for additional support. The average class size at Grier is nine students per teacher. Classes may be as small as two students or as large as fourteen.

Teachers are available each day after lunch for a 30 minute period called Extra Help. This is a time when students may go to their classrooms and work with the teacher for part or all of the period.

Esther and Sarah on a nice October day.

One of the beauties of Grier's academic facilities is that the complex of classrooms and studios are all easily accessible to the students by means of an interconnected system of hallways. Even if the weather is wet or cold, students need not wear coats and boots to get from their dorm rooms to any of the classroom. Two classroom areas are not fully connected to the main buildings. Grier's Fine Arts Center, opened in January of 2001, adjoins the main academic wing and has a covered breezeway. Grier's newest academic area, the Science Building, is detached but only a short walk away. In June of 2006, Grier's Performing Arts Center opened. Though primarily used for dance, this center also is available for use as a theatre or public performance venue.

Mrs. Silverman teaches Musical Theatre, Introduction to Psychology and Spanish.

Grier works on a two semester system. The first semester includes three marking periods, running from September to December. The second semester includes four marking periods, running from January to June. Mid-term exams are scheduled for December each year and Final exams in the end of May mark the end of the academic year.

Stephanie sent in this wonderful photo of herself with friends at graduation, 2006.