Boarding High School in San Francisco Bay Area, CA

The Athenian School, San Francisco Bay Area:
The Athenian School is a co-educational independent college preparatory school in the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. The school is located on a beautiful 75-acre campus at the base of Mt. Diablo, in Danville, Contra Costa County. We offer a day program for Middle School students (grades 6-8) from the East Bay region and day and boarding programs for Upper School students (grades 9-12) from the US and throughout the world.

Co-educational Day & Boarding Programs for students in Grades 6-12:

The Athenian Upper School:
The Athenian Upper School offers the finest college preparatory education for grades 9 through 12. The Upper School curriculum emphasizes writing, communication, and analytical skills, and focuses attention on personal growth and community awareness.

The interdisciplinary first year Humanities Program focuses on the history, literature and art of seven major world cultures. The American Studies Program provides sophomores with enriching, coordinated American literature and history courses. Beginning with conceptual physics, laboratory science courses follow the development of skills in the mathematics curriculum.

Students also study at least one foreign language, and extensive arts courses to develop their creativity. Juniors and seniors choose from a broad range of college style seminars in the humanities. Every discipline offers Advanced Placement or Honors classes, and concurrent enrollment in college courses can be arranged.

The Athenian School's philosophy is guided by a strong belief in the promise of young people to shape a better world. It is based on a vision; a vibrant educational community that not only offers the core academic subjects - history, English, mathematics, science, languages, and arts - but also teaches young people to think critically and to approach learning with curiosity and resourcefulness.

Upper School Curriculum:
Small classes, an interdisciplinary curriculum, high academic and personal standards, and close relationships between teachers and students are the cornerstones of Athenian's academic program.

In the 9th grade, students begin taking interdisciplinary courses. The Humanities I curriculum introduces them to the literature, art, religion, history, and drama of prominent world cultures.

American Studies follows in the 10th grade, linking American Literature with United States History. In the 11th and 12th grades students are presented with a variety of sophisticated seminars from which to choose. Rigorous advanced programs in science, mathematics and foreign languages complement this distinctive program.

Six academic classes meet 4 times each week. A 7th period in the day is reserved for a variety of performing arts and physical education activities.

The academic calendar is divided into 2 terms. During the 2nd term, a 3-day Interim incorporates a community service project or special educational trip.

A rich array of learning experiences outside the classroom — service to the community, town meetings, independent study, foreign exchange, and the Athenian Wilderness Experience — further enhances the learning process.