International Program: Academics

The Fulton School is small by design. Our teachers know their students well, and students know each other across grade levels. There is no hiding from curricular or extracurricular responsibilities, or from the open and vigorous exploration of ideas. Courses are seminar-style, and all students are expected to bring value to the discussion.

Having a voice in our classrooms, students are consistently involved, engaged, and curious. In keeping with our Montessori roots, our students are strongly oriented towards knowing how and knowing why rather than merely knowing about.

The Upper School (7th-12th grade) follows a prescribed, challenging college-preparatory curriculum. Program variation comes primarily from independent studies pursued with specific instructors or through approved institutions. Enhancement of program rigor comes primarily from the pursuit of Honors in approved subjects.

In addition, all high school students are required to participate annually in one interscholastic sport (basketball, volleyball, cross country, track and field, and golf) and three interims exploring knowledge without grades (performing, publishing, creating, deep study, media literacy).

Honors Work

The option to pursue Honors work is available in all full credit courses. The Honors option requires initiative of the student and consent of the parent or host parent, instructor, and advisor.

Advanced Placement (AP) Equivalent Courses

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college-level courses that follow a curriculum prescribed by the College Board, the company that runs the SAT. The College Board holds an AP Exam for each course in May. Students can score from 1-5 on the test; a score of 4 or 5 will get them either college course credit or place them in advanced courses, depending on the policy of the college.

At The Fulton School, we offer Advanced Placement equivalents. Some of our courses fit the AP Exam content (English, Calculus, Spanish V, Biology), and some do not fit quite as well (History, Environmental Science). Students in equivalent classes have the option every year to study and take the corresponding AP exam. We choose not to go through the process to actually call the courses "AP" because we would lose the autonomy we have over our syllabus, an autonomy that allows us to fulfill our mission in many ways. Historically, we let the students know that, if they want to, we will help them prepare for and take the AP exam.

For now, our goal remains a balance between our "no ceilings" philosophy and a healthy emotional environment for teenagers who are trying to survive in a world of seemingly senseless stress.

Senior Project / Internship

During the last quarter of senior (12th grade) year, students have the option to pursue a project that assists the community, follows a personal passion, or involves some depth of study in a curricular area. The school expects seniors to use this opportunity to demonstrate, in some field that is meaningful to them, that they have learned both how to learn and how to do. Following completion of the Senior Project and as a prelude to graduation, seniors make a presentation demonstrating or summarizing their work to the gathered school community. This project is available to international students who have enrolled for their junior year or earlier.