Main Lesson

Each day begins with Main Lesson, a two-hour period of intensive academic exploration.

Subjects range from Meteorology to Economics to Art History. Students focus on a particular subject for several weeks and their understanding is built over years: biology, for instance, begins in ninth grade with the study of physiology and concludes with zoology senior year.

Students learn through primary sources, lectures, discussions, and research. They create their own portfolios or Main Lesson books that includes essays, lab reports, compositions, and illustrations. Students value Main Lesson books as a testament to their academic achievements and as a resource for further study.

Morning Main Lesson is followed by track classes, year-long courses in the humanities, mathematics, world languages, and music. These skill development classes require sustained engagement through the year.