Curriculum

Starting in the 6th grade, students are engaged in a learning environment that is small in size but diverse in its members. Group discussions are rigorous, lively, respectful and thought-provoking. Studies are organized around problems, projects and questions because facts and skills are most powerful when they are given a context and a purpose.

Students learn to appreciate one another’s talents and are applauded for seeking insight outside the conventional. Research and hands-on activities enable students to think critically and creatively.

The breadth of our academics enables students to learn as much in the biology lab or advanced trigonometry as they do in a play writing class or video production. Burke students excel in everything from AP Chemistry to Advanced Latin because they understand concepts and process, not just facts and data. All Burke graduates go on to college, including Ivy League schools, small liberal arts colleges, large state universities, historically black colleges and art & design schools. Many of them arrive having already earned Advanced Placement credit, and the majority report that their Burke courses were excellent preparation for college work.

Our advisory system, course options and teaching methods are designed to meet the needs of adolescents as well as to assist each student in becoming a self-disciplined learner. Burke alumni report that they were better prepared for college than many of their fellow students, especially in the areas of critical thinking, science and math concepts, creative writing and research techniques.