Upper School

In high school is when young people begin to stretch towards the adults they will become. 

As a Quaker school, Moses Brown strives to develop in every student the skills they will need to be compassionate, competent, and considerate leaders and stewards of the communities of which they will be part. Students are guided to acknowledge the Inner Light of each individual, and they experience and demonstrate the respect and care that come from believing in a shared humanity.

 In their time in the upper school, students learn to value diverse perspectives; listen deeply; use reflection and discernment to evaluate and interpret information; and make conscious, well-considered decisions. They learn that individual voices can be powerful tools for advocacy and change in our interconnected world, and that working toward a collective goal strengthens their community.  When they graduate from Moses Brown School, students leave empowered—not just to find their Truth, but to live and share it with courage and commitment.

As a Quaker school, Moses Brown strives to develop in every student the skills they will need to be compassionate, competent, and considerate leaders and stewards of the communities of which they will be part.

It all begins at Friends Camp

The four-year upper school experience begins at Friends Camp in South China, ME, where ninth-graders spend a weekend getting to know each other and the ethos and practices of a Quaker school. They experience the first of many Meetings for Worship and build community through challenges, games, and conversations. A cardboard boat challenge introduces them to a design-thinking approach that they will encounter throughout their upper school journey. Orientation to our community continues in the semester-long Ninth Grade Program, which focuses on health and wellness; creating a culture of belonging; study skills; and introduction to upper school life. This work continues for older students through grade-level programming and upper school assemblies.

An Academic Program with Breadth and Depth

In ninth and tenth grade, students enroll in a full curriculum of core courses, individually placed and advised on a program that will challenge them appropriately. As students progress through the high school years, their academic programs more often reflect their particular interests as they develop a sense of where their passions lie. For example, twelfth grade students may choose from English electives from Moby Dick to Literature of War; humanities courses from AP Psychology to Religion, Conflict, and Identity in the Middle East; and science courses from AP Chemistry to Ornithology. Students take art courses and, in many cases, pursue ensemble performance or visual arts throughout their high school career.

Moses Brown School students have access to a wide range of academic courses, and their degree of choice across the curriculum and depth of knowledge in selected subject areas grow as their learning does each year.

The upper school academic program meets students where they are and challenges them to become independent, self-advocating, and passionate learners over their four years.

Developing Critical Thinking and Ethical Leadership

In the upper school, students develop into global citizens and ethical leaders, and practice critical thinking skills of scholars in all disciplines. Our 5,000-square-foot Y-Lab makerspace gives classes across the curriculum a place to test their ideas and bring abstract concepts to life.  Field trips around New England– for example to nature reserves, art museums, and local non-profits– help students deepen their learning beyond the classroom. MB TRIPs send students around the country and world to engage in exploration, service learning, and cultural immersion.

Advisors Who Guide and Nurture

Throughout the upper school experience, students benefit from an exceptional advisory program and strong relationships with their teachers; these form the foundation of the learning community that is the upper school. An individualized college counseling program supports students in a process that encourages students to know themselves and to use that awareness to guide their decisions about their academic futures. It is through these relationships and conversations that the mission of Moses Brown is lived each day, and students grow into young people who know themselves as learners and leaders ready to make an impact on the world around them.

Outstanding Co-curricular Experiences

Co-curricular offerings include athletics, theater productions, instrumental ensembles, robotics, Model UN, debate team, and more. A wide range of student run clubs further engages students in social justice causes, friendly competitions, and shared interests. Affinity groups across a range of identities support the growth and well-being of upper school students.