In our Summer Academy, high school students enjoy Great Books Reading Programs that range from insightful poetry by Shakespeare to debates in justice by Aristotle and Hamilton, just to name a few. Find a session that interests you and join us for a summer you’ll never forget!

Each week, high school students spend time in conversation in the classroom, convene during free-time to talk or read in the residence halls and outdoor spaces, and visit local historic and cultural landmarks.

Depending on the week’s thematic emphasis, teens take classes in two of the following subject areas: laboratory science, mathematics, language, music, visual arts, or rhetoric. Because the seminar class plays a central role in our discussion-based approach to learning, students participate in seminar every week.

Seminar occurs around a large table that seats up to 20 students and two faculty members. One faculty member asks an opening question inspired by the assigned reading, and the discussion is launched.

“I never anticipated meeting so many great people and making so many great friends. I still talk to some people I met at the summer academy every day.”
–Matthew​ (SA16)

In mathematics, music, language, rhetoric or visual arts classes, no more than 15 students study under the guidance of one faculty member. Whether demonstrating a mathematical proposition, exploring the language in a poem, examining musical literature, or viewing artwork, students engage in a close and careful reading or analysis that leads to insights and deeper questions.

In laboratory science, the basis for discussion and experimentation are classic papers. Under the direction of one faculty member up to 15 students discuss and reconstruct a pivotal idea and experiment from the history of science.

Here are schedule snapshots of sessions on our Annapolis and Santa Fe campuses.