No two students follow exactly the same academic path at Scattergood. Our curriculum challenges students to discover their intellectual strengths and to develop the skills and habits of mind to create and sustain a better world. Students take year-long core classes in social studies, science, language, mathematics, and seminars to provide continuity.
Quarterly electives in humanities, arts, and physical education round out the curriculum and allow students to pursue individual interests and passions. We book-end our year with two interdisciplinary, project-based learning experiences: Farm Term and May Term.
Progression of Learning
| Typical Course Progression | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | Algebra I Geometry | Algebra II | Trigonometry | Calculus |
| Science | Biology | Chemistry | Advanced Biology | Physics |
Humanities non-exhaustive) | The Spoken Word Creative Nonfiction | Quakerism I Harlem to Hip Hop Lost in Translation | The Messianic Motif God in Literature | Quakerism 2, Film Studies, Justice & Punishment |
| Social Studies | World History | US History | Government/Upper Level Soc Studies | Government/Upper Level Soc Studies |
Seminars
Seminar classes address the academic and developmental needs of students throughout their time at Scattergood. These classes focus on health and wellness, college-level research and writing, and the college application process.
Students in seminar classes also receive support in preparing for the SAT suite of assessments including PSAT 8/9, PSAT, and SAT.
9th Grade Seminar:
This class covers a range of topics including social, emotional, and physical health, alongside general skills such as public speaking, evaluating sources, and building good study habits.
10th Grade Seminar:
This class is designed around the belief that students become better writers primarily by writing. Students write everyday, responding to prompts and practice creative and analytical writing across genres.
11th Grade Seminar:
This class involves exploring interests and skills through the lens of possible career paths as well as researching college and universities. Students will also write and present a ten-page thesis-driven research paper on a topic of their choosing.
12th Grade Seminar:
The primary goal of this class is to support students in the college application process and to foster independence. Students will manage their time and learn how to prioritize their assignments in college and beyond. In the second semester, students will also write and defend a 15-20 page research paper on a topic of their choosing.
Senior Paper Excerpts
Independent Study
At Scattergood, we wholeheartedly encourage students to take ownership of their learning. Nowhere is this better exemplified than in our independent study program. This program provides students an almost infinite array of areas of study. Students may apply for independent study if they are in good academic standing. This includes designing a course of study with a mentor teacher and having this application approved by a committee of staff and students.
Recent Humanities and Social Studies independent studies:
The American Novel, Housing Segregation in Iowa City, Literary Translation, German and French.
Academic Resources
Paper Mentoring
During their junior and senior years, each Scattergood student writes a college-level research paper on a topic of their choice. Along with the class’s teacher, each student has a staff mentor who meets with them weekly to guide them in this process. Mentors help students conduct incisive research, narrow and refine their thesis statement, and outline, draft, and revise their paper. This experience leads many Scattergood alumni to feel much more prepared for writing in college than their peers.
Academic Support
All students are eligible to receive reasonable accommodations and support based on their academic needs. Scattergood’s Academic Support Coordinator provides individualized support to students in areas of need. They help with executive functioning and specific learning challenges such as Dyslexia and ADHD.
Scattergood has a structured study hall program and each teacher holds regular office hours for students. These are times to read through paper drafts, discuss long-term projects, or dig deeper into a difficult math problem.
College Counseling
At Scattergood, the college search and application process is a powerful exercise in discernment and self-knowledge. It can be stressful, but can also be exciting and fulfilling. During this process, Seminar teachers provide a level of individualized support that goes above and beyond. In Junior Seminar, students explore and articulate their aspirations for the future, prepare for standardized tests, research colleges, or explore gap-year opportunities. In the fall of their senior year, students complete the college application process: writing essays, preparing portfolios, soliciting recommendations, and hitting “submit”! Admission to a 4 year college is a graduation requirement.
College & Beyond
Independence, academic rigor, and expectation of hard work prepares Scattergood students to make the most of their college experience. Our alumni often mention how much more prepared they were for college-level academics than their peers, more able to think creatively and work independently. In a world where even the most elite schools seem to offer the same types of clubs and sports and classes, the one-of-a-kind Scattergood experience gives our students numerous ways to stand out from the crowd.
Recent College Acceptances and Matriculation
Antioch College
Augustana College
Bard College-Berlin (2)
Berea College
Beloit College
Carroll College
Central College
Champlain College
College of the Atlantic
Colorado College
Columbia College
Cornell College (2)
Davidson College
DePaul University (3)
Drake University (2)
Earlham College (11)
Elmhurst College
Evergreen College
Fordham University
Green Mountain College (2)
Grinnell College (2)
Guilford College
Hampshire College (5)
Hanover College
Haverford College
Hilbert College
Hollins University
Hope College
Howard University
Illinois State University
Iowa State University (3)
Kalamazoo College (5)
Knox College
Lake Michigan College
Luther College (3)
Macalester College (3)
Mills College
Mount Mercy University
Northland College
Ohio State University
Penn State University
Purdue University
Reed College (2)
Sarah Lawrence College
Saint Louis University (2)
St. Joseph’s College Brooklyn
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Syracuse University
Temple University
Trinity Christian College
Trinity College
Truman State University
University of Delaware
University of Denver
University of Illinois –
Urbana Champaign
University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Iowa (11)
University of Kansas (2)
University of Kentucky
University of Mass – Amherst
University of Minnesota (2)
University of Missouri
University of Northern Iowa (2)
University of Texas
University of Tulsa
Warren Wilson (8)
Whitman College
Willamette University
*Matriculations are in bold.
