Academics

Advanced, Honors & Independent Study

Honors & Advanced Courses

For those students seeking additional academic challenges, EHS offers more than 40 Honors or Advanced courses. These courses are offered to students who have met specific departmental criteria for excellence, including test scores and grades in prior courses. Honors and Advanced classes are available in required courses such as English, math, social studies, science, and foreign languages, as well as in many electives. Last year, approximately 82% of students taking AP exams achieved a score of three or better.

Current Offerings

The following Advanced courses are offered to students who have met specific departmental criteria for excellence, including test scores and grades in prior courses:

Social Studies
US History
Global Studies: History and Politics of Food
Global Studies: Middle East
Global Studies: Latin America
History of The Cold War
Macroeconomics
Microeconomics
Research Seminar: Digital History
Research Seminar: History of Place: EHS, VA, DC
Research Seminar: World War & European Society
US Government

Modern and Classical Languages
Chinese Language
French Language
Topics in French Language
Topics in German
Topics in Latin 1, 2
Spanish Language
Spanish Literature


Mathematics
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Linear Algebra
Statistics
Computer Science
Projects in Computer Science
3D Modeling, Computer Aided Design & Manufacturing

Science
Physics 1
Physics C
Chemistry
Biology
Environmental Science
Engineering

Arts
Audio Engineering
Studio Art: 3D Design
Studio Art: 2D Design
Studio Art: Drawing Port.


Rick Stubbs, Math Teacher

Each day the students arrive in class with enthusiasm and a sense of purpose - and a sense of humor! I work with teachers who recognize that we teach students more than we teach math, and we work closely together to best serve our students. It is the joy of working with young people with this kind of spirit that keeps me looking forward to the start of the school year each September.

Independent Study

For those students who would like to pursue academic work in unusual depth, Episcopal offers the opportunity for independent study. Students, along with a faculty mentor and the assistant head for academics, can develop a course that covers any topic that the student would like to further explore. This will supplement regular course work and is usually a semester-long endeavor which is graded and for which the student earns credit. In the past, students have delved into their areas of interest by taking advanced language courses, examining historical people and places, and in-depth studies of theater, literature, or theology.

A few recent examples of independent study course include:
  • 3D Modeling & Architectural Interactive 3D Maps
  • Histoire de l'Art Français
  • Literature of Hip Hop
  • Magical Realism in Modern Mexican Literature
  • Photography through a Historical Lens
  • Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism
  • Prussian History
  • Stage Managing and Directing
  • Participation in the Folger Shakespeare Library Fellowship Program
All independent study projects will be in addition to the student’s regular course work and must be approved by the assistant head for academics. The independent study, which is usually a semester-long endeavor, is graded and students can earn one half credit that is factored into their overall grade point average.

Global Online Academy

Episcopal High School partners with  Global Online Academy (GOA), a not-for-profit consortium of leading independent schools from around the world. GOA offers EHS students the opportunity to learn alongside peers from around the world and to test their passions in ways typically unavailable on a single campus.

The mission of Global Online Academy is to reimagine learning to empower students and educators to thrive in a globally networked society, deepening learning through courses that equip students with the knowledge, skills and dispositions to be successful in high school, college, career, and life.

With Global Online Academy, teachers and students can share their voice on a global stage, improving learning and enabling the pursuit of individual passions.

There are currently more than 85 independent schools in the GOA consortium from all around the world, representing more than 15 countries and 25 states. All GOA courses are developed and taught by teachers who are currently teaching at a GOA member school.

Episcopal juniors and seniors may take GOA courses as electives for course credits. GOA course workload and course intensity is equivalent to courses taken on our campus. Unlike many online courses, students are not passive receptors of prerecorded lectures from their teachers. Instead, students collaborate on challenging and interesting projects with students from around the world. They are also expected to manage their workload and time effectively to support the asynchronous nature of the courses.

For more information, please visit the Global Online Academy website, or contact GOA Site Director Kim Olsen at GOA@episcopalhighschool.org.

GOA Site Director

List of 1 members.

  • Photo of Kimberly Olsen

    Kim Olsen 

    Chair - Science
    4185

YEAR-LONG COURSES

Arabic: Language Through Culture I, II, III
Japanese: Language Through Culture I, II, III


SEMESTER COURSES

Abnormal Psychology
Applying Philosophy to Global Issues
Architecture
Arts Entrepreneurship
Bioethics
Climate Change & Global Inequality
Comp Sci II:Analyzing Data w/Python
Comp Sci II: Game Design & Devel
Cyber Security
Data Visualization
Developmental Psychology
Game Theory
Gender and Society
Genocide & Human Rights
Global Health
Intro to Investments
iOS App Design
Medical Problem Solving
Medical Problem Solving 2
Neuropsychology
Number Theory
Personal Finance
Positive Psychology
Prisons & Criminal Justice Systems
Race and Society
Religion and Society
Social Psychology