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      The Academies at the Ellis School

Discover The Academies at Ellis: Arts, Humanities & STEM for Future Leaders

Launching Fall 2026 – Where Passion Meets Purpose in High School Learning
The Ellis Upper School is proud to introduce The Academies—three distinct pathways: Arts, Humanities, and STEM.

Starting in Grade 10, students choose an Academy and engage in signature programming that deepens knowledge and builds leadership skills. In year two, they extend learning through internships, mentorships, or collaborative projects. Each journey culminates in a Senior Project. Designed to foster ownership and confidence, the Academies also offer expanded electives and interdisciplinary opportunities that help students stand out in college admissions.


The Arts Academy

The Arts Academy invites students to explore creativity as expression, inquiry, and innovation.

Through visual and performing arts, design, and interdisciplinary electives, students build technical skills and artistic vision while strengthening critical thinking and communication. A Signature class anchors their experience, supported by electives that deepen creative practice. Graduates leave prepared to apply artistic thinking across fields, with the opportunity to earn a Distinction celebrating their mastery of imagination, craft, and collaboration.

The Humanities Academy

The Humanities Academy offers an intellectual home for exploring ideas, language, and human experience.

Grounded in literature, history, philosophy, and the social sciences, it helps students understand the world and their role in shaping it. Through discussion-based classes, research, and interdisciplinary electives, students learn to analyze complex issues, communicate clearly, and lead with empathy, with the opportunity to earn a Distinction affirming their insight, curiosity, and voice.

The STEM Academy

The STEM Academy empowers students to investigate the systems and discoveries shaping the modern world.

Grounded in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, it emphasizes hands-on learning, problem-solving, and real-world application. Signature courses and electives foster curiosity, collaboration, and creativity as students design experiments, build models, and tackle authentic challenges. Graduates may earn a Distinction recognizing their depth of knowledge, analytical skill, and drive to explore and invent.