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Ellis Academies Header Image
The Academies at the Ellis School
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Discover The Academies at Ellis: Arts, Humanities & STEM for Future Leaders
Where passion meets purpose in high school learning
The Ellis Upper School is proud to offer The Academies—three distinct pathways in Arts, Humanities, and STEM.
Beginning in Grade 10, students choose an Academy aligned with their interests and engage in signature programming designed to deepen their knowledge, develop leadership skills, and connect classroom learning to the world beyond Ellis.
Across their two years in an Academy, students have opportunities to participate in internships, mentorships, collaborative projects, and other hands-on experiences. Each journey culminates in a Senior Project, giving students the opportunity to pursue a meaningful area of interest and demonstrate what they have learned.
The Academies also expand opportunities for electives and interdisciplinary learning, empowering students to take greater ownership of their education, build confidence, and explore their passions with purpose—all while developing skills that prepare them for college and beyond.
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.
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.
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.
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.
