 | With a strong foundation in tradition and structure, at the same time Belmont Hill is alive to innovation. Responding to the changing world of the twenty-first century, our curriculum has grown in new ways without giving up the core curriculum that is a hallmark of the School.
Over the past several years, faculty have created courses in Environmental Science, Marine Biology, World Issues, International Relations, African-American History, and Theory of Jazz to mention but a few. A well-established program in Mandarin Chinese provides one of four languages offered, the others being Latin, Spanish, and French. Every Third Form student takes a course in Ethics, a model that is lived out daily in the life of the School. Teaching methodology has moved to incorporate the Harkness table and philosophy, particularly in the humanities. Collaboration, discussion, and debate work side-by-side with the expectation that each boy acquires the necessary foundation skills of clear articulation, critical thinking, persuasive writing, and logical problem-solving. Mathematics and science incorporate technology at all levels from Smart Boards to graphing calculators. Arts and music involvement begin in the First Form and continue throughout a boy’s six years. Advanced placement courses are offered in fifteen subject areas. With class size averaging twelve students per section, a close interaction between student and teacher is a reality in virtually all courses. Enveloping all of the academic rigor and challenge is the overarching concern for developing young men of character.
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| | BHS Curriculum Guide 2012 | |