Course of Study

In the Middle School, Grades 7-9, full-year requirements are as follows:

• English
• History
• Mathematics
• Science
• World Languages

In the Middle School, Fine Arts requirements are as follows:

• Grade 7 and 8: students can elect to take up to twelve fine arts electives during 7th and 8th grade.
• Grade 9: one year of Visual or Performing Arts. Semester courses must be taken in the same area, must be sequential classes, and cannot be taken in lieu of Physical Education.

In the Middle School, Physical Education requirements are as follows:

• Grade 7 and 8: two quarters of Physical Education each year
  • Grade 7: required one quarter class of Health 
  • Grade 8: required one quarter class of Health 
• Grade 9: Health

In Grade 7 one quarter of Digital Presence for Social Impact is required, and in Grade 8 one quarter of Storytelling for Impact is required.

The following are graduation requirements to be completed in Grades 9-12:

• English: each semester (American Studies may be substituted for English II).
• Mathematics: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II; three years of mathematics.
• History and Social Sciences: United States History and Modern History.
• Science: three year-long science courses (9th Grade Biology required).
• World Languages: through level III of a language (at least two years).
• Physical Education: four semesters, including Health (9th grade), Health & Wellness (11th Grade), and Emergency Preparedness & Water Safety. Dance may be taken to fulfill P.E. requirements.
• Fine Arts: one full year in Grade 9, and two additional semesters in Grades 10-12. Semester courses in Dance can be taken to fulfill either a Fine Arts or P.E. requirement. Art History or AP Art History fulfill only one semester of the requirement.

These are minimum requirements and many colleges to which Marlborough sends its graduates strongly recommend one year of mathematics beyond Algebra II (especially in the senior year); four or five years of one foreign language, or any combination of two years of one and three of another foreign language; two additional semesters of History and Social Sciences; two semesters in the Fine Arts; and electives in the Sciences. Choices depend on the student’s interests, on the kind of record she wishes to present to the colleges, and on the breadth she desires in her education. All departments offer courses beyond the level of preparation for college.

Many Marlborough students take College Board Advanced Placement tests in May. Students who score a 3, 4, or 5 on the Advanced Placement examinations may receive college credit or advanced placement at the college level. Advanced Placement examinations are offered in Art History, Studio Art (4), Biology, Calculus (AB and BC), Chemistry, English Literature, Environmental Science, French Language, Latin Vergil, Physics (C), Spanish Language, Statistics, United States History, and World History.

Students wishing to challenge themselves beyond the Advanced  Placement level may choose to take the following courses: Honors Computer Science Projects, Honors English Seminar, Honors French Literature and Cinema, Honors Hispanic Literature and Film, Honors History Seminar, Honors Humanities Seminar, Honors Mathematics Seminar, Honors Multivariable Calculus and Differential Equations, Honors Research in the Humanities, Honors Research in the Social Sciences, Honors Research in Science. 

An option available in all departments, Special Studies gives students an opportunity to study topics not in the standard curriculum. It is designed for students who have challenged themselves in all aspects of a department’s course offerings and would like to continue their study within the department.

Whether in reading, writing, or speaking, the ability to use language artfully and interpret it critically enhances our understanding of self, others, and the world in which we live. The English Department’s goal is to develop these skills through the study of literature. Many different teaching styles are employed, but every English class seeks high levels of participation in student-centered discussions. We challenge students as writers by asking them to work with a variety of genres and styles, giving special emphasis—particularly in the upper grade levels—to the formal academic essay. We also believe that students’ critical skills are best developed through challenging encounters with a variety of genres, styles, historical periods and cultures. In the midst of this diversity, our larger focus of instruction is consistent at every grade level—to strengthen the skills with which our students express themselves and to enhance their ability to analyze the world around them.

The Performing and Visual Arts Departments at Marlborough believe that there is an interrelationship and interdependence among all disciplines in the arts. The programs are designed to enable students to form an appreciation for the creative process, develop the personal commitment needed to complete a piece of work, establish an appropriate level of technique and skill in their chosen disciplines, and to recognize artistic quality. Students are expected to communicate effectively in both verbal and written form about the art genre in which they are participating, develop confidence in their accomplishments, value cooperative interaction, and to cultivate a personal approach evolving from the aesthetics of a broad range of artistic styles and disciplines. The Performing Arts Department offers a full range of courses in dance, theater, and music. Dance Dimensions, Marlborough Chamber Choir, Marlborough Ensemble Theatre and Instrumental Ensemble are performing groups open only by audition. The Visual Arts Department offers a full range of courses in drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, metals, filmmaking, and digital arts.

For 7th and 8th Grade Arts electives, see below. For other Media-Related Courses See CEI Electives.

The study of history and human societies is intrinsically fascinating and our classes capture that excitement. The Department’s courses foster rigorous thought about continuity and change over time and interactions among societies. They also teach students to think about history by analyzing geography, politics, economics, demography, social and cultural systems, as well as arts and ideas.

Our Middle School courses introduce ancient societies and modern world cultures in ways that breathe life into both old and recent history for students. Students begin honing their skills as readers, writers, and analysts, and build a base for more advanced Upper School study of both American and World history. In addition, the Department offers courses in non-historical social sciences, especially in our elective offerings.

Understanding the present and grappling with the future demands a comprehension of the past. History’s tales of human aspirations, strivings, accomplishments, and failings help our students become knowledgeable, engaged, effective citizens of their country and of the increasingly global society in which they live.

The curriculum for the Mathematics and Computer Science Department stresses the development of problem-solving techniques, logical reasoning, and data analysis.

The Mathematics Department prepares students for college-level mathematics, teaches students to become independent problem solvers, and strives to motivate students to appreciate the elegance and wonder of mathematics. The Department is aware of developmental issues unique to young women in math; to that end, our courses can be viewed as an ongoing open dialogue among teacher and students. The Department emphasizes the integration of technology in its courses. Calculators and computer software help the students apply what they learn to real world applications and also to visualize more challenging mathematical concepts. The Department uses many teaching strategies including lecture, partner work, collaborative groups, and projects in the pursuit of its goal of providing young women with the best possible mathematics education.

Here are the pathways a student might take through our mathematics curriculum:

Please note: The Department requires the use of a TI-Nspire CX graphing calculator in all courses beginning with Geometry or Geometry Honors. In order to develop students’ number sense, no calculators are used in Pre-Algebra and Algebra I.

Promoting the physical well-being of the members of the Marlborough School community is part of the mission of the School. The Physical Education Department serves as the leader and main constituent in attaining this goal. The Department recognizes the individual needs of the students and strives to help each student develop her personal capabilities to her fullest potential. Through participation in a variety of physical activities the Department helps students develop an appreciation for the importance of regular exercise and behavior patterns that will lead to a healthy lifestyle, reduced stress, illness prevention, proper nutrition, and overall fitness. In addition to teaching the particular skills and strategies for specific sports, the Department helps students develop socialization and leadership skills through activities that foster cooperation, team building, and sportsmanship. Various modes of technology are utilized to enhance the students’ understanding of fitness and the sports included in our curriculum. Each student is nurtured to develop a positive self-image as a “physically-educated” individual, able to implement the knowledge and skills she learns in class into her life. 

In Grades 7-8 students are exposed to a variety of activities to expand their experiences and develop into well-rounded young women. By exploring new activities in the various units, some students may choose to pursue their interests in a more competitive direction by joining an athletic team. 

In Grades 9-12 students enroll in four semester electives. The focus in Grades 9-12 is on life-long skills, personal fitness, stress management, and more in-depth instruction in activities of special interest to the students. Dance electives can fulfill the Physical Education requirement.

The goals of the Science Department at Marlborough School are as follows: to help students develop an understanding of science concepts and skills that enable them to develop a love of science and an appreciation for the role of science and technology in everyday life; to provide students with the fullest possible preparation for success in college science programs; to nurture self-confidence and a sense of worth in young women, intellectually, emotionally, and socially at all levels of scientific endeavor; to promote the concept of working in cooperative groups; and to demonstrate the interrelatedness of scientific disciplines through the use of innovative curricula and a variety of teaching methods.

The curriculum is structured so that students have an opportunity to discover, explore, manipulate, contemplate, and experience real science. Laboratory and classroom experiences foster critical-thinking and problem-solving skills that enable students to take charge of their life-long learning process. The laboratory, in particular, is a place for students to test their ability to think critically and creatively while working cooperatively with their peers. Students are also provided with opportunities to develop their skills in using computers for data collection and analysis in the laboratory, and to research and study via the Internet.

Other Courses Offered Through The CEI.

In the modern languages, French, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish, the sequence of courses develops the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and includes appropriate cultural, historical, and literary materials at all levels. Our Korean Language and Culture courses are currently taught as electives. The goal of the Department is to enable students to attain increasingly higher levels of proficiency as measured by the national standards set forth by the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).  The Department uses the AAPPL (ACTFL Assessment of Progress Toward Proficiency in Languages) assessment  in the spring to determine whether a student has attained the proficiency necessary to advance to the next level. In addition, the Department seeks to instill an appreciation of Chinese, Francophone, Hispanic, and Korean cultures. Students are encouraged to go beyond Level III in World Languages either by taking more advanced courses in their current language, or by starting another language.

For students wishing to extend their learning experience beyond Marlborough’s traditional curriculum, the CEI offers a range of courses and programs focused in five interdisciplinary areas: Entrepreneurship, Media, Robotics, Research, and Computer Science.