The Ninth through Twelfth Grades
The Upper School takes well-crafted learners, where their time throughout Eaton Hall was spent honing their learning skills and organization, and places them in a liberal arts environment where their true passions take flight. Part of what makes our Upper School so successful is the range of classes offered, and the number of Advanced Placement, or college-level, classes offered—18 total.
The classroom experience is rounded out by programs like our summer Internship Program for rising sophomores, juniors and seniors, and three graduation distinctions in Global Studies, STEM, and Fine Arts. The Horace G. Fralin Program for Global Studies offers its students travel opportunities and a global perspective in learning. STEM Program candidates must complete a senior project, specific course requirements, and participation in outside STEM activities in order to receive this designation. The most recently added Fine Arts Distinction (new in 2019-2020) focuses and develops the passion of our artistically inclined students through opportunities and events in and outside of school.
Put all of these elements together and you have something truly special; you have a North Cross graduate—a student who is ready not just to join, but to contribute—thoughtfully and fearlessly—to any college environment.
The classroom experience is rounded out by programs like our summer Internship Program for rising sophomores, juniors and seniors, and three graduation distinctions in Global Studies, STEM, and Fine Arts. The Horace G. Fralin Program for Global Studies offers its students travel opportunities and a global perspective in learning. STEM Program candidates must complete a senior project, specific course requirements, and participation in outside STEM activities in order to receive this designation. The most recently added Fine Arts Distinction (new in 2019-2020) focuses and develops the passion of our artistically inclined students through opportunities and events in and outside of school.
Put all of these elements together and you have something truly special; you have a North Cross graduate—a student who is ready not just to join, but to contribute—thoughtfully and fearlessly—to any college environment.
Program Highlights:
Advanced Placement Courses
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North Cross offers a variety of classes at the AP level. A few of our teachers not only instruct AP courses but grade exams for the College Board. For the 2022-23 academic year, 18 of our Upper School students this year were named AP Scholars (those with a score of a 3 out of 5 or above on at least 3 AP tests), 6 of which were named AP Scholars with Honor, and 14 were AP Scholars with Distinction, while three made the prestigious National AP Scholar level.
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Advanced Placement Classes for the 2023-24 school year:
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SENIOR PRESENTATION: THE DEHART PROJECT
North Cross Writing Initiative
Even in the Lower School, writing is a pillar on which we rest the success of our curriculum. By the time a student reaches the Upper School, they are well versed in the art of crafting an essay, uncovering research with integrity, and critically evaluating the ideas and theories of others. As a final exercise of both our public speaking and writing programs, each senior delivers a speech at assembly that is based in academic research and the result of a written research paper of at least ten pages. Seniors are paired with a faculty advisor as they read and research a topic of the senior’s choosing.
This project highlights the ability of North Cross School students to read, research, organize, write, and then confidently deliver a fifteen-minute speech and presentation to a crowd approaching 200 people. Our STEM distinction students use this opportunity to present their original research, and later, host a poster presentation illustrating their projects.
Recent Speeches:
This project highlights the ability of North Cross School students to read, research, organize, write, and then confidently deliver a fifteen-minute speech and presentation to a crowd approaching 200 people. Our STEM distinction students use this opportunity to present their original research, and later, host a poster presentation illustrating their projects.
Recent Speeches:
- Mason Murchison: How Did Augusto Pinochet's Socio-Economic Policies in Chile Impact Chilean Society Today?
- Harper Kappes: Is the Construction Industry Ready for Electric Equipment?
- Dami Bankole: How is Film Used to Spread Propaganda?
- Nadia Hosny: The Importance of Bilingual Education
EXTRACURRICULARS
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Beyond athletics, students in the Upper School have many areas in which to express and develop their interests. From Model United Nations to tutoring young children at a nearby church, students are encouraged to look beyond their school's walls for experience and skills. In the early winter, students have a day-long Symposium where local artists, scientists, and everyone in between are brought to give "mini-courses" in their field of expertise to those in the eighth through twelfth grades.
Yearbook and Journalism might take a trip to New York City to learn about the latest topics in student reporting and trends in design. Students might decide to spend a spring break in China or France with faculty chaperones. In a nutshell, North Cross recognizes that there are many places that can be called "classrooms," and we encourage our students to explore them all. In the summer, rising sophomores, juniors and seniors can do an internship at a local business or organization. Past opportunities have included positions at Roanoke Opera; Novozymes Biological, Inc.; Roanoke Regional Partnership; Woods & Rogers Law Firm; Punch Boutique and The Science Museum of Western Virginia, to name a few. We've also added a Summer College Experience where our upperclassmen and new graduates can take a college course for credit, right here in Roanoke. |
2022-23 STUDENT CLUBS
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Graduation distinctions: GLOBAL STUDIES, STEM, and THE FINE ARTS
 Global Studies Distinction Overview
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Global Studies Distinction: The Horace G. Fralin Program for Global Studies at North Cross School is designed to make students more aware, capable, and interested in a globalized and interconnected world. Through course work and experiential education, students will become more knowledgeable and engaged in 21st century issues with greater international outlook, insight, and perspective. Students who successfully complete the established requirements will earn the designation of Global Studies Scholar on their diploma and transcript. To learn more about what the program entails, download the Program Outline and this year's Global Studies Calendar of credit-qualifying events.
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STEM Distinction Overview
STEM Capstone Project Description
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STEM Distinction: The designation outlines specific coursework (such as computer science and math classes) and activities (such as Robotics or Coding Club) in which students must participate in order to qualify. The capstone to the program replaces their DeHart Project speech with a senior STEM project poster presentation.
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 Fine Arts Distinction Overview
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The Fine Arts Distinction aims to engage interested students in an in-depth study and experience in arts education. Through coursework, participation in arts programming (on- and off-campus), students who complete the program will receive a Fine Arts Distinction on their transcript and certificate upon graduation.
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Physical Education Requirement
All Upper School students have a physical education requirement (participation in at least 3 athletic seasons over 4 years). Students can fulfill this requirement by joining an athletic team. The North Cross School athletic program is based on the knowledge that a well-exercised, competitive young person can learn about himself or herself on the athletic field in a way difficult to match in other areas of school life. The development of the complete person is the goal of both the faculty and the students at North Cross and that goal is enthusiastically pursued in our athletic program.
Despite a no-tryouts policy, our teams win numerous conference and state titles each year. Perhaps it's the way our student-athletes come together as a team. The School has an honor code: “I will not lie. I will not cheat. I will not steal.” When the word "honor" is mentioned, the discussion usually turns to being a "person of integrity" or having "good character." To further that initiative, our Athletic Program has added a Sportsmanship Code that is introduced in the Lower School: “I will play fair. I will try my best. I will be kind to everyone.”
Despite a no-tryouts policy, our teams win numerous conference and state titles each year. Perhaps it's the way our student-athletes come together as a team. The School has an honor code: “I will not lie. I will not cheat. I will not steal.” When the word "honor" is mentioned, the discussion usually turns to being a "person of integrity" or having "good character." To further that initiative, our Athletic Program has added a Sportsmanship Code that is introduced in the Lower School: “I will play fair. I will try my best. I will be kind to everyone.”
Community service
Many private schools talk about the importance of "character," but what does that look like? At North Cross, we develop students of the world, not just of the classroom. We encourage a sense of responsibility that extends beyond themselves and their immediate environment. Community Service is a mainstay of an Upper Schooler's experience. Each year, each grade will spend hours at a local humanitarian aid organization. In addition, students have a number of service hours that must be completed each year independently.
Our community service partners include
Our community service partners include
- Center in the Square
- Habitat for Humanity
- Healing Strides
- Hope Tree
- The Rescue Mission
WRITING INITIATIVE
For a comprehensive look at how we approach writing instruction, download our Writing Initiative.
Learn more about our programs on the Upper School YouTube Channel:
Strength in Numbers
College Counseling
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Each year 100 percent of North Cross School graduates have the opportunity to enroll in a college or university, and most years, all of them do. Over the past six years, our 286 North Cross graduates have been accepted to 359 different colleges in 35 states and DC, and in 9 countries on 4 continents. We recognize that though all of our students are competitive in the college application pool, they are also unique in their interests and aspirations.
The experience of choosing a college helps students further develop interests, define talents, and consider their own individual ideas, stances, and values. College Counseling at North Cross School is designed primarily as a resource for students and parents. The underlying assumption is that college counseling at North Cross School empowers students to take control of their own college search and application process and ultimately identify and apply to post-secondary institutions that meet their individual needs and expectations. Director of College Counseling, Julie Aavatsmark email: jaavatsmark@northcross.org |
2024-25 School Profile
(includes all college acceptances and matriculations from 2020-24)
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Heard in the Halls
Emma Votta '26
"North Cross is one big community. Everyone can talk to each other and you've always got a friend somewhere. The teachers are always open to questions and offering extra help. My favorite subject is French with Mr. Brandon because he does lots of hands-on activities, and takes his time to make sure everyone understands the material. I also like all of the sports that I play, and that there are lots of options for students to participate in things."