Academics

Upper School

The Upper School Experience

Intensity increases in the Upper School where students focus on academics, extracurricular activities and service to prepare for success in college and beyond. We believe that their educational experience should be at the same time both intellectually rigorous and personally stimulating. An outstanding faculty, beautiful campus, and strong traditions combine to inspire learning while encouraging character growth.

The Upper School curriculum is college preparatory - with Honors classes and Advanced Placement options available across all disciplines. Within the classroom, Country Day encourages self expression and independent thought through inquiry-based discussion. Independent study options are available for students with a special interest. Continual self-assessment and growth are also a focus for faculty and staff with more than half of the Upper School's teaching faculty have advanced academic degrees.

Within the framework of small classes that allow individual attention and encourage personal development, teaching styles include discussions, lectures, videos, field trips, writing assignments, special projects, and group work. All Country Day graduates are computer literate and learn in-depth word processing, databases, spreadsheets, PowerPoint, and basic computer language as a means to further learning.

To supplement its strong academic programs, Country Day offers a wide variety of opportunities for personal accomplishment and growth through extracurricular activities and service. Students may undertake a program of independent work by taking courses at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCAA) or senior externship opportunities for class-produced publications such as Le Melange and eh, las bas!

Country Day produces confident, mature, well-rounded graduates who are prepared to do well in a number of different areas. We take great pride in the scholastic achievements of our upper school students. Although Country Day offers very few internal awards to its students, their academic accomplishments are recognized annually by numerous colleges, universities, and other institutions. In 2015, 20 students were inducted into the National Honors Society and seven were designated national merit scholarship winners.
We do more than teach the rules. We teach students to understand why the rules are important.

--Upper School Principal, Howard Barton

Upcoming Events

List of 3 events.

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News

List of 3 news stories.

  • Drones

    What is 'DAT (Department of Applied Technology)?

    Country Day's new Department of Applied Technology supports the infusion of digital technology into all disciplines and grade levels from Pre-K through 12th grade by promoting computational thinking through experiential, project-based learning and by offering dedicated computer science courses for students in 5th through 12th grade.

  • Senior Nick See Published in The Concord Review

    Country Day senior Nick See's essay on Edwin McMasters Stanton was published in the Fall 2017 issue of The Concord Review. The Concord Review was founded in 1987 to recognize and to publish exemplary history essays by high school students. Subscribers to The Concord Review hail from 42 states and 38 countries. To learn more and see Nick's piece, visit http://www.tcr.org/. A copy will also be available to all in Country Day's Bright Library.

  • Country Day's Sue Kim Named 2017 U.S. Presidential Scholar

    Country Day senior Sue Kim was selected as a member of the 53rd class of United States Presidential Scholars. Sue was one of only two scholars selected from Louisiana and one of 161 scholars selected nationwide.
Archive

Contacts

List of 13 members.

  • Mr. Howard Barton , Jr.  

    Upper School Principal
    Phone - (504) 849-3178
    United States Military Academy - BS
    United States Naval War College - MA
    Yale University - MA
    Yale University - MPhil

  • Mr. G. Howard Hunter 75

    Metairie Park Country Day School
    Academic Dean, US History Teacher
    (504) 849-3166
    Georgetown University - BA
    Harvard University - MEd
    Metairie Park Country Day School
    Tulane University - MA

  • Mrs. Jennifer Sciortino 

    Metairie Park Country Day School
    Assistant Upper School Principal, US English Teacher
    (504) 838-3304
    Louisiana State University - M.A.

  • Ms. Shannon Barrilleaux 

    Metairie Park Country Day
    Director of College Counseling
    (504)-849-3185

  • Sheena Reed 

    Metairie Park Country Day School
    Director of College Counseling
    (504)849-3769

  • Ms. Dena Majett 

    US Administrative Assistant
    (504) 849-3160
    Phone - (504) 849-3160
    University of Miami - BBA/Marketing

  • Mrs. Elizabeth Petersen 

    English Department Chair, US & MS English
    Harvard University - Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude
    University of New Orleans - Master of Arts in English Teaching

  • Ms. Mary Beth Ellis 

    French Department Chair, US French Teacher, Humanities Teacher
    Louisiana State University - BS
    Tulane University - MEd

  • Mrs. Ellen Cohen 81

    Metairie Park Country Day School
    Spanish Department Chair, US Spanish Teacher
    Metairie Park Country Day School
    Smith College - BA
    Smith College - MEd

  • Mrs. Jenny Irwin 88

    Metairie Park Country Day School
    History Department Chair, US History Teacher, Grade 9 Dean and Sponsor
    (504) 849-3172
    Metairie Park Country Day School
    Newcomb College - BA

  • Mrs. Gretchen Hennessy 

    Math Department Chair, US Math, Grade 11 Sponsor
    (504) 849-3167
    University of Virginia - B.A.
    University of Virginia - M.A.

  • Ms. Kate Turnbull 

    Science Department Chair, MS/US Science Teacher
    (504) 840-3972
    Eckerd College - BS
    University of New Orleans - MA

  • Mrs. Linda Lawrence 

    Metairie Park Country Day School
    Director of Technology Development, Department of Applied Technology Chair, Computer Science Teacher
    (504) 849-3107
    Tulane University - M.S.
    Louisiana Tech University - B.S.
300 Park Road, Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 837-5204
Established in 1929, Metairie Park Country Day School is a coed private school for New Orleans area students in early childhood through Grade 12. From the elementary grades through upper school, the care and cultivation of each child comes to life in our exciting academic program, creative arts, and competitive athletic offerings.