Upper School

Welcome to The Out-of-Door Academy's Upper School.

The Out-of-Door Academy was founded on the belief that an exceptional education must address the needs of the whole child. Almost a century later, this foundational truth continues to guide the school. The experience at the Uihlein Campus is designed to meet the needs of young men and women as they grow into adulthood. As students progress through our program, they are given challenges and opportunities that help them hone their intellect, develop independence, and mature into responsible young men and women. Out-of-Door graduates are well prepared for the challenges of college and life.

There is much to tell about Out-of-Door, and I encourage you to explore this site to learn about the school. You will see that we offer many opportunities for children. The secret to our success is our ability to engage students with our caring faculty and thoughtful programs. I will share a word on both before I leave you to visit our website.

We understand that young people grow best when taught by teachers who care. The teachers at Out-of-Door are masters of their subject matter and dedicated to knowing their students. Our superb faculty serves as teachers, mentors, advisors, and coaches. They are devoted to providing each student the opportunities and support needed to engage and excel in all areas of school life. Out-of-Door teachers ask students to commit to academics and to take responsibility for their learning, but they also provide the support and personal attention that young men and women need at this formative stage in their lives.

Our teachers provide a rigorous academic program for our students. We expect academic excellence, but we do not simply want students to perform well on tests. We want them to learn how to think and to master the world of ideas. To meet this goal, our core college preparatory curriculum is enhanced by electives in the arts, sciences and humanities and extended by over 25 honors and Advanced Placement courses. The program is challenging, engaging, and multi-faceted. From the ninth grade's close reading and discussion of Homer's Odyssey to the senior year capstone course (in which students investigate the essential question, How is life best lived?, through the lenses of spirituality, social justice and the arts), the curriculum at Out-of-Door engages and stretches students intellectually.

Finally, an Out-of-Door education extends beyond the classroom. As with academics, our co-curricular program is designed to engage and stretch children. Through athletic offerings, art, music and drama productions, promotion of community service, and our Student Activities program, the campus is alive with activity long after the final class of the day has ended. These opportunities guarantee a rich, balanced experience for Out-of-Door students who are expected to participate and encouraged to lead.

I appreciate your interest in our school, and I encourage you to visit campus to learn firsthand about what we offer.

Sincerely,
J. Bruce Latta
Head of Middle and Upper Schools

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