Academics
Top-notch academics are at the core of the Quarry Lane School academic experience. Our administration and faculty continually collaborate to maintain a curriculum that keeps pace with the needs of our students and continues to broaden their intellectual boundaries. Outstanding faculty, small class sizes and comprehensive teaching techniques are all essential components of our academic program.
At our high school level, we are proud to offer three unique academic tracks, each uniquely designed to guide our student's path to success. With a 100 percent acceptance rate into colleges and universities, Quarry Lane students leave our campus fully prepared to thrive in the next step of their educational journey.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Quarry Lane is proud to be the only private school in the East Bay to offer the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. The IB Diploma Programme is a rigorous and balanced two-year curriculum for juniors and seniors noted for its depth, challenge and international perspective. The IB program is recognized worldwide as one of the finest college preparatory programs a student can take, and is widely considered the gold standard for college admissions.
High School Curriculum
- Academic Tracks
- Harkness Methodology
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Engineering and Technology
- History and Social Sciences
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Additional Language
- Graduation Requirements
Academic Tracks
One of the key features that sets Quarry Lane's program apart is our three distinct academic tracks:
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme Track
The IB Diploma Programme Track provides a comprehensive education to prepare students for top university study. It has an interdisciplinary, global curriculum which begins in the junior year. Oral and written examinations are internationally developed and assessed. Quarry Lane is the only private high school in the East Bay Area to offer this prestigious diploma, which is considered the gold standard for university admission.
Learn more about the IB Diploma Programme at Quarry Lane
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Track
We have developed a challenging Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Track for high school students who want to focus on these areas as a future career. Our applied science curriculum models a real-world design and research engineering lab, which supports students' empirical and theoretical research projects. These projects create opportunities for students to work alongside industry professionals at top universities and research labs. This track is not only focused on academics, but also challenges students to solve real-world problems using the disciplines of science and engineering.
College Preparatory Track
The College Preparatory Track curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for the academic challenges of higher education. With high academic expectations for all students, our graduation requirements ensure a comprehensive educational foundation and meet, or surpass, the admissions standards of public and private universities across the country. We offer a variety of advanced placement (AP) classes which allow our students to achieve university credits before they graduate from high school.
Harkness Methodology
"Being able to build on someone else’s idea and not just your own initial thought was really useful in a college setting."
- Ravi Maddali, Quarry Lane alumnus '15
Many of Quarry Lane's Upper School humanities instructors have implemented the Harkness methodology in their classrooms. The Harkness methodology focuses on a collaborative, discussion-based approach to teaching that inspires students to find and use their voices. Seated around a large, oval conference table, students exchange insights and ideas. Throughout their class, they engage in lively conversation, as well as active listening. The Harkness method fosters a learning environment that is conducive to critical thinking and analysis, where students are challenged to assert their opinions, ask questions, and ultimately learn from each other.
Classroom Layout
Harkness tables allow all the students to face into each other, which encourages discussion and student-driven participation. The Harkness tables teach the students to collaborate with each other, rather than compete with each other, and this interaction continues beyond the classroom and becomes a cornerstone of our IB program. The instructor is a participant in the Harkness discussion as well, demonstrating to students how to learn, by teaching them how to ask questions and how to find answers. When it comes time to taking tests or quizzes, each Harkness table has pull-out test tables to give the students individual work areas
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Building Lifelong Learners
The Harkness Methodology gives our students the short-term and long-term skills to be lifelong students. The most effective teaching methodologies are practiced by doing and teaching others. Harkness makes extensive use of these methodologies through its discussion-centered practices. It also fosters a sense of community and connectedness that connects our students long after graduation.
English
The primary goal of the English Department is to instruct and inspire our students to become effective readers, thinkers, writers, speakers, and listeners so they may express their ideas while understanding and evaluating those of others.
We believe that the study of literature illuminates the power of language to provide meaning and illustrate the diversity of human experiences. Quarry Lane's high school students actively engage with a variety of literary works from different genres, time periods, cultures and styles to help broaden their proficiency in analysis and interpretation of literature, as well as develop their intellectual curiosity and love for reading.
At the high school level, students learn to write critically, effectively and personally while refining their composition, grammar and vocabulary skills. Through our program, students graduate from Quarry Lane as effective, confident writers with the necessary skills to succeed in their college years and beyond.
Course Offerings
| English 1 - Grade 9 |
| ENGLISH honors 1 - grade 9 |
| ENGLISH 2 - grade 10 |
| english 2 HOnors - grade 10 |
| english 3 Honors - grade 11 |
| english 4 HOnors -grade 12 |
| ap english language & composition - grades 11 |
| ap english literature & composition - grades 12 |
| ib english year 1 sl/hl - grade 11 |
| ib english year 2 sl/hl - grade 12 |
*All course offerings are subject to change
Mathematics
The Quarry Lane School Math Department aims to shape independent thinkers who are able to discover, understand, and apply mathematics in their lives. We believe that the mathematical learning process is most effective and engaging when the creative aspects of the subject (exploratory problem-solving, modeling) are balanced with enough conceptual rigor and technical facility to enable forward progress. Thus, both these sides of mathematics are incorporated at every level of the QLS curriculum. All topics are studied verbally, visually, and symbolically, with the aim that students learn to communicate mathematics in all of these modes.
Mathematics Course Offerings
| algebra - grades 9-12 |
| algebra 2/trigonometry - grades 9-12 |
| algebra 2/trigonometry honors - grades 9-12 |
| geometry - grades 9-12 |
| pre-calculus - grades 9-12 |
| pre-calculus honors - grades 9-12 |
| ap calculus Ab - grades 9-12 |
| AP calculus bc - grades 10-12 |
| ap statistics - grades 11-12 |
| introduction to data science - grades 9-12 |
| ib math: analysis and approaches sl/hl - grades 11-12 |
| multivariables calculus honors - grades 11-12 |
| linear algebra honors - grades 11-12 |
*All course offerings are subject to change
Below is a sample of mathematics competitions Quarry Lane students compete in throughout the year. Please note, it is not an exhaustive list and is subject to change.
Lower School
- Noetic Math Learning Competition
- Continental Math League
- Mathematical Olympiads
Middle School
- Noetic Math Learning Competition
- Continental Math League
- Math Counts
- Mathematical Olympiads (sixth grade only)
High School
- Berkeley Math Tournament
- National Assessment and Testing (Fall Startup)
- Math Madness
- Mathleague
- AMC 8/10/12
- Stanford Math Tournament
- ARML Power Contest
- HiMCM (High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling)
Science
The Quarry Lane science curriculum affords students with an opportunity to delve into scientific principles and concepts through laboratory and hands-on learning experiences. We hope to expose students to the broad array of information available in these fields, foster their individual interests, and nurture their fascination with the world around them. As they progress through the curriculum, students will have the opportunity to take elective courses in the Advanced Placement and IB series including: Physics (AP/IB), Chemistry (AP/IB), Biology (AP/IB), and Environmental Science and Societies (IB). These advanced courses will give them an appreciation of not only the impressive breadth of material in these disciplines, but also allow them to dig far deeper into some of the topics through extensive hands on work in the lab and in the field. Our science program provides our students with a strong foundation that prepares them for some of the best science programs at universities across the world.
Science Course Offerings
| chemistry - grades 9-12 |
| chemistry honors - grades 9-12 |
| Materials science and chemistry honors - grades 10-12 |
| ap chemistry - grades 9-12 |
| ib chemistry Hl 1&2 - grades 11-12 |
| biotechnology and genetic engineering - grades 10-12 |
| biology - grades 9-12 |
| biology with applications - grades 9-12 |
| ap biology - grades 9-12 |
| ib biology Hl 1&2 - grades 11-12 |
| iB environmental systems and studies Sl 1&2 - grades 11-12 |
| anatomy and physiology honors - grades 10-12 |
| physics - grades 9-12 |
| ap physics 1 - grades 9-12 |
| ap physics c: mechanics - grades 10-12 |
| ap physics c: electricity and magnetism - grades 10-12 |
| ib physics HL 1&2 - grades 11-12 |
| astronomy - grades 9-12 |
| advanced Astronomy honors - grades 10-12 |
| ib astronomy sl 1&2 - grades 11-12 |
*All course offerings are subject to change
Engineering and Technology
Quarry Lane has developed a robust engineering and technology program with access to cutting-edge equipment and state-of-the-art facilities including prototyping and fabrication workshops. At our high school level, students have the option of taking a full four years of engineering courses, or explore different courses at their own pace.
Our unique Science, Engineering and Technology academic track is focused on preparing students for some of the nation's top engineering universities. The applied science curriculum models real-world design and problem-solving. Our research engineering lab supports students' empirical and theoretical research projects and provides students with the opportunity to work alongside industry professionals.
In addition to our curriculum offerings, Quarry Lane offers a host of extracurricular clubs focused on engineering, design and technology. These may include FIRST Robotics Club, Maker Club, Engineering Club and Girls Who Code (clubs are subject to change based on student interest and availability
Learn More About Quarry Lane Engineering and Robotics
Engineering and Technology Course Offerings
| introduction to engineering - grades 9-12 |
| engineering design and assembly - grades 9-12 |
| advanced engineering honors - grades 9-12 |
| advanced design studio honors - grades 9-12 |
| 3d design and manufacturing honors - grades 10-12 |
| Advanced topics in computer science honors - grades 10-12 |
| ap computer science a - grades 9-12 |
AP Computer science principles - grades 9-12 |
| IB computer science sl - grades 11-12 |
| ib computer science hl - grades 11-12 |
| ib design technology sl - grades 11-12 |
| ib design technology hl - grades 11-12 |
*All course offerings are subject to change
History and Social Sciences
The History/Social Studies Department contains courses concerned with both the study of the past and the relationship between the individual and society. Its courses help students develop their critical reading and writing skills. In their time at Quarry Lane, students progressively become more acquainted with methods of historical research and analysis, argumentative and persuasive writing, and the oral and audiovisual presentation of research. In particular, the department pushes students to explore the relationship between historical cause and effect, to think about the relevance of contemporary events, and to place events and ideas in their historical and/or social context.
History Course Offerings
| world history - grades 9-10 |
| world history honors - grades 9-10 |
| U.s. history - grades 10-12 |
| AP u.s. history - grades 10-12 |
| AP European History - grades 11-12 |
| ib history of the americas, HL 1&2 -Grades 11-12 |
Social Science Course Offerings
| introduction to psychology - grades 9-12 |
| ap psychology - grade 10-12 |
| ib psychology sl/hl - grades 11-12 |
| economics - grades 9-12 |
| IB economics sl - grades 11-12 |
| ib economics hl - grades 11-12 |
| ib environmental systems and studies sl 1&2 - grades 11-12 |
| marketing - grades 10-12 |
| businesss administration and management - grades 9-12 |
*All course offerings are subject to change
Visual and Performing Arts
By studying the visual arts students develop technical ability and an understanding of both traditional and contemporary aesthetic practices through multi-cultural perspective. Reflective of the Quarry Lane School’s institutional philosophy, the Visual Arts serves as the foundation for creative exploration, communication, cross cultural understanding, global citizenship and autonomous learning.
Visual Arts Course Offerings
| fundamental art - grades 9-12 |
| advanced studio art - grades 10-12 |
| ap 2-D Art and Design - grades 11-12 |
| ib Visual art sl - grades 11-12 |
| ib Visual art hl - grades 11-12 |
| yearbook - grades 9-12 |
The Quarry Lane School theater arts program focuses on developing language and communication abilities, problem solving skills and the creative process. The class lessons focus on concepts that promote positive self images, social awareness, empathy, values and attitudes as well as an understanding of theater.
Theatre Arts and Dance Course Offerings
| dance 1- grades 9-12 |
| dance 2 - grades 9-12 |
| theatre arts - grades 9-12 |
| advanced theatre arts - grades 9-12 |
The Quarry Lane Music Department serves a number of important functions in the yearly cycle of events on and off campus. The performance groups, such as Jazz Band and Cougar Choir, give students the opportunity to play or sing music in an ensemble setting, creating important skills beyond music making itself, such as working together in a group and multitasking (such as listening and playing at the same time). Music classes are focused on practical music learning, with the intent of building skills that are useful to all students regardless of what their career path may be. Listening, performing, and composing music are a major aspect of all student projects; based on a conviction that all people are inherently musical, and dedicated to helping students find a purpose and enjoyment for music through their entire lives.
Music Course Offerings
| jazz band - grades 9-12 |
| music appreciation - grades 9-12 |
| Ib music sl 1 - grades 11-12 |
| ib music sl 2 - grades 11-12 |
*All course offerings are subject to change
Additional Language
“Language is a key to opening minds and attitudes. To speak, read, write, and understand another language is the beginning of understanding other people.”
-Senator Paul Simon, The Tongue-Tied American, 1980
Studying foreign languages helps students broaden their understanding of different cultures and people and helps students to develop a global mindset. In our high school world languages program, students may select from either Mandarin Chinese or Spanish. Throughout their world languages course(s), students acquire a working knowledge and ability to communicate in their language of study. This communication is evidenced in all four language skills – listening, speaking, reading, and writing. In order to develop better conversational fluency and understanding, students are required to participate in class using the language of study.
Course Offerings
| Mandarin 1 - grades 9-12 |
| mandarin 2 - grades 9-12 |
| mandarin 3 - grades 9-12 |
| mandarin 3 honors - grades 9-12 |
| ap chinese language and culture - grades 10-12 |
| IB Mandarin ab initio 1&2 - grades 11-12 |
| ib mandarin sl 1&2 - grades 11-12 |
| ib mandaring hl 1&2 - grades 11-12 |
| spanish 1 - grades 9-12 |
| spanish 2 - grades 9-12 |
| spanish 2 honors - grades 9-12 |
| spanish 3 - grades 9-12 |
| spanish 3 honors - grades 9-12 |
| spanish 4 - grades 9-12 |
| spanish 4 honors - grades 9-12 |
| ib spanish sl 1& 2 - grades 11-12 |
| ib spanish hl 1&2 - grades 11-12 |
| ib spanish ab initio 1&2 - grades 11-12 |
Our Mandarin program follows simplified Chinese, all materials used are in simplified characters.
*All course offerings are subject to change
Graduation Requirements
Quarry Lane | UC | ||
| Social Science (40 credits) | Four years required, including one year of World/European History and one year of U.S. History | Two years required, including one year of world or European history, cultures and geography (may be a single year-long course or two one semester courses) and one year of U.S. history or one-half year of U.S. history and one-half year of civics or American government | |
| English (40 credits) | Four years college preparatory English required | Four years college preparatory English required, not more than one year of ESL-type courses can be used to meet this requirement | |
| Math (40 credits) | Four years required, including Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 | Three years required (four years recommended), including Algebra, Geometry, and Intermediate or Advanced Algebra | |
| Science (30 credits) | Three years of Laboratory Science, including one year of a Life Science (Biology) | Two years of college preparatory science, including or integration topics that provide fundamental knowledge in two of the following: biology, chemistry, or physics | |
| World Language (30 credits) | Three years required of the same language (or through level 3) | Two years required of the same language (three years recommended) | |
| Physical Education (10 credits) | One year required | None | |
| Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) (10 credits) | EOne year required | One year (or two semester courses of the same discipline) of dance, music, theater, visual arts, or interdisciplinary arts | |
| Electives | Additional courses to complete a minimum of 230 credits required to graduate | One year of college preparatory electives chosen from the following areas: Visual & Performing Arts, History or Social Science, English, Mathematics, Science, and Language other than English |