Students explore the world of science.

Upper School Points of Pride

Outstanding College Guidance Program

  • 100% College Admissions every year; students' goals/passions matched to wide range of schools that best suit student needs and aspirations.
  • Class of 2009 accepted to 57 colleges nationwide:  from UCLA to University of Vermont, plus Brandeis, Brown, Colgate, Emory, Franklin & Marshall, Johns Hopkins, Michigan, Oberlin, Penn, Pitt, Tufts, Rutgers, Vanderbilt and Yale, and prestigious programs in Israel.  For complete list, click here.
  • 13% of the Class of 2009 has been accepted to the University of Pennsylvania.

National Merit Scholars Recognition

  • 25% of Class of 2009 recognized by the National Merit Scholars Program.
  • 12 Commended Scholars, 2 finalists, one National Merit Scholar.
  • High SAT scores (click here for details).

AP Courses

  • 9 AP courses
  • 15 Honors courses

Outstanding Science Program

  • Junior Varsity JETS (Junior Engineering Technical Society) Team ranked #1 in the state; 3rd nationally.  9th graders combine math and science skills to solve complex, college-level problems.
  • A Barrack senior was selected in the summer of '09 to participate in The Legacy Heritage Internship for Young Scientists at Hebrew University in Jerusalem where he participated in cancer research.
  • A rising junior was chosen to participate in the University of Pennsylvania's TREES program (Teen Research and Education in Environmental Sciences) where she conducted research on Celiac disease.
  • Most Socially Relevant Science Award; 9th Grade Annenberg High School Science Symposium team received the most socially relevant award for their presentation entitled Advancements in Prosthetics.

Humanities

  • AP American Government Class traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend session of the Supreme Court, integrating classroom learning with experiential learning.
  • Panim El Panim:  Sophomores hone their leadership skills as they attend conferences in Washington, D.C.  and meet congressional leaders, lobbying for causes close to their hearts.
  • Annual 9th Grade Shakespeare Day.  Students bring Bard's work alive in original costumes, songs, skits, videos and more.
  • School-wide Mock Election in November, complete with decorated polling places and candidate debates; Barack-Biden ticket wins!

Study Abroad

  • Students study in Israel during their junior year; explore Israel as living classroom; bond with Israeli peers; enjoy home hospitality; strengthen their identity and mastery of Hebrew.
  • French and latin majors travel to France and Italy, respectively, experiencing the culture, history, language and cuisine of each country during summer trips.  Jewish life in each country also explored.

Athletics

  • Boys' Varsity baseball team captured Penn-Jersey Championship title for 3rd year in a row.
  • Boys' Varsity tennis team captured Penn-Jersey Championship title this year.
  • Boys' Varsity tennis team wins tournament title.
  • A Barrack senior and Scholar/Athlete inducted into Sports Hall of Fame, Delaware County Chapter.  Captain of soccer team; MVP on the tennis team and Tri-County League tennis MVP; Honors student; active in community service; Student Association President; off to Johns Hopkins in the fall.
  • A Barrack senior, received two awards from the William H. Markwood Memorial Basketball Club: the Unsung Hero Award and the William Ferguson Award presented to an athlete who excels on the court and in the classroom.  He is off to Tufts this fall.

Drama Program

  • Award-Winning Drama Program
  • Recipient of Cappies:  Critics Award Program for High School Theater and Journalism
  • 2009 Annual Upper School Play:  Third by Wendy Wasserstein
  • 2009 Upper School Musical:  Disney's Beauty and the Beast; played to SRO crowds in St. Joe's Bluett Theater; outstanding singing, dancing, sets, costumes and orchestra.
  • A rising junior writes Cappie reviews of productions by other high schools.  Reviews are consistently selected for publication in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Arts Program

  • A Barrack senior had his work chosen from over 400 high school entries, as one of the five Honorable mention winners in the "Cezanne and Beyond:  Art of Inspiration Contest."
  • Senior mural project: a senior is in the process of creating a mural depicting history of Israel; mural covers two walls in Barrack's school building.

Community Service:

  • 100% school-wide community service participation throughout the year tied to Jewish value of "Repairing the World."
  • Passion for Fashion and Service:  Two sophomores combined a passion for fashion with a passion for service and organized, staged, and implemented a fashion and food extravaganza, Strut Your Support, which raised funds to benefit homeless and abused children in the Ukraine.  Event raised over $5,000 in one evening.
  • Human Rights Club adopts year-long campaign of raising awareness and funds for former child soldiers of the Uganda; hosts assemblies and fair trade fundraising events.
  • Seniors must complete 136-150 hours of community service in order to graduate.  Projects range from Project H.O.M.E. to tutoring inner-city school students; to volunteering at the Philadelphia Theater Company to working with the elderly at Martins Run.