We Empower Students to Own Their Learning
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We empower students to School Profile 2019-20 own their learning. BANCROFT SCHOOL ur students have shaped their education in a supportive Ocommunity that encourages intellectual risk and puts a • PreK–12 independent, co-ed day school premium on strong personal relationships. They can stand on • Located in Worcester, MA their own two feet because they have been allowed to stumble. You won’t find a Bancroft alum on the sidelines, waiting for • Students come from Central MA, MetroWest Boston, others to create solutions. You’ll find them engaging, leading, Northern CT collaborating, and taking thoughtful action on a multitude of • 395 students in three divisions fronts. Bancroft School is designed as a learning laboratory where students ask questions, share ideas, and solve problems through • 191 students in Upper School (9–12) research, experimentation, and reflection. Bancroft graduates • 15 international students in Upper School are ready to make independent decisions and manage multiple • 8:1 average student/teacher ratio priorities because they have had plenty of practice. • 13 students average class size STUDENT LEADERSHIP & • 67% of faculty hold advanced degrees COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Bancroft School is located in Worcester, MA, New England’s • 25% students of color second-largest city, which boasts a socioeconomically and • $3 million in financial aid annually ethnically diverse population of 185,000 and a broad array of cultural and academic opportunities. You may find our students • 40% of students receive financial aid working in a Medical Research Lab, developing materials for the • 100% college acceptance rate Worcester Historical Society, partnering with artists creating murals throughout the city, or teaching fellow students how to • Founded in 1900 engage in the political process. Students also lead 29 different CLASS OF 2019 ACADEMIC STATISTICS clubs within the school. Students are also heavily involved in community service. Notable • 45 Students examples include Bancroft’s popularCARE & Horizons Program • Average GPA: 3.5 after junior year. in which students volunteer their Saturday mornings to mentor local children with significant special needs. The student-led • SAT Scores (Middle 50%): 1330 Math: 640 Worcester Refugee Assistance Program (WRAP) Soccer Project Evidence-Based Reading & Writing: 670 was initially designed by a Bancroft senior during herCo-Op in 2016 as a sports program to serve Burmese refugee children in our • ACT Scores community. Recent student-leaders have expanded the program Mean: 30 to include arts and academics. SCHOOL LEADERSHIP & COLLEGE COUNSELORS Trey Cassidy HEAD OF SCHOOL Lisa Baker HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL Tim Townley DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING Phyllis Barra ASSISTANT COLLEGE COUNSELOR CEEB Code: 222480 Bancroft School | 110 Shore Drive, Worcester, MA 01605 | Tel: 508.854.9228 | Fax: 508.854.9298 | [email protected] GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS • English: 4 years • History: 3 years • Foreign Language: 3 levels of one language, or 2 levels of two languages • Math: 3 years (through Algebra II) • Lab Science: 3 years (Chemistry, Biology, and a third lab science; Physics strongly recommended) • Arts: 1 year of Performing or Visual Arts • Physical Education: 4 semesters • Freshman Seminar • Senior Thesis • Senior Cooperative • CPR Certific tion GRADING & CLASS RANK SCHEDULE Bancroft does not rank its students. We use a uniform, unweighted marking system ranging from A to F; we do not Bancroft’s Upper School operates on a semester use A+. Students with an overall average of A- achieve High system. Courses run on a seven-day rotating schedule Honors, and those with a B+ average achieve Honors. Bancroft comprising 28 blocks of 75 minutes. Students typically is a member of the national Cum Laude Society. We induct a schedule 22-24 blocks of course time per rotation. maximum of 10% of the junior and 10% of the senior class into the Benefits of this schedule include: Cum Laude Society every spring. • Greater flexibility and choice in how each student meets the graduation requirements; HONORS & ADVANCED COURSES • Fewer classes each day with more time for in-depth Classes designated as “Honors” are positioning students to engage work; in college-level work before they leave high school. Most of these students will go on to take “Advanced” courses. Students who • Focused time for collaboration with project partners do well in our “Advanced” courses are prepared for upper-level or faculty, independent research, or homework; college courses in these and related departments. Over 65% of • Development of time-management skills and students who take AP exams score 4 or higher. intrinsic self-motivation that will serve students beyond high school; We have various special programs that enhance the Bancroft academic experience. At all levels, we offer strong art and music • Greater opportunity for students to discover new courses which are fully credited academic courses. interests and explore areas of passion. Students can elect junior/senior courses representing a broad range of disciplines, and all graduating seniors write the Senior Thesis, a capstone research paper. Additional advanced and individual work is offered whenever appropriate. For example, inResearch and Scientific Inquiry (RSI) and Research and Historical Inquiry (RHI) advanced students choose a specific topic of interest, conduct year-long experimentation and/or research, and present their deep mastery and research findings at regional, state and national competitions. Advanced foreign language students take immersive, field-oriented courses such asSpanish in a Global Context or Contemporary French Culture. Computer Science and Math students also have the opportunity to take courses beyond the traditional AP curriculum including Algorithms and Data Structures and Advanced Statistics with R Program. UPPER SCHOOL COURSE OFFERINGS 2019-20 NINTH GRADE TENTH GRADE ELEVENTH GRADE TWELFTH GRADE English Selective (fall) • Cultural Encounters English Selective (fall) in Literature • Detective Fiction • Double Selves in • One City Literature • Dystopian Literature ENGLISH English I English II • Dystopian Literature • Rebels in Literature Four years required • Rebels in Literature Composition & American Literature Argumentation (spring) or (spring) or AP English Literature AP English Language ADDITIONAL Creative Writing ELECTIVE Current Events Islamic Studies U.S. History Modern Money: HISTORY World History II Advanced U.S. History Three years required World History I A History of Economics World History II (H) (H) = Honors AP European History Current Events Research and Historical Inquiry Functions, Statistics and Algebra II MATHEMATICS Geometry Trigonometry (FST) Algebra I Algebra II (H) Three years required Geometry (H) Precalculus (H) Geometry Functions, Statistics and (through Algebra II) Algebra II Statistics Geometry (H) Trigonometry (FST) (H) = Honors Algebra II (H) Calculus Precalculus (H) AP Calculus AB/BC ADDITIONAL Advanced Statistics with ELECTIVE R Programming LAB SCIENCE Biology Three years required AP Biology Integrated Chemistry AP Chemistry (Chemistry, Biology, and a AP Physics Environmental Science Chemistry AP Biology third lab science) Research and Scientific Chemistry AP Chemistry* Research and Scientific Inquiry I or II Biology Inquiry I *Chemistry is a prerequisite Physics of Engineering Physics of Engineering for AP Chemistry ADDITIONAL Marine Science I & II, Psychology I & II, Case Studies in Psychopathology, ELECTIVE Anatomy and Physiology Computer Science Principles COMPUTER Algorithms and Advanced Engineering Programming Web AP Computer Science Data Structures & Design SCIENCE Applications Engineering & Design FOREIGN LANGUAGES ARTS PHYSICAL EDUCATION personal and professional SENIOR THESIS interests. Rooted in the Completion of a 300 level Completion of one year The Senior Thesis is the The Class of 2020 was School’s commitment to course in one language, in a Performing or Visual culminating research required to take PE every project-based learning or a 200 level course in Arts course. Advanced project in Bancroft’s semester through the Junior and the greater Worcester two different languages. Visual Portfolio students academic program. This year. community, the Co-op Languages offered: Latin, create a visual art portfolio 10- to 15-page essay combines elements of French, Mandarin and in the fall and a high level challenges students to SENIOR COOPERATIVE an internship, a research Spanish. Seminar courses research-based, artistic choose a topic for research, project, and community are for students who have project for a spring This program, better discover relevant facts and service. Students can completed the 300 level exhibition. The result is known as the “Senior opinions available in print design their own Co-op class and desire an in-depth a solo exhibition of thesis Co-op”, takes students and online, and synthesize experience, or choose from a thematic study in the target level work. out of the classroom their research to support a catalogue of project choices language. during the final semester thesis statement, or guiding at approved organizations of their Senior year, and argument. places them in a real- throughout the area. world work environment that aligns with their COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES & MATRICULATIONS, 2014–2019 Bancroft students were accepted at the following institutions over the past six years. Boldface indicates schools where they chose to matriculate. Acadia University Fashion