Welcome to Upper School
9th through 12th grades
Fayetteville Academy’s college preparatory Upper School offers a comprehensive academic and extracurricular program. With numerous opportunities in academics, athletics, fine arts, clubs, and other extracurricular activities, each student finds a place to belong. As a student makes choices in these spheres, they are given the opportunity to develop their leadership potential in an individualized environment among students with similar interests.
Classes are typically structured through a liberal arts lens with students grouped according to interest and appropriately challenging courses. Providing a vigorous and dynamic curriculum with supportive instructors creates a school of readers, writers, thinkers, and artists. We feel that a holistic approach that includes social development is important to the intellectual development of our students, and place an emphasis on our Honor Code and service to the community to help create the leaders of tomorrow.
Upper School students traditionally achieve among the highest SAT scores of any public or private high school in the area, and 100 percent of our seniors are accepted to post-secondary institutions throughout the country. Beginning in the ninth grade, our college counselor is actively involved in guiding each student on an individual journey to find the college or university where they can continue to enjoy success while preparing for a fulfilling and productive adult life.
UNC- Pembroke Partnership
Starting in the 2023-2024 school year, we entered into a joint enrollment partnership with the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP). Upper School students are now able to take three UNCP semester courses on our campus (a two-semester US History course sequence for juniors and a one semester course in English for seniors). These courses allow students to earn up to nine college credits and the partnership has already led to collaboration between FA students and faculty with UNCP professors.
Seniors are eligible to take a two-semester online course sequence through FTCC to receive additional college credit.
The Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh Center for Writing and Creative Learning
The primary focus of the Writing Center is to encourage students to reach out and gain feedback for their writing-based needs, whether it be the writing process, assigned essays, or the AP rubric. Writing interns gain experience by providing input and advising other students in order to foster a new generation of skilled writers.
Writing Interns are the heart of the Writing Center. They are juniors and seniors invited to participate through recommendation from faculty members. An Intern is an excellent writer and tutor. Aside from polishing their own skills, Interns acquire valuable experience that they take with them to college and beyond.
The Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh Center for Writing and Creative Learning is named in honor of Ryan Kishbaugh, a remarkable young man who graduated from the Academy in 2002, planned to attend Princeton University, and whose creed about living his own life was "to stand up and be heard."
Ryan died in 2003 due to complications from cancer; he lives on today in endless ways. The Writing Center was, in part, his personal dream and concept.
OWilliams
It is my philosophy that students should be invited to try new things, to break out of their shells and see just what they are capable of. With much encouragement and a push to let my students learn by doing, I have found that students are capable of so much more than they realize when they first walk into my class. It is my hope and goal to leave my students at the end of the year with a new found enthusiasm for art and abilities they never knew they had. Ms. Williams, Fine Arts Teacher
SBryan
I have loved my time at FA because of all the opportunities it has given me. I have been able to play on three varsity teams, join several clubs, learn how to be a leader in SGA, and I’ve received an excellent education that I feel has prepared me well for college. Sarah B., Class of 2024
Guidi
Preparing our students for college and beyond in an environment that allows them to also thrive in the here and now is our primary mission. Dr. Guidi, Director of Upper School
P.Schneck
I enjoy being at FA because it has a great learning environment for all kinds of students. It also has sports that everyone can participate in as well as other activities. It facilitates the growth of great men and women, preparing them for life beyond school. Paige S., Class of 2025
G.Dixon
I have really enjoyed being able to participate in a sport each season and have my teachers help to keep me updated, and work around my schedule. Garek D., Class of 2024
st-hr
Curriculum
A normal course load in our seven period day consists of five core academic courses, an elective and a study hall. A few students opt for six core academic courses while some carry two electives. Most courses have prerequisites or require department and divisional approval. Online courses need the approval of the Upper School Director and the respective department chair. They are granted school credit, but are not factored into a student’s GPA.
KEY: (H): Honors level available (AP): Advanced Placement
We offer 14 different AP course options. Classes designated as honors are designed to be more academically challenging than their counterpart.
cust-hr
middle/upper COURSE CATALOG
Filter by Discipline
Filter By Grade Level
6th Grade Art
The art curriculum for middle school students is based on having a wide variety of creative experiences.
6th Grade STEAM
Students will learn how to maneuver the SmartLab and best use the tools and machines that are available to them.
7th Grade Art
All projects focus on the elements of art, the principles of design, and creativity.
7th Grade STEAM
Students will complete real-world projects as they rotate through various areas of exploration.
Algebra I / (H)
Prerequisite for Honors: 90+ in Pre-Algebra
Algebra II / (H)
Prerequisite for Honors: 90+ in Geometry, or 85+ in Geometry (H)
American Government
This is a sudy of the United States Government.
American Literature / (H)
This course is a survey of American literature.
Anatomy & Physiology
The course is designed to cover the structure of the human body (anatomy) and its functions (physiology).
Ancient Civilization / (H)
This course provides students with a far greater analysis of World History from the dawn of civilization to 1200.
AP Biology
Prerequisite: 90+ in Biology, Chemistry, and English or 85+ in Biology (H), Chemistry (H), and English (H or AP)
AP Calculus AB
Prerequisite: 90+ in Pre-Calculus (H or AP)
AP Calculus AB & BC
Prerequisite: 90+ in Pre-Calculus (H or AP)
AP Chemistry
Prerequisite: 85+ in Chemistry (H), Geometry, and Algebra II
AP Computer Science Principles
AP Computer Science Principles is an introductory college-level computing course that introduces students to the breadth of the field of computer science.
st-hr
Graduation Requirements
All students are required to take five academic courses each year in grades 9-12 to earn the following units:
- English (4 Units)
- Mathematics (4 Units)
- Science (4 Units)
- History (4 Units)
- World Language (3 Units)
- Fine Arts (1 Unit)
- Physical Education (1 Unit)
- Technology (1 Unit)