Curriculum
Upper School
The Upper School Language Arts Department at Lake Highland prepares students to be independent thinkers, critical readers, and capable writers by focusing on skills in research, argumentation, analysis, composition, collaboration, and presentation. Through meaningful engagement with language and literature, we examine the human condition and our place in the global community.
LHP’s Upper School science curriculum offers a robust combination of traditional and modern courses of study. Students discover biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental science, in laboratories, classrooms, and outdoor learning spaces. Lake Highland provides every APⓇ Science course offered through the College Board program, in addition to fascinating classes through the Global Online Academy, such as Medical Problem Solving and Bioethics. Our comprehensive science program extends to select students participating in research labs at UCF with M.D.s and Ph.Ds mentoring their work.
With an average of 21 years of teaching experience, LHP’s Upper School Math faculty are experts in their field. Daily activities center on problem-solving and critical thinking skills using technology and hands-on activities. Our classrooms are collaborative learning spaces where all students can be mathematicians.
Highlanders can also compete in local, state, and national math competitions through our chapter of Mu Alpha Theta.
Through our integrated social studies curriculum, students not only investigate historic events, they also examine human societies, including psychology, government, personal finance, and economics. Students are introduced to world history as freshmen and progress to American history as sophomores. During their junior and senior years of study, they expand their knowledge of social, political, economic, cultural, and intellectual impacts of global leaders, innovators, and world events.
Students may choose to study five world languages at LHP – Mandarin Chinese, French, Latin, Spanish, and American Sign Language. Students can practice their language skills and broaden their cultural competencies by taking part in travel abroad opportunities, competing in language-based statewide competitions, and becoming a member of the Spanish, Chinese, Latin, or French National Honor Societies. Students gain a comprehensive understanding of what it means to be a global citizen and the benefits of being multilingual through our strong World Language program.
The Computer Science Department at Lake Highland is constantly evolving to stay current with emerging technologies. By focusing on inquiry and discovery, students develop skills to practice and solve real-world problems. Students are exposed to a wide range of computer science topics, from artificial intelligence to robotics, virtual reality, and coding. Lake Highland offers every APⓇ Computer Science course available through the College Board.
Extraordinary Electives & Co-Curricular Opportunities
- Merit Studies: A highly challenging course of study at LHP that prepares students for success at the most selective colleges.
- Global Online Academy: An international consortium of leading schools provide 100+ online courses with students and teachers from all over the world.
- Advanced PlacementⓇ Courses: LHP offers 33 AP courses. In 2022, 92% of the 447 Lake Highland students taking AP classes passed the AP exam, and more than half were granted distinction by the College Board in one or more of three categories: AP Scholar, AP Scholar with Honor, AP Scholar with Distinction, AP Capstone Diploma, and AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
- UF Dual Enrollment: This program allows students to earn both high school and college credit while attending college-level courses through the University of Florida.