Students may
qualify for honors-level courses in English, history, math, science and
foreign language. Advanced Placement preparation is available in English,
history, math, science, foreign language, art and performing arts. The
Excelsior faculty employs a wide variety of teaching methods. In history
class, students might debate the merits of Athenian democracy and Roman
imperialism; in biology, students might do a laboratory experiment to
determine factors that influence enzyme activity. Teachers may ask
students to work together to design a computer- based solution to a
mathematical problem. All courses emphasize reading, writing and research
skills, and many courses include educational field trips to local museums,
theatres and historical sites.
The visual and performing arts are an integral part of the Excelsior
experience. Each student is required to enroll in at least one full-year
studio art course and one music course before graduation, and many
students choose to take additional electives in these fields.