Upper School

Ali Aoyama

Assistant Headmaster, Head of Upper School

Welcome to Upper School

The Upper School marks a pivotal chapter in each boy's Saint David's experience, where rigorous academic pursuit meets character development.

Our thoughtfully designed curriculum provides boys ages nine through fourteen with an academically challenging program that inspires passion around learning. Every lesson is crafted to encourage boys to grow intellectually, creatively, socially, and morally in community with their classmates.

Beyond educating boys in the classroom, we guide them in their pursuit of becoming good men. This is not a quest for perfection, but rather the development of character and a journey where mistakes are seen as opportunities for reflection and growth.

Our program reflects the dualities that boys need most: structure and spontaneity, independence and guidance, challenge and support. At its heart is the teacher-student relationship, which we see as the key to successful pedagogy. Faculty know each child well and tailor instruction accordingly. Daily office hours give boys regular access to their teachers for inquiry and encouragement. And, a strong sense of care provides an environment where boys willingly step outside of their comfort zones to take risks in their pursuit of learning.

What makes our Upper School so special is the way that our boys don’t just acquire knowledge —they deepen their curiosity, self-awareness, and sense of purpose. Students carry an exceptional ability to think deeply and critically, paired with a quiet confidence that makes them a warm presence in any room they enter. This is the Saint David's difference. We invite you to visit and see how our program enables our boys to become their best selves.

Preparing Confident Communicators

From literature circles to debates about history, Saint David’s boys learn to lead conversations with curiosity, respect, and purpose. In fifth and sixth grades, fishbowl discussions invite them to share observations, predictions, theories, and questions about text, always grounding their ideas in evidence and building thoughtfully on classmates’ contributions. In Grades Six through Eight, Socratic seminars challenge boys to wrestle with complex historical issues. They learn to listen patiently to differing perspectives, invite others into the exchange, ask clarifying questions, and make connections that move the dialogue forward. Whether a fishbowl or a seminar, boys learn to disagree respectfully, stay focused, and contribute meaningfully. These skills prepare boys to think critically and communicate with confidence.

Connecting Ideas Across Disciplines

Ideas rarely stay in their lanes. At Saint David’s, boys learn to follow them—across subjects, through disciplines, and into more complex understandings. In the fourth and eighth grades, they explore how art and history inform one another, using close observation and creative expression to bring the past into sharper focus. In sixth grade, teams of boys research, write and narrate original presentations at the Hayden Planetarium, blending science and storytelling into a synthesis of astronomy and rhetoric. Such integrated projects teach more than content. They teach connection and the value of seeing through more than one lens.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Whether measuring oysters in the estuary at East 90th Street or tracing the arc of history through the streets of Rome, Saint David’s boys engage the world beyond the classroom with focus and curiosity. Field studies in Central Park and work with the Billion Oyster Project make science tangible through hands-on investigation. Domestic and international study tours—from Frost Valley to Washington, from Salamanca to Florence—deepen understanding, build independence, and challenge boys to see their studies in a new light. These experiences are not breaks from the curriculum—they are where it comes fully to life.

Core Skills

The Upper School years are a time of growing capability and character. Across disciplines, boys build fluency in nine core skills—from argument and analysis to empathy and communication. These are not just academic tools; they are the habits that shape thoughtful men.

Critical Analysis of Ideas and Issues

How do we analyze primary historical sources?

How can we apply the themes, events, and circumstances of Renaissance history to later eras and our own times?

How does engaging in debate help us to understand multiple perspectives and strengthen our ability to think critically and communicate effectively?

Problem Solving & Collaboration

What can we learn about the universal form and function of ceramic vessels through our consideration of Egyptian and Greek examples?

How do scientists and engineers work? How does the work of one support the work of the other, and vice versa?

How do form and function play an essential role in the design of a successful woodworking project?

Close Reading and Literary Analysis

How can I build on the ideas of others and respectfully disagree with my peers?

How does pattern recognition deepen my understanding and appreciation of texts?

How and why do we read deeply—not just in the lines, but between and beyond them?

Persuasive and Analytical Writing

How can I use rhetorical strategies to craft compelling arguments?

How can well-chosen evidence and clear structure support compelling arguments in writing?

How can we organize and develop claims, evidence, and analysis in writing?

Rhetoric, Performance, and Public Speaking

How do organization, eye contact, and delivery affect the way my message is received by others?

What can we learn about ourselves and others through music, theater, and performance?

How do collaboration and practice contribute to a successful group performance?

Logical Reasoning and Creativity

What can measures like the mean and mean absolute deviation tell us when comparing different data sets?

How does identifying and analyzing patterns lead to solutions to problems?

What information can you interpret from the slope and intercept of the linear model?

How do practices of analyzing and creating artwork together deepen understanding?

Time Management and Organizational Skills

How can I effectively manage my time to balance school, activities, and personal responsibilities?

How does being organized impact my learning, stress levels, and success?

How can attending teachers’ office hours support my academic success and independence as a learner?

Reflection and Moral Introspection

How does personal reflection help us to become good men?

What are the virtues and how are they formed? How can I engage in moral introspection about what is right?

How can sports help me grow as a person?

Language and Culture

How and why do languages evolve and change over time? How are languages related to each other?

How does cultural context, along with verbal and non-verbal language, influence effective communication?

How does knowing my language proficiency help me to grow as a language learner?

Participating in The Billion Oyster Project

Visiting the Guggenheim

Grade 7 trip to Salamanca, Spain

Sketching at The Met

Studying Wildlife in Central Park

Participating in The Billion Oyster Project

Signature Learning Experiences

At Saint David’s, the world is part of the curriculum. From the streets of Rome to the halls of the Met, boys step beyond the classroom to learn through experience. In partnership with world-renowned scientific, historical, and cultural institutions—and co-taught by their teachers and subject-field experts—they take on interdisciplinary projects that stretch over weeks or months. These signature experiences are immersive by design, drawing boys into deeper inquiry, collaborative problem solving, and hands-on discovery. What begins in the classroom comes to life in the world—and often, what begins in the world comes to life in the classroom.

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