Online Courses via Virtual High School (VHS)
Interested students can enroll in online courses through our partnership with Virtual High School (VHS). The courses are asynchronous (students can log on to do their coursework on their own schedule rather than at a fixed time) and teacher led (all work is assigned with due dates and graded by the VHS teacher, and students…
Read MoreCon Law I: Foundations of Authority and Constitutional Design
This Advanced Agora Seminars seminar course investigates the deep historical and ethical roots of Western governance, treating the U.S. Constitution not as a static document, but as the culmination of a millennia-long dialogue regarding justice and power. The course begins by analyzing the transition from ancient legal codes and covenantal structures to the modern social…
Read MoreInternational Relations: Anarchy, Order, and the Global Pulse
This Advanced Agora Seminars seminar course provides an introduction for understanding the “Grand Strategies” and hidden forces that drive global politics. Students are introduced to the major theoretical frameworks used to analyze state behavior, exploring the persistent tension between national interest and international cooperation. The course moves from the historical mechanics of balance-of-power diplomacy to…
Read MoreClassical Mythology
Moving beyond the Mediterranean canon, this Advanced Agora Seminars course treats mythology as the fundamental “software” of human civilization. Students engage in a rigorous comparative study of diverse origin stories, hero cycles, and ethical myths from across the globe to identify universal archetypes and distinct cultural variations. The seminar investigates how these foundational narratives encode…
Read MoreCon Law II: The Bill of Rights and the Supreme Court
This Advanced Agora Seminars course functions as an analytical laboratory for the evolution of individual rights and the mechanics of the American judicial system. Using a case-study methodology, students trace the narrative of civil liberties through the shifting interpretations of the Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments. The seminar focuses on the “Great Debates” of…
Read MoreEnvironmental Science
This course provides an overview of the interaction between living things and the environment. The course focuses on three of the Earth’s systems— the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. Students will gain an understanding of environmental problems such as water pollution, air pollution, climate change, and resource depletion. One of the main objectives of the course…
Read MoreForensic Science
Forensic science is a significant part of solving crimes and maintaining justice. While there are hundreds of methods currently used in forensic laboratories, advances in science and technology are changing the way we can interpret physical evidence. This course will explore the role of biological, chemical, and computational sciences in their application to crime-scene investigation,…
Read MoreHonors Anatomy & Physiology
This course examines the structure and the function of human organ systems. Microscopic and macroscopic (gross) anatomy will be studied along with the physical and chemical processes that are responsible for the vital functions of the organs and organ systems. The course is challenging, intensive, lab-based, and will include several dissections. It is particularly well-suited…
Read MoreHonors Chemistry II
This course is designed for students who enjoyed their chemistry experience in sophomore year and is particularly well-suited for students who have a career interest in the physical sciences or chemical engineering. Honors Chemistry II includes an intensive overview of topics from tenth-grade chemistry as well as an intensive study of new topics including kinetics…
Read MoreHonors Physics II
This course is designed for students who enjoyed their physics experience in junior year and is particularly well-suited for students who have a career interest in the physical sciences or engineering. Honors Physics II will include an intensive and in-depth exploration of the topics from eleventh-grade physics. The course will explore topics including electrostatics, electric…
Read MorePhysical Education
The Leffell School’s physical education classes for High School students are scheduled for two periods per week. Each student can choose activities which will last three to four weeks. Students can choose from tennis, basketball, floor hockey, football, soccer, softball, pickle ball, volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, and more. Each student must pass each semester of physical…
Read MoreStudy Hall
Study Hall is designed for students who want a quiet and structured time during the school day to complete school work under the supervision of a faculty member.
Read MoreHonors Multivariable Calculus
Topics include but are not limited to: • Vector analysis, including the study of dot products and cross products of vectors, space coordinates, vectors in space and vector valued functions • A review of lines and planes in space, surfaces of revolution and cylindrical and spherical coordinates with a study of velocity and acceleration, tangent…
Read MoreHonors Calculus BC
Students who are enrolled in Calculus BC are expected to work with functions represented in multiple ways: graphical, numerical, analytical, or verbal. The use of technology to solve problems, experiment, interpret results, and support conclusions will play an integral role in the learning experience. Students will gain an appreciation of calculus as a coherent body…
Read MoreIntroduction to Ordinary Differential Equations (ODE)
This one-semester course is an option for any high school senior who has taken the Advanced Placement Calculus BC exam and/or a course in multivariable calculus. “Ordinary” means that the functions we are studying are functions of one variable, usually. Topics include slope fields; separable, linear, exact, Bernoulli, and homogeneous first-order equations; homogeneous second-order linear…
Read MoreAnatomy & Physiology
This course is offered at both a grade level and an honors level. It is designed for students who are interested in learning more about how the human body works and how they are affected by diseases. The grade-level course examines the structure and the function of human organ systems. Microscopic and macroscopic (gross) anatomy…
Read MoreComputer Science VI
The beginning of this course will cover the basics of video game history, this includes the technologies and companies responsible for what we have today. We will then cover the basics of video game development through the use of the C# programming language in the Unity game engine.
Read MorePre-Calculus
Students extend their learning from Geometry and Algebra II / Trigonometry to prepare themselves for topics in Calculus. Pre-Calculus uses the language of mathematics to express ideas precisely through reasoning, representations, and communication. • Students investigate and identify the characteristics of trigonometric functions, polynomial functions and rational functions in order to graph these functions and…
Read MoreCalculus
This course covers functions, graphs, concepts and skills of limits, differentials, definite and indefinite integrals, and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. The course teaches students to approach calculus concepts and problems when they are represented graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally, and to make connections among these representations. Students learn how to use technology to help…
Read MoreHonors Calculus
This course is a continuation of the material covered in Honors Pre-Calculus in the 11th grade. The mathematics learned can be found in the study of physics, chemistry, and engineering. Topics include: • Curve sketching of functions and their derivatives, which include the slope of the tangent line and point(s) of inflection • Applications of…
Read MoreTrigonometry
This course focuses on the study of angles, the trigonometric functions and their inverses including their graphs. The study of inverses will allow students to be able to solve calculator problems. Lessons are designed using a best practice model that includes scaffolding, vocabulary, prior knowledge, guided practice, independent practice, and written response opportunities for students…
Read MorePersonal Finance
This one-semester course is an option for any high school senior who has successfully completed a second-year course in Algebra.In this course students will begin to develop the skills and strategies that promote financial responsibility. • Real-world topics covered will include personal financial planning, banking, the wise use of credit, credit scores, savings and investments,…
Read MoreStatistics
This one-semester course is an option for any high school senior who has successfully completed a second-year course in algebra. It deals with the statistical methodology used in research, data analysis, and the theoretical basis for these statistical techniques, probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and linear regression. It is divided into four major themes: exploratory analysis,…
Read MoreComputer Science I
This course introduces students to the basic principles of computer science using the Java programming language. We explore the basic foundations and fundamentals of programming to solve problems and create tools. Students learn to create efficient and effective programs through a series of in-class labs. This course (or equivalent experience) is required to take Computer…
Read MoreComputer Science II
This course expands on the fundamentals of computing that are introduced in Computer Science I. Students study the data structures and algorithms that make their everyday life possible, as well as a new focus on Object-Oriented Programming (OOP). Prerequisite: Computer Science I or instructor’s permission.
Read MoreComputer Science III
This course continues to build on the foundation of the previous classes. Students cover advanced topics that open new paths for their projects. The class learns more about how Java functions as a language through the use of interfaces, abstract classes, associations, generics, and collections. Prerequisite: Computer Science II or instructor’s permission.
Read MoreComputer Science IV
This course places students in an environment to explore a selection of advanced topics in computer science. The class works with exceptions, multithreading, and databases. There also is a focus on reading documentation to solve more advanced problems. Prerequisite: Computer Science III or instructor’s permission.
Read MoreComputer Science V
The class will adapt their previously learned Java skills into new projects and ideas. Students will then build new skills through the use of GUI (Graphical User Interface) development to make visually interactive desktop applications. We will explore the use of images, sound, and other assets in our software. Prerequisite: Computer Science IV or instructor’s…
Read MoreLove, Politics and the Absence of God in the Megillot [Tanakh]
In this course, we study three of the five Megillot. We read the three Megillot which are read in the spring: Esther, Shir HaShirim, and Ruth. These three works all grapple with themes of love, power, politics, identity, and the definition of family. Additionally, these texts are the only three books in Tanakh in which…
Read MoreMessianism and Redemption in Jewish Life
What we believe about the End of Days matters, as it affects the way we understand our life’s purpose. In this course, we explore philosophical texts about the Messiah and Olam Haba (the World to Come), the way in which Jewish beliefs have changed over time, and what it means to say we believe.
Read MoreModern Israeli History and Society
Since Israel’s founding more than 70 years ago, Israel has struggled to become both a nation like all other nations and the unique Jewish state, a democratic nation of the world and simultaneously the national homeland for the Jewish people. Israeli society is complex and multi-dimensional, comprised of Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze, and others. There…
Read MoreMussar Institute
What is the one thing that families want students to accomplish before going off to college? Of course, they would say, “Be a mensch!” Join us on an exploration of Mussar (virtue-based ethics), studying texts in English and Hebrew from sources including Mesillat Yesharim , Chovot HaLevavaot, and Pirke Avot that are meant to lead…
Read MoreSpanish I
Spanish I emphasizes how to learn a foreign language. Students begin by learning the basic regular and irregular conjugations of simple present- and past-tense verbs. The vocabulary presents cognates, family members, numbers, academic subjects, days of the week, months of the year, clothing, seasons, and descriptive adjectives. Students are also exposed to common idiomatic expressions…
Read MoreSpanish II
In the first part of Spanish II, students review grammar from Spanish I. They then proceed to new verb tenses, including the imperfect, future, and present perfect. They also study irregular verb forms and idiomatic expressions. Students are asked to improve their skills in understanding and expressing their points of view appropriate to the second-year…
Read MoreSpanish III
Level III begins with a rapid review of the previous two years’ grammar and vocabulary, after which it focuses on the present and pluperfect tenses, commands, and double-object pronouns. The main grammatical unit is the subjunctive mood, both present and past, with many of its uses. The vocabulary studied is diverse—some of it centered on…
Read MoreSpanish IV
This course provides students with numerous opportunities to continue to discover, learn, and use Spanish in meaningful, creative, and engaging contexts. Authentic reading materials are used to further develop proficiency in the four skill areas of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Grammar is reviewed and used not as an end in itself, but rather as…
Read MoreSpanish V
This advanced-level course further hones and develops students’ writing and speaking skills. Critical-thinking skills are utilized to analyze literary selections, films, and different readings. Personal reflection is incorporated in the form of a journal. Students are encouraged to question, interpret, synthesize, and integrate the Spanish language into their present and future lives while acquiring lifelong…
Read MoreEngineering: Judaica by Design
Students in this twelfth-grade course blendengineering design with halachic inquiry:• Research: students select a Judaica item to study,examining its function and halachic requirements• Design and Build: students design and prototypean original, manufacturable version of the itemStudents refine their designs to ensure each pieceis functional, environmentally responsible, andhalachically sound.
Read MoreLeffell Space: Satellite Communications
This immersive engineering course is designed for students passionate about science, technology, and hands-on innovation. Students will explore core concepts in radio communication, satellite signals, and wireless technologies while designing and operating a satellite ground station. The course also introduces key space subsystems — such as power, thermal, and communication systems — and examines how…
Read MoreJewish History: Major Trends in the History of Jewish Civilization
In this course, students investigate the major trends in Jewish history between the fall of the Second Commonwealth in the middle of the first century and the emergence of the Zionist movement at the end of the nineteenth century. Students uncover and examine these trends by performing the job of the historian: analyzing and synthesizing…
Read MoreAdvanced Jewish History
No full description in the guide. Mentioned in a note: offered in Grade 12 for those interested in a more challenging option featuring significant group work and independent learning.
Read MoreBiblical Art and Interpretation
Jews and non-Jews have expressed their interpretations of biblical texts and ideas through a variety of artistic forms and media through the centuries. In this course, we widen the traditional scope of biblical drashah to include classical and modern artistic representations of famous biblical narratives. The course extends students’ exposure to the Tanakh and continues…
Read MoreGender and Sexuality in Judaism
How has Jewish law and practice addressed gender roles and sexuality over time? This course explores the complex relationship between ritual practice and accepted cultural norms. From classical rabbinic sources to modern debates, we see how changing views on these topics have influenced how we practice Judaism today.
Read MoreJewish Innovation & Ethics
Over the past 100 years, the world has changed at a rate unimaginable in any prior generation, and the COVID-19 era has made questions about tech use even more complex. As technology advances at an exponential rate, our abilities often outpace our conversations about what is the right thing to do. From programming AI through…
Read MoreConstitutional Law
Can a baker choose not to make a wedding cake for a gay wedding on the grounds of religious freedom? Can a state stop people from wearing political messages on their clothes when they go to vote? Can states make laws which prevent people of different races from marrying each other? Can high school and…
Read MoreEconomics
This economics course focuses on practical applications of economics, with emphasis primarily on the United States economy and the roles of the consumer, business, and government. The overall goal is to give students a basic foundation into the American economy in order to make better sense of how the economy impacts us and how we…
Read MoreGaming the Government: Reacting to the Past in European History
In Gaming the Government, you immerse yourself in different societies as you take on the role of historical characters in role-play and simulation games. Through the exploration of distinct governmental structures, at particular times in world history, you wheel, deal, and scheme behind closed doors to advance your own agenda (often at the expense of…
Read MoreGovernment and Politics
The study of American government combines several different disciplines, namely history, current events, civics, geography, economics, sociology, and political science. The course introduces students to the core concepts, convictions, and current debates of our democratic government in an effort to produce well-educated, informed, active, and productive citizens. It encourages critical analyses of the institutions and…
Read MorePsychology
How do we develop our personalities? Why are psychologists often asked to come to crime scenes? What are our dreams really trying to tell us? These are some of the questions addressed in our analysis of psychology, defined as the study of thought processes and behaviors. This course is designed to give students a broad…
Read MoreRipped From the Headlines
Artificial intelligence. The role of the police. Immigration. Cancel culture and wokeness. Whether you learn about things through traditional or social media, these issues and many others are discussed and debated throughout our country. In this course we will study a variety of hot-button issues, both national and international, giving students an opportunity to research…
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