Upper School – Excelsior Classical Academy

The Upper School at ECA comprises grades 6-12, or middle and high school.

Middle School

Excelsior students change classes for all subjects in grades 6 through 8. Middle school students have required courses and electives. Eighth grade students take Math 1 for high school credit. There is also a compacted math option for students who are very advanced in math. Students who qualify with math test scores, math grades, and math teacher recommendation may take Math 1 and Math 2 in eighth grade for high school credit.

Excelsior has Student Council in middle school. The Student Council Adviser is Claire Hlad, the middle school art teacher. The Student Council does service projects for the school and sponsors events like dances, movie nights, and spirit days for middle school.

Middle school sports are cross country, volleyball, soccer, basketball, cheer, baseball, and softball.

High School

The high school is on a block schedule, with four blocks a day and semester-long classes. There are courses required by the state for graduation, and Excelsior has some additional graduation requirements. Students also take elective classes. There are honors and AP options for many classes, and juniors and seniors who qualify may take early college high school classes through Dual Enrollment at Durham Tech to earn high school and college credits simultaneously. Those students can earn an associate degree by taking the appropriate classes through Durham Tech:

– College Transfer Pathway Leading to an Associate in Engineering
– College Transfer Pathway Leading to an Associate the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)
– College Transfer Pathway Leading to an Associate in Science in Teacher Preparation
– College Transfer Pathway Leading to an Associate in Arts in Teacher Preparation
– College Transfer Pathway Leading to an Associate in Science
– College Transfer Pathway Leading to an Associate in Arts
– College Transfer Pathway Leading to an Associate Fine Arts in Visual Arts

Excelsior has National Student Council in high school. The Student Council Adviser is Eleanor Young, a high school social studies teacher. The Student Council does service projects for the school and sponsors events like dances, spirit days, and homecoming for high school.

There is also a National Honor Society chapter at Excelsior. Dr. Zack Garrett, the logic, philosophy, computer, and Japanese teacher, is the adviser. the National Honor Society requires service hours of its members, and those may be gained in service at school or outside.

High school activities:

Homecoming Game
Homecoming Dance
Spirit weeks
Food Truck Fridays
Pep Rallies
Junior/Senior Prom
Senior Trip
Kickback and Movie Night

There are currently a number of clubs in the high school. More may be added as interest is shown.

Latinx
Drama
Yearbook
Mock Trial
LGBTQ+ and Allies
Bible Study
Crochet

High school sports are baseball, basketball, cheer, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming, and volleyball.

High school drivers may rent a parking space for the year in the student parking lot. The fee is $75.

Snapshot Statistics on the first graduating class, the Class of 2024