Download program guide as PDF

The Academy has high expectations for all students, encouraging them to maintain consistent, high level performance in academics while emphasizing personal development and quality citizenship. The school requires its students to participate in its community service program. All students are required to participate in the athletic program, with options to pursue a complete array of competitive athletics or physical education.

College
Lake Forest Academy is first and foremost a college preparatory school and college counseling is a priority. Using a proactive team approach, the LFA college counseling staff supports students through the application process, helping them make the important decisions involved with college selection.

Advisory
Each LFA student has an advisor -- a faculty member who keeps closest watch on a student's progress at school, communicates with parents, helps choose classes, resolves problems and offers support in every way possible.

Every day before classes begin, students and their advisor meet in advisory. The size of advisory averages seven students. On alternating days, these gatherings occur at Morning Meeting or in Advisory (when advisees and advisor meet as a group). This meeting, while only 10 minutes long, builds the relationships that create the Lake Forest Academy experience.

Classical & Modern Languages

The chief goal of the classical and modern languages department is for students to become fluent in their target language. Students should emerge from their experience with the ability to listen, speak, write and read in the language they are studying. While fluency is emphasized, teachers also cultivate their students’ ability to think creatively, use computers and work cooperatively. Foreign language students gain knowledge and appreciation of various cultures through the study of art, geography, history, music, literature and current events. Together, these three strands of instruction contribute to the development of students as productive and positive members of the local and global community.

Teachers use a variety of teaching techniques and projects (from the production of travel brochures to roleplaying) to engage students fully in and out of the classroom. Above all, the department places emphasis on the active participation of students. To encourage proficiency, classes are taught in the target language (except Latin) as much as possible. In advanced level classes, teaching is done exclusively in the target language.

The classical and modern languages department shares the 3-3-2 graduation requirement with the science and history departments. Advanced Placement courses are offered in each language. Students taking AP Spanish or AP French are prepared to take the AP literature and language tests in those languages. Especially able students in the Advanced Latin course are encouraged to take the AP Latin exam. Honors sections are made available in most language levels when enrollment and placement warrant.

Language immersion in a foreign country: The Department of Classical and Modern Languages strongly urges participation in a study program in the country whose language the student is learning at LFA.

Classical and Modern Languages courses

English

The English program at Lake Forest Academy is sequential and demanding, designed for students to enjoy reading serious literature and to grasp knowledge by realizing personal connections with what they are studying. The ultimate goal of the English faculty, apart from teaching specific books, terms or skills, is for students to realize the values of metaphorical thinking, imaginative daring and rigorous reflection. The faculty fosters a culture of expectations in each class throughout the grade levels, teaching the virtues of hard work and cultivating the exhilarations of creative play. Students are taught to be active readers and to value and strive for specificity and cogency in their thinking and expression.

Assigned reading features major canonical authors as well as culturally diverse writers and works representing the principal genres. The English classroom mode is primarily Socratic, in which a collaborative dialogue of questions, contentions and surmises is informed by attentive reading and critical thoughtfulness. Varied writing assignments encourage personal, imaginative and interpretive responses to this literature. The teaching of writing forms the distinctive concentration and strength of the English program. The department’s aim is for all students to write with clarity, specificity, vigor and authority.

All teachers share a philosophy of composition which stresses the process of writing— emphasizing how the different stages of brainstorming, developing ideas and revising drafts are essential to produce accomplished and persuasive writing. In a sequential manner throughout the grade levels, students learn strategies for generating a thesis, for structuring an essay, for including textual support and for describing experiences with vivid details.

Students in each grade experiment with these forms of expression: free and directed responses, journal writing, imaginative pieces, autobiographical narratives, in-class commentaries and interpretive essays. The study of grammar and syntax gives students more options for achieving clarity and stylistic variety in their writing.

Students take English in each of their years at Lake Forest Academy. Seniors take Advanced Placement English Literature or choose two semester-long literature electives that focus on a distinct genre, period or theme. The elective courses offered each semester represent a balance between canonical and contemporary literature and provide students with a variety of ways of responding to literature and of showcasing their talents. Journalism is open to all students, but it must be taken in addition to English.

English courses

History

The history department at Lake Forest Academy firmly believes that students need a deep understanding of history if they are to make sense of today’s world and have an impact in a global society. Through the study of history, students gain a base of knowledge that helps them make sense of how society functions, learn about individuals who worked to bring about change and are introduced to such disciplines as political science, economics, geography and anthropology. Perhaps the greatest value of studying history, however, is that it forces students to appreciate diverse perspectives and the tremendous variety of human experiences.

Lake Forest Academy history courses encourage students to have respect for other people, including their classmates, to think independently, to acquire and evaluate information from a variety of sources, and to improve writing and speaking skills.

The history department shares the 3-3-2 graduation requirement with the science department and the modern and classical languages department, so students are required to take at least two history courses to graduate. These courses must include World History I or Advanced Placement Modern European History and United States History at the regular or Advanced Placement level. Many students choose to take additional courses and are encouraged to do so. Freshman enrollment is limited to World History I. History electives are usually limited to seniors, but able and interested sophomores and juniors should also consider enrolling. AP history courses are comparable to college survey courses. Students are expected to master large amounts of material independently and to analyze challenging primary and secondary courses. Very able students with a strong interest in history should consider taking these courses. Taking the appropriate AP examination in May is a requirement for all students enrolled in AP courses.

History (including psychology) courses

Mathematics

The study of mathematics at Lake Forest Academy is as much about ideas and exploration as it is about numbers and solutions. Mathematics is unquestionably important in many areas of study, so the mathematics department emphasizes instruction that teaches the ability to ask questions, work cooperatively, discover patterns and connections and communicate mathematical ideas. We are likewise committed to following the spirit of the standards set forth by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, which include helping students to develop an appreciation of mathematics and the ability to use mathematics in everyday life. The department, although diverse in its background and individual in its approach, seeks to meet these goals in every course.

A major focus at LFA has been the use of technology, specifically a graphing calculator, as a tool for problem solving and investigation. Using this tool often leads to advanced thinking and opens the door to discussing a mathematical problem that was too complex to demonstrate using a pencil and paper. Computer use, while not widespread, is also an effective teaching and learning strategy in some courses.

Students must complete three years of mathematics to graduate. These courses must include Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II. A more advanced sequence is available, however, and most students take four years of mathematics. Computer Science courses do not satisfy the mathematics requirement. Each course stresses real-world applications, communication, data manipulation and the appropriate use of technology.

Mathematics (including computer science) courses

Science

The goal of science teaching at Lake Forest Academy is to develop scientifically literate citizens who can solve science problems and think creatively and critically about scientific issues. The science department agrees with the following statement about science education, published in the book, Science for All Americans:

“[Science education] should help students develop the understandings and habits of mind they need to become compassionate human beings able to think for themselves and to face life head on. It should equip them also to participate thoughtfully with fellow citizens in building and protecting a society that is open, decent and vital.”

Through required and elective courses, LFA students become fully grounded in the foundations of scientific principles and investigation. Students learn a working scientific vocabulary, gain an appreciation of inductive reasoning and the scientific method and come to understand that science is a process. Through a hands-on, discovery approach, students also learn specific skills and knowledge, such as inductive reasoning, laboratory techniques, data interpretation, formulating and testing hypotheses and computer-instrument interfacing.

A major portion of the student effort is devoted to active laboratory investigations which are integral parts of the curriculum. Students maintain bound journals in which they not only record quantitative measurements and qualitative observations but also interpret results and seek applications of concepts in everyday life.

The science department shares the 3-2-2 distribution requirement for graduation with the history and foreign languages departments. Students must take a minimum of two full-year laboratory courses to graduate. Students considering pre-medicine, engineering or other science-related college majors are encouraged to take all three introductory lab sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) with an eye toward following these with an Advanced Placement course in their senior year.

Students accepted in Advanced Placement courses must have shown substantial achievement in previous science, and possibly mathematics, courses. AP courses require significant independent work in reading and problem-solving, extensive laboratory investigations and additional daily preparation.

Science courses

Student Seminar Program

The goal of the Student Seminar Program is to provide a structured format for the introduction and discussion of topics related to the growth and development of adolescents in today’s world. Freshmen, sophomores and juniors meet regularly in small seminar groups.

In the seminar, freshmen are introduced to high school in general and the Academy in particular. They receive reinforcement of the study skills presented in various classes, and particular attention is paid to time management and preparation for semester exams. Sessions throughout the year are devoted to personal development and social awareness, along with time devoted to an explanation of school rules. Emphasis is placed on such topics as stereotypes, peer pressure, prejudice, stress management, and personal values and morals.

The program during the sophomore year covers personal values and morals in regard to many sexual, physical and mental health issues. Topics covered include, but are not limited to, diseases, birth control, substance abuse, tobacco, eating disorders, suicide, depression and steroids.

In junior year, the seminar program is focused on college counseling. The fall semester provides juniors with the opportunity to perform mock college interviews, which are videotaped for maximum constructive feedback. The spring semester covers many college issues, including how to choose a college, registering for standardized tests, recommendations, essay writing, activity sheets, college costs, financial aid and scholarships.

Seminar

Independent Study Tutorials
Students whose initiative, ability, and commitment have taken them to a point where they can study in areas outside the standard curriculum may apply for independent study tutorials for credit.

Interdisciplinary - Revolutions of Thought
Revolutions of Thought is an interdisciplinary course taught in segments by a series of teachers. Each teacher presents a different topic, under the general theme of revolutionary ideas or events that changed the way the world was viewed. more

Requirements
The curriculum at Lake Forest Academy is a challenging four-year sequential program consisting of a core of studies and a broad range of electives. The LFA core curriculum provides a sequence of courses fundamental to a liberal education and to college-bound students. Advanced Placement courses are offered in all disciplines.

The curriculum at Lake Forest Academy is a challenging four-year sequential program consisting of a core of studies and a broad range of electives. The LFA core curriculum provides a sequence of courses fundamental to a liberal education and to college-bound students. Advanced Placement courses are offered in all disciplines. The Academy has high expectations for all students, encouraging them to maintain consistent, high level performance in academics while emphasizing personal development and quality citizenship. The school requires its students to participate in its community service program. All students are required to participate in the athletic program, with options to pursue a complete array of competitive athletics or physical education. Our students normally carry five courses each year. A minimum of 18 total credits over four years is required for graduation. In the four-year program, students should distribute these courses to satisfy the following

•English: 4 years (each year at LFA)
•Mathematics: 3 years (including at least algebra I, geometry, and algebra II)
•History, Sciences, Language : 3 (or more) years in at least 2 of these subjects, and 2 (or more) in the third – including at least two full-year laboratory sciences. (This is the “3–3–2” requirement.)
•Fine arts: 1 year

Classes are small (class size averages 12 students), allowing close individual attention. Students are placed in sections appropriate to their abilities. Through the availability of Honors and Advanced Placement sections, students have the option of progressing at a rate commensurate with their own abilities and ambitions.

See the course descriptions for more information on requirements

Schedule
LFA has developed an innovative class schedule that rotates classes and allows for non-class time within each student's school day. 

We divide our school year not by weeks, but by cycles, which feature seven school days (A Day, B Day, C Day, D Day, E Day, F Day and G Day). Classes meet at a different time on each day, occasionally for double or even triple periods. 

This schedule adds an energizing twist to each student's school day and offers free periods to get a head start on homework, attend a club meeting, get extra help from a teacher or just hang out with friends.

Schedule Sample

Computer literacy

Lake Forest Academy strongly encourages students to own computers. Several classroom projects across the curriculum require work done on a word processor. Non-credit computer literacy training may be required for some students.