Rich Schellhas
Head of Upper School

Welcome to the Germantown Academy Upper School! Step inside and you will find a vibrant, friendly school where students and teachers learn from and with each other as we build on our rich traditions while always seeking out the next challenge. Our rigorous, diverse curriculum provides students with the ideal preparation for college and life. With opportunities to explore a comprehensive liberal arts course of study and to pursue their individual passions in depth, GA students grow exponentially during their four years in the Upper School.
 
Powerful relationships between faculty and students are the foundation of our community. Forged in small classes, in our unique House system, and in an incredible array of teacher-led sports, arts and extracurricular activities, the student-teacher connections at GA often last a lifetime. Whether gathered around a Harkness table in English class or in a high-tech Chemistry lab, our students have every resource at their disposal to investigate, grapple, question, discover and learn.
 
Each of our students pursues an individualized curriculum tailored to his or her strengths. Students engage in demanding Advanced Placement and honors courses but also have the option of taking basic courses in order to receive additional academic support with their developing skills. Elective courses for upperclassmen offer exciting chances to delve into entirely new academic arenas and to tackle existing interests with profound vigor. Our hands-on advisory system within each of our seven Upper School Houses provides students with individualized attention to help make the best program choices and also gives each student a smaller home within the GA community.
 
Underlying each facet of our program is a school-wide commitment to guiding students on the path toward becoming their best selves, both academically and personally. Our teachers help students discover both their own questions and their own answers, allowing them the opportunity to make the occasional misstep while understanding that their leap forward will be that much greater for it. Confronted with the hurdles of adolescence and academics, they find shelter, support, guidance and encouragement in the wide arms of their classmates and faculty mentors. GA is truly a special community.