Upper School
Upper School
Grades 9-12
Cultivating Wisdom and Readiness for Life
At Maharishi School, we cultivate an educational environment where deep learning and growth are the cornerstones of the student experience.
Core Curriculum
Math, AP Courses, Science, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Consciousness, Connections & Life Skills (CCLS)
The Arts & Athletics
Performing & Studio Arts, tennis, basketball, softball, baseball, golf, soccer, track, cross-country, and more.
Transcendental Meditation Technique™
We include a 15-minute sitting meditation technique with yoga asanas, a simple practice enhancing focus and providing a quiet moment.
Unique Approach
Pioneering Curriculum
Our pioneering curriculum is designed to broaden perspectives, illuminate the connections between all fields of knowledge, and foster profound self-discovery. We provide a transformative journey that equips students not just with academic knowledge, but with the essential life skills and awareness to navigate the world with confidence and insight. Through our unique approach to Consciousness-Based Education, students are empowered to unlock their full creative potential and develop a lifelong love of learning, preparing them for a future of success and personal fulfillment.
A central pillar of our academic framework is the distinctive Consciousness, Connections, and Life Skills (CCLS) course. This comprehensive, multi-year curriculum guides students on a progressive journey of intellectual and personal development.
In a curriculum that evolves over the course of four years, course themes include: Life Principles, Qualities of Success, Creativity and Human Development, and Exploring Knowledge. Instructional methods also evolve with the students, transitioning from activity-based learning in grades 9 and 10 to sophisticated Socratic discussions in grades 11 and 12, ensuring the material is always engaging.
Curriculum
Academics
The Upper School curriculum represents the culmination of the Maharishi School experience, preparing students for success in college and beyond through a rigorous academic and deeply personal journey. The cornerstone of the Upper School is our unique four-year course, Consciousness, Connections, and Life Skills (CCLS). This course progresses thematically from Life Principles (9th grade) to Qualities of Success (10th), Creativity and Human Development (11th), and Exploring Knowledge (12th), transitioning to a Socratic discussion-based format in the upper grades.
Here, the exploration of consciousness becomes both experiential through Transcendental Meditation and intellectual through the CCLS curriculum. Our Social and Emotional Learning program is explicitly structured around the five CASEL competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making. This framework is supported by advanced applications of Positive Discipline, including Restorative Justice talking circles, which empower students to take responsibility and problem-solve collaboratively. The comprehensive “Rights, Respect, and Responsibility” health curriculum addresses key topics for young adults, ensuring our graduates are equipped with the awareness, insight, and confidence to lead fulfilling lives.
Project-Based Learning
Project-based learning is at the core of the Maharishi School experience. Through project-based learning, students are inserted into our key principles: know yourself, think deeply, unleash your creativity, succeed.
Every day students are given 70 minutes to work on a passion project. They problem-solve, experiment, falter and keep striving. Through the process, they learn real-world skills that will serve them when they are adults working on projects at their workplaces.
Some of the Learning Goals for project learning are creativity, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, a growth mindset, societal impact and service, interdisciplinary integration, and development of student portfolios. Core projects can include Robotics, Rocketry, Science Fair, Future Business Leaders, NASA TechRise, and Aviation
AP Course Offerings
AP (Advanced Placement) is a program of classes developed by the College Board to give high school students an introduction to a college-level workload. We offer Advanced Placement courses in Biology, Chemistry, Pre-Calculus, Computer Science A, Computer Science Principles, Macroeconomics, US History, Government & Politics, Psychology, Statistics, Microeconomics, Calculus, English Literature, English Language, and Physics.
Taking an AP class introduces students to the rigors of a college course which helps prepare them to transition to college. Highly selective colleges expect their students to complete these courses and to pass them with top marks. Many colleges grant students college credit if the student scores well (at least a 4, or 5 out of 5) on the AP exam. Being successful in class and on the test gives students a competitive edge. Apart from the exam results, students who successfully complete an AP course (with a grade C or better) improve their chances of admission to a selective college.
Consciousness, Connections, and Life Skills (CCLS)
Our curriculum is built on the principle of interconnectedness. The CCLS program encourages students to recognize the profound links between different academic subjects, revealing how universal principles apply across all disciplines and within their own lives. This holistic perspective makes learning more meaningful and relevant. We simultaneously focus on developing crucial life skills by fostering a growth mindset and integrating the five core competencies of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL): self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. By embedding critical thinking and media literacy, we equip our students to thoughtfully navigate an increasingly complex world.
Rights, Respect & Responsibility
Complementing our core curriculum is a robust commitment to student well-being through comprehensive health education and a positive approach to discipline. We utilize the “Rights, Respect, and Responsibility” curriculum from Advocates for Youth, providing age-appropriate lessons on vital topics such as healthy relationships, consent, and personal health. Our disciplinary approach is rooted in “Restorative Practices which aims to cultivate empathy and agency, empowering students to become responsible, resourceful members of their community. Through practices like restorative justice circles and a focus on effective communication and conflict resolution, we ensure that every student feels heard, respected, and intrinsically motivated to contribute positively to their environment.
The Maharishi School not only gave me an amazing education, but also an amazing support system. So thank you, all of you, for the help and support. Without the guidance and help that you gave me, I don’t know if I could have gotten to where I am right now.