Upper School

The spiritual life of our students is a priority here at Calvary Day School.  Through daily prayer, Bible study, weekly chapel worship services, small group discussions, yearly retreats and numerous other impromptu spiritual interactions, we are intentional in the development of our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our 7th & 8th grade curriculum is designed to prepare CDS students to qualify for Advanced Placement courses during their high school years.  Our goal is that students will be able to perform academically at their highest God-given level.  The curriculum places strong emphasis on writing skills and mastery of English grammar and mathematics concepts.  In addition to core subjects, all students participate in exploratory classes. Students have enrichment choices, choosing from drama, fitness, chorus, art, or math tutorial.

Striving to achieve excellence in academics, Calvary Day School offers a college preparatory curriculum through honors and Advanced Placement courses. Students enrolled in honors or Advanced Placement courses have been recommended by their teachers based on grades and standardized test results. CDS has dual enrollment agreements with area colleges and universities. Online courses are also available from the Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools Virtual Academy and other accredited programs. Credits are awarded on an annual basis.

The CDS class schedule allows students to take up to seven courses. In addition to core classes, students may select from a variety of enrichment courses to broaden their learning experience through areas such as fine arts, performing arts, seminar-style courses, or courses which provide support to their core curriculum classes.  Students in their senior year are encouraged to participate in the Senior Internship Program where they are able to learn first-hand about careers that interest them.  The goal is to provide real-life work experience as they learn life skills to help them succeed in a future career.

Our College Counseling services are dedicated to assisting students in their post-secondary planning and goal setting in their Upper School years.  This includes aptitude, interest and personality assessments & inventories, college and career education and exploration, which includes overall introductions to majors, career pathways and specific looks into programs in surrounding post secondary educational institutions, as well as support through the graduation and post-secondary application processes. 

Our College Counseling Program is delivered in a classroom, small group, and at an individual level.  The introduction to college and career readiness is introduced beginning in middle school, as our School Counseling staff assists students in their exploration of self, who God has created them to be, and how the gifts, talents and interests they have can intersect with their abilities, to look at avenues in which to pursue careers in as they move through secondary school and look ahead. 

Our College Counseling process is a support based service, where a student learns autonomy, self advocacy, fosters and supports the use and growth of critical thinking and problem solving skills, responsible decision making, resilience and grit, as well as goal setting and growth mindset thinking.  

Some of the things we do:

• Create a supportive environment that celebrates and supports students post-secondary plans, whether it be college, career, military, trade or workforce.
• Encourage students in the growth in the areas of: self-advocacy, grit, resilience, communication, problem solving, critical thinking, conflict resolution, goal setting, and self-exploration.
• Academic planning starting in 9th grade to ensure graduation requirements are met, as well as academic rigor is appropriate.
• Utilizing online and in class assessments to compile data on themselves, ranging from personality traits, aptitudes, interests and social and communication styles to formulate an overall profile of self.
• Comparing data with career clusters and pathways, college majors, and other post-secondary avenues. 
• Assist students in their compilation of post-secondary plans, which could include 4 or 2 year colleges, workforce, military, or service. We also offer developmentally and grade appropriate workshops for students and families that  address the college and career journey at all levels,  as well as guidance on time management, deadlines, resumes, essays, financial aid, scholarships, and counsel on final decisions and next steps.  
• Students and parents can also visit our College Counseling page on our website to gain access to some supplemental resources as needed.

Our weekly chapel service is the community highlight of our week. Whether from the variety of chapel speakers who have integrated their walk with Christ into every aspect of their lives, the student praise band or the corporate time of prayer and song, chapel is the weekly reminder of the reason and source of our strength in order to be effective salt and light in a needy world.

The entire Upper School is broken down into small groups called Advisory ranging from 4 to 15 students where heartfelt discussions of life are made. Leaders in Advisory take the key points from the chapel speaker and ask exploratory questions as to how such eternal truths can be lived out in our everyday lives.

Calvary Day School is committed to discipleship and spiritual wellbeing of our students and faculty. With that in mind, the US gets off campus for a 3-day retreat to Windy Gap, a Younglife Camp near Asheville and the MS gets off campus for a 2-day retreat to Camp Hanes in King, NC. These retreat opportunities allow the students to start the year with a focus on God's Word, an environment to meet new friends, and an opportunity to connect with their teachers outside of the school setting. Nationally known speakers share at the retreats and students enjoy the beautiful mountains of North Carolina.

Windy Gap Retreat – Grades 9-12

This retreat in the beautiful mountains of Weaverville, NC (near Asheville), is for all students in grades 9-12. Windy Gap is a highlight of the school year. This special week sets the tone for the entire year – and it is a great way to start our new year with new friends, a new perspective and a new spiritual start. A guest speaker will challenge us from God’s Word and a guest praise band will lead us in worship. The camp offers great facilities/accommodations, a zip line, swing, super slide, pool, arcade room, sand volleyball, indoor and outdoor basketball, fishing, Sippin' Shoppe, and a Country Store. US parents go as our cooks, bakers, servers, pit crew, night security, etc. This retreat is paid for in the Curriculum Fee.

Camp Hanes Middle School Retreat - Grades 7-8

This retreat, at Camp Hanes, a YMCA camp, is located in King, NC, at the foothills of the Sauratown Mountains. All of the 7th and 8th grade students go to camp to meet new friends, learn some team building skills and spiritually reset as they hear from guest speakers in a beautiful setting by the lake. The camp is equipped with a lake, canoes, airnasium, a high ropes and adventure course, a pool, and banana slide. Parents who complete volunteer training are able to attend as chaperones as needed. This retreat is paid for in the Curriculum Fee.

CDS offers two spring trips in the Upper School. 

The 8th graders journey to Washington, DC for a 5-day exploration of our nation's capital, Annapolis and Baltimore, MD. Students experience the sights and history led by professionally trained tour guides. There is something about going to DC with your peer group that makes for lasting memories. Sights visited include the Naval Academy, Ft. McHenry, the National Cathedral, the Pentagon, a Nationals baseball game, and a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

The Senior Class jets off to Costa Rica on a mission-service trip. While in Costa Rica the seniors build a house for a local family and hold daily vacation Bible school for the children in the community. Students experience the culture and local foods. Side trips include visiting a coffee farm, ziplining through the forest and a one day catamaran trip to an island.

Grades 7th and 8th

Calvary Day School uses The Iowa/CogAT Assessments annually to  help determine how students are performing on nationwide standards. Testing is administered toward the end of each academic year in our seventh and eighth grades.  These assessments measure a student’s verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning ability, as well as, achievement in several important content areas including Vocabulary, Word Analysis, Reading, Listening, Language, Mathematics, Computation, Social Studies, and Science. The exact tests that students take will depend on his or her grade level.

The Iowa/CogAT Assessments help teachers identify a student’s strengths and areas that may need additional emphasis. The Iowa/CogAT Assessments also measure student growth and progress in the content areas assessed from year to year. The assessments produce information that enables sound decision-making and provides a focus for teachers to evaluate instruction.  

Based on normative data comparisons, Calvary Day School consistently outperforms other Christian schools in the Southeast and across the nation.

PSAT - Grades 9-11

The PSAT is administered in ninth, tenth and eleventh grades in the fall based on the dates provided by College Board. In order to graduate from Calvary Day School, students must meet a minimum standard in reading and math on either the PSAT or the standardized achievement test given. These tests are mandatory for students to complete.

AP Exams

The Advanced Placement program offers students the opportunity to take college level work while enrolled in Calvary. The AP program is part of a rigorous academic curriculum. AP classes require superior reading, writing, and thinking skills. Instruction is fast paced, incredibly rigorous, and will hold to a rigid timeframe. Students enrolled in an AP course at Calvary are required to take the AP exam for the course in May. Students whose AP scores are canceled due to failure to abide by the College Board’s testing protocol and standards will not receive AP credit on their GPA. If this occurs, only credit for an honors class will be reflected on their final transcripts.

Monday, Tuesday, Friday -  7 Periods

Wednesday Chapel

Thursday