Carlisle School
Encyclopedia
Carlisle School is a small private school for grades PS-12 located in Martinsville, Virginia
. Serving over 400 students from throughout the region, it also offers an international baccalaureate program. Carlisle is known for their academics, as well as their tremendous success in sending their graduates to higher education. Since the school's founding in 1968, 100% of graduates have been accepted at a 4-year college or university.
There are a variety of opportunities to explore specific interests and hobbies as well as become active within the broader community at Carlisle School. One of the ways to do this is through the club system. Every student in the upper division is involved in at least one club, but there is no limit to the number of groups one may join. In addition to elective clubs, students may be recognized for their scholastic achievements by being inducted into the National Honor Society during the junior or senior year.
The middle school is an academic and developmental bridge between the self-contained classrooms of the lower school and the independence and initiative required of college bound upper school students. It builds student competence and self esteem giving them the skills and confidence to succeed. The curriculum builds critical thinking, problem solving, reading, writing skills, and computer science skills. Middle schoolers expand skills and knowledge by choosing a semester- or year-long exploratory course in one of the following areas: art, band, choir, creative movement, or creative writing. All middle school students have a supervised study hall. An important part of the middle school experience is the Forum, in which eighth graders present and defend summaries of a faculty-supervised research project.
Learning is extended beyond the classroom in a number of ways. All grade levels participate in a variety of field trips each year.
Williamsburg, Richmond, Natural Bridge, Dixie Caverns, Blue Ridge Farm Institute, the Virginia Museum of Natural History, Piedmont Arts Association, and Charlottesville are sites visited in Virginia. In addition, study visits are made to Washington, D.C. and the Natural Science Center and Sci-Works in North Carolina. Students have the opportunity to develop leadership thought the Lower School Student Council Association and through participation in weekly lower school assemblies. Additionally, students attend and participate in a variety of performing arts programs on and off campus.
Students in kindergarten through third grade have Orff-based music and art several times a week. Fourth and fifth grade students choose between choral and instrumental music and have that every day as well as art once a week. Students in middle school can play in a band, sing in a chorus, play the violin in a strings group, or take courses in the visual arts. Upper Division students can sing in a madrigal choir, play in a jazz band, perform in a strings group, play an instrument in an ensemble, study drama and music in the IB program, or take a class in dance. Many students carry extra classes or go to summer school to make room in their schedules for more than one arts class. Carlisle students regularly receive recognition in public and private school competition for positions on All Regional and All State Orchestra and All State Chorus. The Upper Division Madrigal choir performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City during Thanksgiving in 2002.
Martinsville, Virginia
Martinsville is an independent city which is surrounded by Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 13,821 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Martinsville with Henry County for statistical purposes...
. Serving over 400 students from throughout the region, it also offers an international baccalaureate program. Carlisle is known for their academics, as well as their tremendous success in sending their graduates to higher education. Since the school's founding in 1968, 100% of graduates have been accepted at a 4-year college or university.
Upper Division:
There are a variety of opportunities to explore specific interests and hobbies as well as become active within the broader community at Carlisle School. One of the ways to do this is through the club system. Every student in the upper division is involved in at least one club, but there is no limit to the number of groups one may join. In addition to elective clubs, students may be recognized for their scholastic achievements by being inducted into the National Honor Society during the junior or senior year.
Middle Division:
The middle school is an academic and developmental bridge between the self-contained classrooms of the lower school and the independence and initiative required of college bound upper school students. It builds student competence and self esteem giving them the skills and confidence to succeed. The curriculum builds critical thinking, problem solving, reading, writing skills, and computer science skills. Middle schoolers expand skills and knowledge by choosing a semester- or year-long exploratory course in one of the following areas: art, band, choir, creative movement, or creative writing. All middle school students have a supervised study hall. An important part of the middle school experience is the Forum, in which eighth graders present and defend summaries of a faculty-supervised research project.
Lower Division:
Learning is extended beyond the classroom in a number of ways. All grade levels participate in a variety of field trips each year.
Williamsburg, Richmond, Natural Bridge, Dixie Caverns, Blue Ridge Farm Institute, the Virginia Museum of Natural History, Piedmont Arts Association, and Charlottesville are sites visited in Virginia. In addition, study visits are made to Washington, D.C. and the Natural Science Center and Sci-Works in North Carolina. Students have the opportunity to develop leadership thought the Lower School Student Council Association and through participation in weekly lower school assemblies. Additionally, students attend and participate in a variety of performing arts programs on and off campus.
Academics
The IB program was originally developed to provide a standardized curriculum in the 11th and 12th grades and to emphasize the interconnectedness of disciplines, critical thinking and writing skills, and focus on global issues. The IB program has high academic standards and a strong emphasis on the ideals of international understanding and responsible citizenship, and the International Baccalaureate is recognized by universities worldwide as the highest level secondary diploma available anywhere in the world. The excellence of our academic program spreads throughout the school with Iowa test scores in the 95th percentile for the student body.Athletics
Carlisle School is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards both inside the class room and on the athletic field. The school offers a wide array of athletic options for its middle and upper school students. Carlisle competes in the Virginia Independent Conference in male athletics and in the Blue Ridge Conference in female athletics.Fine arts
Carlisle students begin instruction in music and art in kindergarten and can continue that instruction to graduation.Students in kindergarten through third grade have Orff-based music and art several times a week. Fourth and fifth grade students choose between choral and instrumental music and have that every day as well as art once a week. Students in middle school can play in a band, sing in a chorus, play the violin in a strings group, or take courses in the visual arts. Upper Division students can sing in a madrigal choir, play in a jazz band, perform in a strings group, play an instrument in an ensemble, study drama and music in the IB program, or take a class in dance. Many students carry extra classes or go to summer school to make room in their schedules for more than one arts class. Carlisle students regularly receive recognition in public and private school competition for positions on All Regional and All State Orchestra and All State Chorus. The Upper Division Madrigal choir performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City during Thanksgiving in 2002.