Upper School

Dear Upper School Parent,

Welcome to the Upper School at CSN, one of the top independent high schools in the state of Florida. Centered around CSN’s motto of “Academic Excellence,” the Upper School embodies this mission through outstanding teaching, wide-ranging curriculum, and extensive college counseling.

Academic excellence cannot exist without excellent teaching, and our teachers are truly exceptional. Our upper school faculty members are known for their experience and expertise in the classroom, which explains why our standardized test results for ACT, SAT, and AP exams are some of the highest in Florida. Beyond test results, our faculty pride themselves in getting to know their students on a personal level. Whether it’s sponsoring an academic club, coaching a sport, or attending a play, our teachers interact with students throughout the school year and in multiple capacities. Through these interactions, our faculty both challenge and inspire our students to new heights, all while caring for them as individuals and helping them succeed on a daily basis.

With over 100 courses offered in the Upper School, our students can choose from an extensive curriculum that provides both breadth and depth in every discipline. From college prep, honors, AP, and Post-AP courses, we offer every level of challenge possible, giving our students the chance to push themselves as much or as little as they’re ready for.

We offer courses not found anywhere else in Collier County, including AP Chinese, AP Seminar, AP Research, and AP Physics C, as well as post-AP courses in Art, Creative Studies, Computer Science, French, Spanish, and Mathematics. Furthermore, students who have a passion can enroll in the CSN Scholars Program, which offers four specializations: Creative, Global, Human Performance, and STEM. Students also have ample opportunities to explore the world around them through our membership with School Year Abroad (SYA), our exchange program sister schools in Europe, and class trips to South America and Asia. In short, we are unrivaled when it comes to curricular offerings, and our students are more passionate, interesting, and curious as a result.

Everything we do in the Upper School is in preparation for college, and our college counseling program consistently achieves top results for students of all interests and abilities. For instance, of those who applied to a most selective school (as defined by Barrons), 88% of the entire Class of 2019 were admitted to at least one (and of the top half of the class: 100%). Committed to helping every student maximize their college opportunities, our college counselors begin regularly meeting with CSN students and parents in ninth grade. In addition to personalized meetings multiple times a year, CSN hosts dozens of college representatives each fall, as well as deans of admission from both private and public institutions. Beyond college acceptances, our students don’t just get into college, but they thrive once enrolled. Without fail, every graduate who comes back to visit CSN reports how prepared they are compared to their college classmates, and our alumni go off to achieve incredible results in college and beyond.

Here at CSN, we are committed to academic excellence for every student, and by all accounts, we are meeting that commitment. If you are already a member of our Upper School, you know the results of our program firsthand, and we’re thrilled to be on this journey with you. If you’re not part of our community (yet), I hope you have the opportunity to visit us in person and meet the amazing teachers and students on our campus. Either way, I look forward to seeing you soon.
 

Cheers,

Dr. Tom McGlinn

Head of Upper School