Align our challenging and innovative P-12 academic program by division and department

In the 2023-2024 school year, we embarked on a transformative journey to deepen academic excellence by documenting our curriculum. This included developing a comprehensive plan for how parts of the curriculum fit together and teachers making their courses/grades visible. Documentation focused on articulating what students will know and be able to do.  By making this work visible, teachers strengthened their ability to connect learning experiences across grade levels, ensuring students build on a strong foundation as they progress through their academic journey. A defining moment of this process was a gallery walk where Breck faculty looked at the academic scope and sequence displayed by grade and discipline, resulting in a shared understanding of how Breck’s mission and values come to life in classrooms every day.

At Breck, the pursuit of excellence is both a tradition and a continuous evolution. Teachers have long shaped innovative learning experiences that inspire curiosity and intellectual growth. Our current efforts to deepen academic excellence build on that legacy, offering a structured way to document and refine how learning unfolds across disciplines and grade levels. Assistant Head of School, Mark Garrison, emphasizes that alignment occurs on multiple levels: vertically, focusing on skills and content from PreK-12 within departments; horizontally, aligning goals within grade levels and divisions; individually, as seen in the classroom; and aspirationally, through advanced scholarship in every discipline. 

The alignment process is more than an academic exercise—it is a strategic effort to strengthen Breck’s academic experience at every level. Throughout this cross-divisional approach, faculty have identified opportunities to reinforce skill progression and create meaningful connections across disciplines. Writing, for example, serves as a key throughline, with students developing their skills in a clear, intentional progression from early childhood to advanced coursework. The introduction of Advanced English Scholarship and Research reflects this scaffolding, allowing students to build on a foundation of analytical thinking and effective communication established in the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools. At the same time, the alignment process has deepened Breck’s commitment to nature-based learning, shaping a well-defined philosophy of outdoor education that begins in early childhood and extends through key experiences in Middle and Upper School. These efforts not only enrich student learning but also create an adaptable academic framework—one that equips teachers with a clear understanding of where students have been and where they are headed.

This is the value of a Breck education—an excellent academic journey that is purposeful, connected, and thoughtfully designed under one roof. As students move from Preschool to Advanced Scholarship, they are guided by a clear progression of learning that fosters confidence, curiosity, and deep engagement with their studies. The ongoing alignment work strengthens the instructional core, providing students with the skills and knowledge to excel in every discipline. Breck faculty are shaping an academic experience that prepares students not just for the next grade level but for a lifetime of learning and leadership.