Summer Studies (Grades 5-12)
Summer Studies (Grades 5-12)
Sidwell Summer Studies offers both credit and non-credit programming in a range of academic areas. These offerings take place on the school’s DC campus.
Credit Courses:
All credit courses meet Sidwell Friends School requirements for a credit-bearing course. Credit courses can be taken by high-performing students who want to accelerate their academic work. In 2025, credit courses (Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalculus, Statistics, and U.S. History) will meet for 3.75 hours/day for six weeks. Each of these classes is considered the equivalent of a full-year course, with courses divided into two three-week semesters. Students who wish to receive credit should confirm that their school will accept the course for credit. Students taking a course for credit cannot miss more than two days of class.
Non-Sidwell students can choose to audit a credit course; Sidwell students must enroll for credit.
Non-Credit Courses:
Sidwell Summer Studies offers a variety of non-credit and review courses that allow students to brush up on academic skills, further develop writing or math foundations, and explore new interests.
Absences: If a student will be absent, please call the Summer Office (202-537-8133) and email summer@sidwell.edu and rubenm@sidwell.edu by 8:30 a.m. on the morning of the absence. Students taking a course for credit may not miss more than two days of class in order to remain eligible to receive credit.
Campus: Students must be registered for a Sidwell Summer program in order to be on campus.
Conduct: Students are expected to uphold the traditions of an academic community in which all members accept responsibility for doing their own work and giving credit to sources that they use. They are expected to respect the Sidwell Friends Honor Code, which reads as follows:
Personal integrity and academic honesty are fundamental principles that must be upheld by all members of the Sidwell Friends community in order to create an atmosphere in which trust, scholarship, and friendship may flourish. These principles are in accord with Quaker notions of common decency and respect for the rights and feelings of others.
Students are expected to be in compliance at all times with generally accepted standards of behavior. Stealing, damaging, or destroying the property of any member of the school community, or the school itself, will not be tolerated. Students who are found to be responsible for such actions will be liable for the cost of repairing or replacing the items involved and will be subject to disciplinary action, which may include expulsion from the program. If expulsion occurs, tuition will not be refunded.
Financial Aid: Financial aid may be available for select programs. Sidwell Friends School students who receive financial aid during the regular school year and have been referred for summer support should register using the provided discount code. For students who do not receive aid during the year, please see the Summer Programs sponsorship application.
Reports: Summer Studies sends midterm and final reports in for-credit courses to parents/guardians and, upon request (at the completion of the course), to schools.
Summer Studies questions should be directed to Marina Ruben at rubenm@sidwell.edu.
Registration for all courses must be completed using the online registration system.
Summer 2025 Offerings
*Full program descriptions are listed below the grid.
Algebra Fundamentals
Non-Credit Course: Taught by a Sidwell Friends Upper School Math teacher, Algebra Fundamentals is open to all students who have completed a first-year Algebra course and are seeking to review concepts before taking Geometry or Algebra 2. Topics will include linear equations and systems, quadratics, rational functions, roots, and exponents. Problem-solving and proper writing of math will be emphasized. Students must be able and willing to manage time effectively to complete problem sets and assessments. NOTE: This class meets four days per week for a total of 12 meetings; it does not meet on Fridays.
Materials: Graphing calculator or laptop
Grade Requirement: Rising 8th - 11th graders
Dates: July 7 - July 25 (3-weeks, M-TH)
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Tuition: $1,350
Algebra 2
Credit Course: In Algebra 2, students study the algebraic properties and graphs of real-valued functions and specific skills needed for working with applications. Previous work with linear relationships and systems is expanded, and, in addition, students study direct and inverse variation, quadratic and higher degree polynomial functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, inverses of functions, conic sections, and basic probability and data interpretation. Prerequisite: Algebra 1.
* Sidwell Friends students, please reach out to your current Math instructor for approval before enrolling in this course.
Grade Requirement: Rising 8th - 11th graders
Date: June 16 - July 25 (6-weeks) *No class June 19 and July 4
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Tuition: $2,650
Close Reading
Non-Credit Course: In this one-week workshop, taught by a Sidwell Friends School Upper School English teacher, students will practice the close analysis of literary texts. Using short stories, poetry, and excerpts from novels and literary nonfiction, students will identify and discuss the crafting of literature. Among other factors, they will examine diction, syntax, tone, figurative language, juxtaposition, motifs, and themes. Students will also complete short writing exercises designed to provide them with the chance to make their own deliberate, varied use of literary devices.
Grade Requirement: Rising 9th - 11th graders
Date & Time:
Session I (AM Only): July 14 – 18 (1-week) - 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Session II (PM Only): July 21 – 25 (1-week) - 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m
Tuition: $550/session
Close Reading and Argument-Based Writing
Non-Credit Course: In this one-week workshop, rising 7th and 8th graders will review the basics of close reading and argument-based writing. Using short stories, poetry, and excerpts from novels and literary nonfiction, students will identify and discuss the crafting of literature. Among other factors, they will examine diction, syntax, tone, figurative language, juxtaposition, motifs, and themes. Students will also complete short writing exercises designed to provide them with the chance to make their own deliberate, varied use of literary devices. They will learn a structured, step-by-step process designed to yield a thesis-driven, five-paragraph essay, and they will practice writing evidence-based body paragraphs. As part of that process, students will read a prompt, review and annotate texts, create a rough central claim, find relevant supporting quotes, develop an outline, and finalize topic sentences and a thesis statement. *Students have the option of using a personal laptop for portions of this course.
Grade Requirement: Rising 7th - 8th graders
Date: TBD for 2025
Time: TBD for 2025
Tuition: TBD
College Application Essay Writing
Non-Credit Course: This one-week workshop, taught by a Sidwell Friends School Upper School teacher, will focus on helping each student understand and develop an authentic voice, which they will then use in compelling self-narration. Daily activities will include how to brainstorm topics, how to begin the writing process, and revise effectively. Students will discuss sample essays, begin to draft their own, and receive multiple rounds of detailed feedback on their planning and drafts via a shared Google Doc. *Students will need access to a personal laptop for this course.
Grade Requirement: Rising 12th graders
Dates & Time:
Session I: June 23 - 27 (5-day week) - 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Session II: June 30 - July 3 (4-day week; no class July 4) - 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Tuition: Session I - $550 / Session II - $440
Essay Planning
Non-Credit Course: In this one-week workshop, taught by a Sidwell Friends School Upper School English teacher, students will engage in essay planning by following a structured, step-by-step process designed to yield a thesis-driven, five-paragraph essay. They will read a prompt, review and annotate texts, create a rough central claim, find relevant supporting quotes, develop an outline, and finalize topic sentences and a thesis statement. *Students will need access to a personal laptop for this course.
Grade Requirement: Rising 9th - 11th graders
Date & Time:
Session I (AM Only): July 14 - 18 (1-week) - 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Session II (PM Only): July 21 - 25 (1-week) - 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Tuition: $550/session
Geometry
Credit Course: Geometry covers Euclidean plane and solid geometry. In this for-credit course, taught by a Sidwell Friends Upper School Math teacher, emphasis is on orderly and logical thinking, on the ability to develop a sound, precise, logical argument, and on the theoretical derivation and practical application of theorems and propositions. Proof is an integral part of the course. Specific topics in geometry include line segments, lines, rays, planes, congruence, triangles, quadrilaterals, regular polygons, inequalities, perpendicular and parallel lines, similarity, and circles, including tangent and secant lines and chords. Throughout the year, algebra review is a regular aspect of class work. Coordinate geometry is used both as a way to introduce and provide a different perspective on geometric topics and also as one way in which topics of Algebra 1 will be thoroughly reviewed. Additionally, basic constructions are introduced, and right triangle trigonometry is covered.
* Sidwell Friends students, please reach out to your current Math instructor for approval before enrolling in this course.
Grade Requirement: Rising 8th - 11th graders
Date & Time: June 16 - July 25 (6-weeks) - 8:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
*No class June 19 and July 4
Tuition: $2,650
Grammar Review
Non-credit course
Rising Grades 5-7: Parts of speech, commas, and apostrophes, oh my! Unlock the power within these building blocks of language through engaging activities, games, and stories. Taught by a Sidwell Friends Middle School English teacher, this one-week workshop is designed to be both a review for students who are familiar with these concepts and an introduction for those who have not yet learned them. It will use an invitational model of grammar instruction, popular literature, and games to engage students in an accessible and empowering overview of foundational grammar concepts.
Rising 8-9: Taught by a Sidwell Friends Middle School English teacher, this one-week workshop will use an invitational model of grammar instruction, popular literature, and games to engage students in integrating comma and apostrophe patterns into their own writing. Additionally, we will practice applying different punctuation patterns to diverse styles of writing in order to understand how punctuation can enhance meaning in various genres. The workshop will also include a review of parts of speech, parts of a sentence, and active and passive voice, and it will introduce students to sentence diagramming. This accessible overview of foundational grammar concepts is designed to boost students’ grammar skills in preparation for high school.
Grade Requirement: Rising 5th - 9th graders
Date & Time:
Session I: (5th - 7th grades) June 16 - 20 (4-day week, no class June 19) - 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Session II: (8th + 9th grades) June 23 - 27 - 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Tuition: Session I - $600 / Session II - $500
History of the United States
Credit course: Taught by a Sidwell Friends Upper School History teacher, this year-long course equivalent offers a survey of U.S. history from the 1500s (Indigenous history pre-colonization) to the 21st century. The class places emphasis on social, economic, political, and cultural events that have shaped the nation’s development. A research paper on a topic of the student’s choice is a key component of the course, and considerable class time is devoted to the analysis of primary source materials. Course requirements also include take-home essays, presentations, unit tests, and semester exams.
*Open to SFS students (with the permission of the Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs) who have spent or will spend at least one semester of junior year away from campus; open to non-SFS students who are prepared for a fast-paced, rigorous summer course.
Grade Requirement: Rising 11th - 12th graders
Date & Time: June 16 - July 25 (6-weeks) - 8:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
*No class June 19 and July 4
Tuition: $2,650
Learning to Learn
Non-credit course: In this one-week workshop, taught by the Sidwell Friends School Upper School Learning Support Coordinator, rising 9th and 10th graders will acquire the art and skills of being an effective student. What are our executive functioning “muscles” and how do we train ourselves to be more successful in our personal and academic pursuits? Through this interactive and experiential (and non-graded!) course, students will practice a range of organizational and learning strategies to approach personal and academic goals. The course will teach foundational organizational skills and offer a toolbox of concrete strategies linked to academic success, including active reading, note-taking, prioritization, and self-advocacy.
Grade Requirement: Rising 9th and 10th graders
Date: TBD for 2025
Time: TBD for 2025
Tuition: TBD for 2025
Level Up Your Learning
Non-credit course: Embrace the next level of academic success with this one-week workshop, taught by Sidwell Friends School’s Upper School Learning Support Coordinator. Designed for rising 7th and 8th graders, this dynamic course equips students with the tools and strategies to become master learners. Students will discover the power of their executive functioning skills and the mental muscles that drive academic success; develop personalized toolboxes of study strategies tailored to learning style; and transform their approach to tasks and goals with effective time management and organization techniques.
Grade Requirement: Rising 7th - 8th graders
Date: TBD for 2025
Time: TBD for 2025
Tuition: TBD for 2025
Personal Finance
Non-credit course: This summer economics course, taught by a Sidwell Friends School Upper School History teacher, is designed to provide preliminary exposure to the basics of personal finance. Students will cover topics including but not limited to budgeting, mortgages, tax policy, and the basics of investing. This course uses a variety of learning and teaching techniques, including lectures, projects, readings, and small group work. This is a non-credit bearing course; there is no expectation that students will complete homework. The goal of the workshop is to provide students with basic tools with which to understand financial and economic literature in the news and elsewhere.
Grade Requirement: Rising 9th - 12th graders
Date & Time: June 24 - June 28 (1-week) - 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Tuition: $600
Precalculus
Credit Course: In this for-credit class, taught by a Sidwell Friends Upper School Math teacher, students study polynomial functions, exponential functions, logarithmic functions, trigonometric functions, and inverse trigonometric functions. Polar functions and their graphs are examined in the second semester as are basic probability and statistics. Graphing techniques and applications are emphasized, and graphing calculators are used throughout the course. The study of trigonometry includes the graphs of trigonometric functions and their inverses, the Laws of Sines and Cosines, equations, identities, multiple-angle formulas and radian measure. Prerequisite: Algebra 2.
* Sidwell Friends students, please reach out to your current Math instructor for approval before enrolling in this course.
Grade Requirement: Rising 10th - 12th graders
Date & Time: June 16 - July 25 (6-weeks) - 8:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
*No class June 19 and July 4
Tuition: $2,650
Statistics
Credit Course: Taught by a Sidwell Friends Upper School Math teacher, this year-long course equivalent is an intensive first-year college-level statistics course. Topics covered include data basics, including study design and data collection techniques; exploratory data analysis, including data visualization and summarization; regression modeling, including logistic regression and linear regression with multiple predictors; statistical inference; and simulation methods. Students use statistical software on a regular basis. Students who successfully complete the course will be comfortable working with raw datasets as well as interpreting statistical analyses. Prerequisite: Precalculus, Precalculus(B), or departmental approval. *Students will need access to a personal laptop for this course. This course may not be taken to satisfy the three-year math requirement.
Grade Requirement: Rising 11th - 12th graders
Date & Time: June 16 - July 25 (6-weeks) - 8:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
*No class June 19 and July 4
Tuition: $2,650
STEP
Non-Credit Course: STEP offers students entering Grades 6-9 the chance to keep their academic skills fresh and further develop foundational skills (writing, math, critical thinking, etc.), while exploring new and fun interests and topics in one-week sessions!
Campers are taught by dynamic teachers, including school-year Sidwell Friends School instructors, and supported by counselors who share campers’ passion for learning.
During each week, participants will attend three workshops selected at the time of registration. Two workshops will meet daily in the mornings, and one workshop will meet daily in the afternoons. Programming also includes group breaks and movement activities.
Grade Requirement: Rising 6th - 9th graders
Dates: 1-week sessions
July 7 - 11
July 14 - 18
July 21 - 25Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Please visit the STEP Page for more details and workshop offerings.