Quest in High Schoo
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Are You Ready to Take Control of Your Learning?
Quest provides structure and time to support your efforts in pursuing your curiosity and passion. Instead of taking separate courses, juniors and seniors earn grades by completing various interdisciplinary projects based on their interests. We believe that high school students can achieve a greater depth of understanding if they are allowed to use the skills to explore what is most interesting to them.
The teachers ensure students are developing skills and help form connections to the real world including; personalized academic pursuits, going off-campus, working with corporate partners, and engaging in the community. Quest is designed to allow for flexibility in the students' schedule so they can have the time to explore, innovate, and be inspired.
What Makes Quest Unique?
Quest allows students to Develop interests and Network with professionals.
How Is the School Year Structured?
Units allow students to choose an area of interest in the theme
Allows for participation in co-curriculars and spirit activities
The student-driven study is completely personalized
Quest Timeline
 Student-driven study |
 Off-campus experience |
 Unit projects |
 Break |
Students Discover strategies that work for them to be responsible for their own learning.
What Does My Day Look Like?
Each student in Quest schedules their time around the community time, group project work, and their student-driven study. Throughout the day the teachers regularly provide group and individual instruction to ensure that students are meeting expectations and discovering strategies that work for them to be responsible for their own learning. As such, there is no set schedule for how a Quest student spends their time. There are scheduled events, but they are not consistent from day-to-day. So, how do you manage your time? Through practice. Quest students are taught how to manage their time, and have flexibility and accountability to plan what they need to do. We believe it is good to practice time management before going to college.
Below is a sample daily schedule of a typical Quest student:
| Quest Community: required attendance at assigned locations |
Group Work: scheduled by the group for the completion of unit projects and committee work |
Individual Time: scheduled by the student around other obligations |
Courses Available in Quest
Take Control of Your Learning.
How do I Earn Grades?
Credits on the Transcript
| Credit | Course |
| English | (AT) Composition and Research* |
| Mathematics | (AT) Data Analytics and Visualization* |
| Science | (AT) Conservation and Resource Studies |
| Social Studies | (AT) Society, Governance, and Civic Action* |
| Quest Elective | Global Development |
| Optional Quest Electives | Ethics and Leadership |
| Varies | Any courses at SAS (up to 2 courses) |
A traditional transcript is sent to college admissions officials that shows the grades earned in each of the courses listed above. Students earn grades by completing tasks in the units and the student-driven study. Each credit has different standards for which students are assessed and these are integrated into the various tasks so the curriculum is interdisciplinary. Often, adults are asked to utilize skills in various content areas in the same task. For example, a business plan that clearly communicates the product market viability and business profits. This utilizes math, English, design thinking and cultural awareness and is the task given to Quest students during the future unit. Providing these real-world experiences is why Quest was developed.
The standards are based on skills from the following:
- College Board Advanced Placement
- EdLeader21
- Common Core State Standards
- Next Generation Science Standards
- Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, Stanford University
- Association of American Colleges and Universities
Colleges Want to see Students demonstrate ambition.
What Colleges Want
Quest students are admitted into a variety of different colleges and universities. Being in Quest allows students to work at various job sites, make products, start businesses, conduct graduate-level academic research and pursue passions—all of which can help to differentiate a student in the college admissions process.
"The closer relationship I had with my teachers in Quest made it easier to approach my professors and ask for help. I also benefited from the research and resume skills, which helped me apply for a medical dialogue review.”Armando DiCicco (SAS Class of 2017,
currently attending New York University)
"In freshmen convocation (they) gave us tips on how to do better academically and it was all about time management and self motivation. Thank you Quest for helping me develop these skills."Jacqueline Routhier (SAS Class of 2017,
currently attending Slippery Rock University)
Take Control of Our Own Learning
Quest empowered me in many ways. Not only did the program bless me with foolproof time management skills and the ability to network with adults like a pro, but it also granted me the autonomy to truly discover what I'd like to do in the future. Through reading about my favorite topics, interning at a graduate-level research team from NUS Business School, and choosing a thesis topic, I was able to delve deep into my many interests and pick out the ones I genuinely enjoyed. The experience gave me time and support for thorough self-exploration and refinement. Now, fully equipped with professional skills and more insight on my own endeavors, I have gained a head start to adulthood through the Quest program.”
Juliet Mao, twelfth grade
Prerequisites for entry to the program
Must be entering junior or senior year.
Must be on track for graduation.
Quest Application Process
Quest encourages applications from a wide range of learners. All high school students who meet the prerequisites are encouraged to apply early. In the first round of admissions, senior applicants will be given priority but junior applicants will also be accepted in the program. Juniors who are admitted will be able to explore a multitude of options for their senior year through the opportunities they are exposed to in Quest and which are offered at SAS. Students and parents are encouraged to attend an informational session to better understand the program.
