Academics & The Arts
LWHS’ rigorous head, heart, and hands curriculum equips students with the skills, habits of mind, and commitment to build lives of excellence and meaning.
Academics and the Arts at Lick-Wilmerding High School are both rigorous and vigorous. They foster authentic engagement, love of learning, thoughtful inquiry and in-depth analysis, rather than adhering to outmoded approaches that rely on rote memorization and “inch-deep” coverage. LWHS' challenging and compelling academic program ensures students’ preparedness for college and a fruitful lifetime of learning. The academic reputation of the school, based on high standards in a curriculum that is rich because it is not standardized, is highly regarded by colleges and universities, including those considered to be among the most highly selective.
Equity Pedagogy
- Goals apply to all students, high expectations for all.
- Less is more, depth over coverage.
- Understanding that we each teach through our own particular view of the world, from a perspective we continually try to broaden.
- Bringing transparency to expectations and communication.
- Personalizing—honoring multiple intelligences, using culturally responsive pedagogy, and utilizing learning-style informed teaching practices.
- Designing—differentiating instruction, cooperative learning, real world relevance, seeing strength in making connections between disciplines.
- Assessing—valuing what is taught in the classroom, not privileging the advantages students bring, utilizing demonstrations of learning, performance based assessment, and continuous and varied methods of assessment.
- Teaching toward self-directed learning with student-as-worker, teacher-as-coach.
- Valuing non-discriminatory, inclusive teaching practices, challenging inequities within the class, within the school, within the world.
* Adapted from: The Coalition of Essential Schools Common Principles; Equity Pedagogy from the Lincoln School District, WV; and internal work at LWHS related to mission, measures of the mission, and faculty equity pedagogy meetings, 2009–2010
More on LWHS Academics
- LWHS School Profile 2022–23
-
Academic Guidebook
Policies and information related to scheduling, graduation requirements and the curricular program.
- LWHS Grading Scale
- Graduation Requirements
- LWHS Outgrows & Moves Beyond the APs
Lick-Wilmerding High School
755 Ocean Avenue | San Francisco, CA 94112 | 415.333.4021
A private school with public purpose, Lick-Wilmerding High School develops the head, heart, and hands of highly motivated students from all walks of life, inspiring them to become lifelong learners who contribute to the world with confidence and compassion.