The Senior Year

Dalton's Senior Project gives High School seniors the possibility of creating a special course of study that will allow them to unify their program in ways the curriculum may not ordinarily be able to achieve. Senior Project represents an extraordinary challenge and responsibility - one that is considered seriously. It is an educational opportunity that well may not present itself again until the final year at college.

Students who do a Senior Project must be enrolled in at least four academic courses as well. The project may not fulfill any specific department’s distributional requirements and must, if taken second semester, receive a passing grade in order for the senior to graduate.

Because of the special features, challenges, and risks of a Senior Project, planning begins early. Students discuss their ideas with their House Advisor, possible faculty advisors, and outside supervisors. As they approach the necessary deadlines for application, then, seniors have no more than the final details to arrange. These prescribed, preparatory procedures serve to clarify students’ thinking and to improve the overall quality of their projects. Each senior’s comprehensive project proposal elicits the careful and constructive suggestions of his or her faculty sponsor, House Advisor, and supervising department, and all Department Chairs.