A student's first experience of school is extremely important, and Wilson Hall strives to make this experience an enjoyable one in its preschool/kindergarten program. Students in preschool learn mostly through play while also learning how to be part of a group and follow directions. Preschool is much more than just a daycare program; it teaches students essential social skills while introducing basic number concepts and letter recognition. Kindergarten introduces basic math and reading concepts, as well as simple writing techniques.

The school day for preschool/kindergarten is 8:10 AM - 1:55 PM, with an optional noon dismissal. With their own corner of the campus, the preschool/kindergarten students remain in their own building and have their own playgrounds.

Preschool
The preschool program is open to student's four years of age and older. Students are taught essential social skills while introducing basic math and reading concepts through the Open Court reading series. The child is introduced to the correct formation of the upper and lower case letters of the alphabet through activities specifically designed for strengthening fine motor skills. Art, music, physical education and library are also part of the curriculum as auxiliary classes.

Kindergarten
The kindergarten program is a structured pre-first program that introduces simple math concepts, as well as simple reading and writing techniques through the Open Court reading series. By the end of the school year, kindergarten students are able to read and write simple sentences. Art, library, music, physical education and computer science is also part of the curriculum.

In order to provide a strong foundation, our lower school concentrates heavily on the basics: reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, language arts, grammar and mathematics. Students are not "grouped" by academic potential since all students are expected to perform at an advanced level. Instruction is taught at an accelerated pace, similar to the talented and gifted programs of other schools, and all students are expected to progress as a group. By not having several different groupings (remedial, average, accelerated) of students within the classroom, teachers are able to give all of their attention to the entire class.

Lower school classes are self-contained, except for auxiliary classes in computers, art, music, P.E. and the library.  Students in grades 1-5 have Spanish class once each week. The school day is from 8:10 AM - 2:10 PM.

1st Grade
With the goal of producing highly motivated, confident students in our lower school, the first grade begins by incorporating a very strong language arts and math curriculum supplemented with various other content. The Open Court Reading series used consists of intense phonetic instruction that addresses spelling, writing, composition and oral reading. The ABeka Math series is used for math instruction. Based on a spiraling approach, this series emphasizes problem solving, understanding of concepts and mastery of facts. Students participate in art, music, library, computer, physical education, and foreign language classes once a week.

2nd Grade
Second grade builds on the basic skills of first grade and expands into more cognitive thinking and application across the curriculum. Students develop these skills through problem solving, vocabulary, comprehension, and research. Independence and organization are stressed in order to build confidence. Instruction is given collectively and individually according to the specific needs of each student. Students participate in music, art, computer, library, physical education, and foreign language classes once a week.

3rd Grade
The Third Grade builds on skills learned in the second grade in a self-contained classroom environment. These subjects include reading with comprehension, paraphrasing, and vocabulary; spelling with dictated sentences; math by teaching the four main functions; South Carolina history; science; English grammar with daily oral language; listening; and cursive writing. Students learn a different poem each week to encourage creativity through expression and public speaking. Students participate in art, computer, physical education, music, foreign language, and library classes once a week.

4th Grade
The fourth grade builds on the concepts taught in the third grade in a structured self-contained setting. The reading program places an emphasis on comprehension, vocabulary, and listening skills. Mathematics encompasses computation, problem-solving, and number concepts. Language includes mechanics, expression, and study skills. Spelling, science, and social studies complete the program. Once a week students participate in art, library, music, physical education, foreign language, and computer classes.

5th Grade
The fifth grade is the first year that the students are introduced to changing classes and teachers who work in varying academic departments. The students rotate among three teachers. The curriculum includes math, science, reading, language, history and science with auxiliary classes of computers, physical education, art, music and library complementing the academic program.

Since Wilson Hall is a college preparatory school, all courses in grades 6-12 are taught at an advanced level with eligible students taking the even more demanding Advanced Placement (AP) and honors courses. Admission to AP and honors courses is based on a student's nationally standardized test scores, previous academic performance, and, in some instances, performance on a placement test.

Wilson Hall offers fifteen AP courses, more than any other school in the area, that are taught on the college level by specially trained faculty members. At the end of the year, students have the opportunity to take a nationally standardized test in the AP subject and may receive college credit depending on their performance on the exam. This can really pay off in the long run as some students have graduated with 30 hours of college credit.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Twenty-four units of credit earned in grades 9-12 are required for graduation from Wilson Hall. The student's high school program includes required and elective courses. Those courses specifically required of all students for graduation with the Class of 2008 are identified in the following list:

Upon entering high school, students are placed in Honors or College Prep English. Students in these grades study classical and contemporary literature. They analyze literary works critically as they continue to broaden their vocabularies. In addition to these writings, they learn how to write technical and business reports and to do research for these papers. They also complete diagnostic grammar tests as they prepare for PSAT and SAT tests.

Summer Reading: Wilson Hall sponsors a summer reading program with required books and follow-up testing for students in grades 5-12. Students in lower grades are encouraged to read a variety of books during the summer and to keep a record of these books.

MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
Students extend their understanding of rational numbers, investigate relationships of equality and inequality, develop appropriate algebraic language and expand knowledge of spatial relations during the middle school years. In seventh grade students are placed into appropriately challenging honors or college prep classes both of which offer grade-level advanced material.

All high school classes are designed to prepare students for collegiate level courses. Students develop an understanding of real and complex numbers and explore fundamental properties of number systems. Knowledge of functions and relationships are expanded to enhance the student's ability to correlate mathematical models to real-world events. Working with coordinate and transformation geometry, the student discovers the connection between algebra and geometry. Collegiate level statistics and calculus are introduced to ensure easy transition to post-secondary academics.

SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
The science curriculum is designed to prepare students for collegiate level success. Students develop higher level thinking skills by investigating and understanding both the biological and inanimate sciences. Experiential education is emphasized throughout the curriculum with lab work and field trips beginning in the sixth grade and continuing through twelfth grade. Advanced study is available in biology, chemistry, and physics.

HISTORY / SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT
The social studies curriculum is designed to develop students that are capable and competent in participating in the American democracy. Students begin their study in high school by taking World History, which is meant to give a broad survey of the civilizations that have shaped the modern world. The course begins with ancient civilization and finishes with the collapse of communism in the 1990s.

As students progress through the curriculum, courses survey the important social, cultural, political and economic events and ideas that have existed from colonial America until the 21st century. In addition, students study the important philosophies and institutions of national and state government, as well as important concepts and designs of the American economy.

In the senior year, a student has the option of taking several electives, ranging from Advanced Placement courses in American Government and Modern European History to courses in sociology, religion and philosophy.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT
All students are required to take Latin during their 8th grade year. The course focuses on grammar, text reading, and translation as well as Roman mythology and English vocabulary building using Latin word roots.

Beginning in the 9th grade, students may choose between French I, Spanish I, or Latin II (if Latin had been taken in 8th grade and passed with a 92 or better) and must take a minimum of three years of the same language. The first three years are devoted to establishing a firm second language foundation to prepare students to read, write, speak and understand basic-to-intermediate spoken French and Spanish or to read and translate basic-to-intermediate Latin. The fourth year of French, Spanish, or Latin is optional and is taken at honors credit. All foreign language courses include target-language music and films where applicable.

COMPUTER DEPARTMENT
The Computer Department offers a wide variety of courses to students in grades 9 through 12. All students must have one unit in computers in order to satisfy graduation requirements. Students in the 9th grade are required to take the introductory "Concepts and Applications" course (1 unit/year). Students in grades 10 through 12 may select courses from the computer electives listed above .

FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT | OUR INTERNET ARTISTS...
Middle School Art
Students receive a semester of art instruction during middle school. They are introduced to a variety of media techniques and concepts. Many projects are designed around the styles of famous artists with a broad overview of the artist's life included as a part of the curriculum The creative process is stressed while the basic fundamentals of art are taught.

Upper School Art
Students in high school are offered design, ceramics, photography and four levels of basic art as well as AP Studio Art. The National Standards for Arts Education guidelines are used for level appropriate competency in the arts. Students use a variety of media, techniques and processes. They study historical and cultural developments in art, and they analyze art works to assess the merits of their work and the work of others. Students work in an environment that nourishes the creative spirit and gives them a clearer vision of the world in which they live.

Drama
Four elective courses in drama are offered to upper school students. Drama I is a one-semester course that provides an introduction to basic acting and movement. Drama II, III, and IV are full year courses in which students are engaged in actual productions. Drama III and IV also serve as the competition team, representing Wilson Hall around the state at various theater arts festivals and competitions. In addition, at some time during each school year, all three levels of drama are involved with our own lower school students in an effort to promote early interest in theater arts.

Music Theory
The music theory curriculum (Basic Music Theory and AP Music Theory) introduces students to the basic concepts of music theory and teaches them to read and to write standard Western musical notation. Listening components allow students to identify intervals, chord qualities, and scales, and to take both melodic and harmonic dictation. Production involves the students in sight singing melodies from written sources without ever before having heard the music. Students with further musical experience may elect to continue their music studies in AP Music Theory in which students learn to analyze tertian as well as dodecaphonic and other non-tertian, non-functional music in addition to extensive ear training and sightsinging. Students in the course are required to write a variety of music in various forms such as two- and three-part fugues, chorale harmonization, chorale preludes, sonatas and so forth. Beginning orchestration instruction may also play a role in AP Music Theory.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION
The physical education curriculum is designed to promote physical fitness in every student. An emphasis is placed on teaching and improving upon fundamental skills, a more comprehensive understanding of basic rules, and promoting a positive self-concept through physical awareness. A great emphasis is placed on teamwork, respect, and leadership.