Advisors & Evaluation
Report Letters
Three times a year, each student and his or her parents receive a report letter detailing the student’s progress. Students will receive these written report letters in what we call a “report conference” with a senior faculty member. There, students will read and discuss what their teachers have written along with their own written self-evaluations.
We feel that this combination of written and verbal evaluation is more throrough, more subtle, more effective, more humane, and, finally, more educational than letter grades. With this system, Buxton teachers are able to give very specific encouragement, advice, and instruction; as a result, students know preceisely how they are doing in each of their classes and what they need to do to improve.
For college-admissions purposes, we do generate a graded report card that students see for the first time at the end of their junior year. As our evaluative process is so thorough, it is very unlikely that students will be surprised by their letter grades.
In addition to these reports, a student’s academic advisor is in regular contact with the parents regarding their child’s performance.
Working together on a group project
Study Halls
Faculty-supervised study periods take place daily during class hours and students may be required to attend. The evening study hall, held five nights a week, is required of those students not involved in evening activities.
Graduation Requirements
Sixteen credits are required for graduation, which include 4 years of English and a year of American history. Students are also counseled to complete a minimum of 3 years of mathematics, 2 years of social science, 2 years of laboratory science, and a minimum of 3 years of a foreign language. In addition, students are also strongly encouraged to pursue courses in the arts.