Curriculum
Our Immersive, Experiential Curriculum
Through class discussions, authentic research, and experiential opportunities, students engage in academic class six days per week. Built into the week is time for reflection, extra help, consultation, and additional study.
Semester Course Topics
Elements of Ecology (Science)
Uses scuba diving to explore the waters and near-shore ecosystems surrounding Cape Eleuthera. Students use weekly dives to develop ecological literacy in natural history as well as the curriculum-requisite dive skills that support these excursions.
Creative Writing & Storytelling (English)
Centered around the question: why craft, share, and seek stories? Students will embark on a semester-long journey to document their experience here at The Island School and across the island of Eleuthera by experimenting with poetry, oral storytelling, journalism, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction.
Community & Culture (Social Studies)
This immersive course delves into the profound impact culture and community have on our perceptions of ourselves, others, and the world. Students will learn to critically evaluate their worldview and how it informs their global perspective. Through exposure to cross-cultural dialogue, anthropological frameworks, and community engagement, we will explore the fundamental question, “What is culture and community?”
Scientific Research (Science)
The Island School is uniquely positioned to offer students the opportunity to conduct scientific research at our own research station, the Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI). CEI is a dedicated center for research and innovation where students engage with professionals in the field on authentic research projects, including marine science and sustainability research that informs policy in The Bahamas and beyond. This course offers a unique opportunity for students to apply what they learn across disciplines to a field-based project of local and regional significance.
Sustainable Systems (Mathematics)
We are living in a world of finite resources and climate change continues to pose new challenges and questions. How we live impacts our surrounding community and environment through choices at the individual and systemic scales. Food, water, energy, and waste systems exist everywhere but operate at differing capacities and achieve different goals and outcomes. Within this course, students will explore these functioning campus systems firsthand and further their understanding of the strengths and opportunities for improvement through applied mathematics.
Art & Movement (Art)
Establishing a sense of place is the foundation of the Art and Movement course. The curriculum is designed to foster connections between art, place, and culture. Students will learn alongside local artists, be exposed to Bahamian art forms, and engage in the arts including music, dance, and physical art applications
Endurance Training (Physical Education)
The morning exercise program (AMX) includes the entire community— students and faculty alike— spend at least one hour participating in a variety of workouts five days a week. Most exercises include a combination of swimming, running, and calisthenics; other offerings center on team sports such as water polo, volleyball, or ultimate Frisbee, while yoga and snorkeling opportunities develop mental fortitude and wellness.
Service (Community Service)
Students will have opt-in opportunities to log up to 20 hours of community service.
Semester and Summer Term students receive a detailed transcript from their program, and our credits transfer to both independent and public schools.
