The Scarsdale Advanced Topics Program (SATP) is a college level program of study that seeks to engage students with “big ideas” and challenging content. Courses emphasize independent work, deep exploration, close reading, developed writing, and complex thinking. We are especially interested in developing the ability to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate, to judge the significance of what’s being learned, and to think originally. SATP’s objective is to stretch students to their full capacities through an education that is powerful, distinctive and rewarding.

Academic departments develop SATP courses in consultation with visiting committees of college and university professors in each subject. These “critical friends” give Scarsdale teachers opportunities to assess their own efforts and a way to validate course quality. The School also uses established protocols to develop and review curriculum, examinations, and student work. The visiting committees, protocols, and established departmental quality controls all help to assure that student performance meets expectations that are typical of those at highly competitive colleges.

Scarsdale High School evaluates the results of SATP courses through continuing assessments of student learning in high school and of placement and performance in college.

SATP classes help prepare students for the Advanced Placement examination, but they do not completely cover the AP curriculum. We believe such an effort compromises our commitment to student-centered discussion, in-depth study, analytical work and independent research. The School provides added support for students who wish to take the AP exam and advises students to undertake sustained study on their own.

Questions about SATP may be directed to Kelley Hamm, Assistant Principal, who chairs the SATP Implementation Committee.

The following document contains additional information about the SATP program:

The Scarsdale Advanced Topics Program: Questions and Answers (updated March 2008)