Academic and College Counselors give attention to individual students' gifts, interests, and post-graduation plans by offering strength assessments, career guidance, support for all aspects of the college search and planning process, and oversight for the multiple details of the college and scholarship application process. For more information, visit the Academic & College Counseling page.

Just as assessment of appropriately measurable goals can provide insight into areas of strength and areas where improvement is needed for the whole instructional program, so classroom assessment can equip teachers to adjust rigor and instructional depth to meet individual student needs. Summative assessment allows a student to demonstrate mastery and understanding as a culmination of a unit or year of study, including overarching concepts, essential questions, and understandings. Formative assessment equips both teacher and student to evaluate the progress that is being made and to adjust teaching and learning in order to accomplish the goals that the summative assessment will measure. Effective assessment is both formative and summative. 

Grades are intended to communicate the level of student mastery of course content and skill standards, and in the context of CCS, capacity to engage essential questions and enduring understandings. As a result, summative assessments comprise 50-70% of a student’s grade for a course.

Exceptional education support is available in both the Lower and Upper Schools through integrated classrooms, intervention, and therapy as well as through more comprehensive services in The Learning Center. With minimal support through accommodations, assistive technology, or modifications, most students can participate with their same-age, typically-developing peers for all school activities. We maintain high expectations for all students. Each service plan for students with a diagnosis follows the professional standards for accommodations and modifications on individual testing and diagnosis.

For a week during the third quarter, all regular classes are suspended, and students and teachers re-align to engage in a host of truly co-curricular activities. Teachers offer alternative “classes,” and students sign up according to their interests and course availability; these offerings range from international trips and local opportunities to make and sample French cuisine to surfing in Florida and bass fishing on the Tennessee River.