The four-year, 9th grade through 12th grade curriculum is based on English, mathematics, and French every year, science for three years, history for two years, and art during three years at a half-credit per year.  These are the basic requirements, though individual student schedules vary, based on ability and background (approximately half of our senior class starts at Burke in the 9th grade).  

Our average class size of twelve and our boarding school setting provide ample, favorable opportunities for tutorial or extra-help sessions and special attention. In the same vein, our small size also affords room for student enrichment, often beyond the bounds of our regular curriculum structure, based on student interests, abilities, and accelerated preparation.  If a student exceeds our core curriculum in any subject, faculty members set up individualized tutorial and independent study courses, coincident with their experience and background.

We work with two weekly class schedules, one for the fall and spring, and a different one during the winter ski season.  We state quite clearly that we expect the “heavy lifting” in the academic program to occur during the fall and spring, when the typical class meets four days per week for fifty-minute periods and homework assignments anticipate an additional thirty to forty minutes of preparation per class per night.  The winter schedule reduces the class meetings to three per week and does not increase outside preparation to make up for the less frequent meetings. The objective during the winter is to maintain continuity in the academic program, with realistic expectations.