Upper School: 9th-12th Grade

Your Education, Reimagined

At Cascades Academy, college prep is fueled by purpose, driven by curiosity, and powered by real-world experience. Here, you won’t just memorize facts or check boxes. You’ll chart your own path, guided by challenging academics, personalized support, hands-on learning, and life-changing travel that connects deeply to who you are and where you want to go.

One day, you're doing service work in Guatemala or hiking the Grand Canyon. Another, you’re paddling through the Puget Sound, designing a robot, or collaborating with local organizations. Whether you’re in the lab, climbing a glacier, or camping under the stars, learning comes alive to broaden your perspective, strengthen your voice, and prepare you for what's next.

Don’t Just Learn About the World.

Experience It.

Growth Over Grades

At Cascades Academy, learning isn’t about chasing grades. It’s about building skills, pushing boundaries, and applying knowledge. As an early member of the Mastery Transcript Consortium (MTC), we’re part of a national movement to transform how high school education is delivered and how student growth is recognized. Through a competency-based model, you’ll dive deep into challenging coursework across humanities, math, science, and more, not just to memorize content, but to master it.

Instead of a traditional report card, you’ll graduate with a dynamic Mastery Transcript that highlights your strengths and accomplishments. It tells your story in a powerful way that's valued by colleges.

Learn More

Design Your Learning. Define Your Future.

College and career planning at Cascades Academy starts early and evolves with you. Through our four-year College & Future Counseling Program, you’ll explore your strengths, goals, and options, starting with Self 101 in 9th grade and culminating with one-on-one application support in senior year. Along the way, you’ll visit campuses, connect with admissions reps, attend college fairs, and dive into essay writing, financial aid, and decision-making. With expert guidance and active family involvement, you’ll graduate with a clear sense of direction and the confidence to move forward.

Take a closer look below at how your journey unfolds, with each year building on the last.

College Admissions Profile

Learn More About Upper School's Programs

PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE

Interdisciplinary Humanities

The humanities can be described as the study of how people process and document the human experience. Therefore, studying humanities benefits from the integration of many disciplines. For our purposes, these disciplines include history, language arts, sociology, psychology, philosophy, geography, and anthropology. Students explore place-based themes, classic literature, writing, and other styles of communication. The intentions are to develop deeper learning around cultural factors that shape the world around us.

Our humanities courses aim to instill open-ended learning values to teach students to comprehend, analyze, and question their experiences and research. We guide them to acquire the skills to communicate effectively and make ethical choices by providing access to myriad global literature, news, opinions, and history. Students are part of a living community to which they actively contribute through research and evidence-based writing and discussion. We want students to grow as individuals and as a community of learners who connect to the passion and versatility of their world.

Upper school humanities is approached in a place-based thematic format, with the fall and spring terms culminating with a Traveling School trip to the studied region. By approaching the curriculum through an integrated studies method, upper school students gain a deeper understanding of the material and its real-world application. Learning becomes more meaningful. Students become more engaged.

Math

The mathematics department at Cascades Academy believes that an understanding of mathematics is essential in our increasingly complex world. Mathematics allows students to develop into fully literate and critical world citizens, while the beauty and power of mathematics makes it a worthwhile subject to study in its own right.

We aim to teach mathematics in a way that supports students in their goals, whether it be preparing for higher education in STEM disciplines or achieving fundamental mathematical literacy. The mathematics department brings experiential learning into the math classroom by providing opportunities and experiences for students to wrestle with and discover mathematical ideas. While often thought of as a solitary pursuit, mathematics learning is accelerated through discussion and collaboration with peers.

Courses Offered:

Algebra I
Algebra II
Geometry
Pre-Calculus
Calculus I&II
Senior Applied Mathematics

Science

Cascades Academy science courses are anchored by experiential learning opportunities where students learn by doing and are challenged to think critically as they develop scientific arguments supported by quantitative and qualitative data. Our courses are designed to expand and deepen a student's scientific knowledge while engaging them in mastering the fundamental aspects of the scientific process. We strive to ignite a curiosity about science through a variety of class formats and instructional techniques, including laboratory investigations, research projects, demonstrations, field work, direct instruction, and group discussions.

We contextualize the cultural value of scientific knowledge so students can build connections that inspire lifelong learning by incorporating math, humanities, and real-world applications into the curriculum. Upon completion of the science sequence, students are able to use their knowledge confidently to explore their natural world and apply their understanding to explain natural phenomena. Furthermore, we aspire to arm students with the scientific literacy required to critically evaluate scientific arguments, the required depth of knowledge to make informed decisions, and the confidence to engage in discussions that impact themselves and their communities. In short, students will have the scientific foundations to make a positive impact in the world.

Courses Offered:

Physics
Biology
Chemistry
Environmental Science

World Language

We believe that knowing Spanish is valuable in today’s world, and that understanding the Spanish language as well as the culture and history of Spanish speakers enables students, regardless of background, to better understand the world in which they live and the people with whom they share their communities.

While Cascades Academy only offers courses in Spanish, we support students in their independent study of a variety of international languages. This is made possible through community partner organizations, community college coordination, or online learning platforms. Past students have studied the following:

German
French
Mandarin
Arabic
American Sign Language

Our Spanish classes use the study of the Spanish language as a vehicle to explore topics rooted in and associated with Spanish-speaking countries that have relevance and application to the lives of our students. We encourage students to draw upon their prior knowledge to make cross-curricular connections and draw comparisons between their own experiences and culture and those of the cultures being studied. Furthermore, students are provided with opportunities through their study of Spanish to enhance and advance universal skills, resulting in well-rounded, capable, and world-ready graduates. Integral to our departmental philosophy is the implications of the voices of diverse people from a variety of backgrounds, representing the full richness of geography, culture, language, experience, and giving students the opportunity to expand and challenge their own perspectives about the world in which they live.

Electives

In Electives, we seek to ignite curiosity by providing the chance to broaden or deepen areas of interest. While we seek to empower individuality and allow student choice, we also believe competent global citizens require a set of well-rounded skills. Electives are offered quarterly, allowing for ample student choice. Courses fall into three categories: mind, body, creative spirit.

Examples of electives include:

Forensic Science
Anthropology
Print-Making
Self-Defense
Graphic Design
Journalism
Mountain Biking Skills
Personal Finance
Avalanche Safety
Current Events
Yoga
Rock Band

Expedition

In Expeditions, students deepen connections beyond our school through purposeful community partnership. In these field courses, the entire upper school departs campus for six consecutive Wednesday afternoons to explore a theme and learn by doing. In collaboration, students work to inspire goodness, developing meaning and shaping impact.

Examples of Expeditions include:

Bend Food Economy & Local Kitchens
Wilderness First Aid Training & Outdoor Leadership
The Science of Sound & Instrument Creation
Audio Broadcasting & KPOV Partnership
Meaningful, Purpose, & the Good Life: Sacred Traditions in Central Oregon
Adventure Racing
International Culinary Skills
Know Your Place: Bioregional Exploration

Grade Level Impact Programs

Every year, students engage in a weekly seminar that amplifies their skills and aligns with our values for holistic learning. These programs are designed to engage students with problems facing our community to equip them to be a positive force in the world beyond our campus.

9th Grade: Self 101
Freshmen delve into self- awareness, self-direction, executive functioning, and community values. The Digital Literacy course complements this journey, equipping students with critical consumption and analysis skills.

10th Grade: Community 101
Sophomores investigate various issues facing our community and explore organizations working to combat them in partnership with the Oregon Community Foundation. The program culminates in the 10th grade class distributing a grant to an organization of their choice while learning how to organize fundraising efforts to increase the amount granted.

Grade 11: Internship Project
Every Cascades Academy junior develops a unique off-campus internship experience in order to explore an industry or social issue of interest. The program fosters community partnership and allows students to develop professional skills, culminating in a paper that explores the underlying social topics informing their work and a presentation to the community regarding how the internship was illuminating and challenging.

Past Internship Projects have included:

Environmental architecture firm
Journalism with a local newspaper
Baking with a local bakery
Healthcare at St. Charles Hospital
Guitar-making with a local craftsman
Aviation with Redmond Airport

Grade 12: Legacy Project
In their final year at our school, seniors investigate what it means to leave a legacy and how their presence can be felt in the years after graduation. The class researches, designs, funds, and executes a project of their own design to give back to their school and community.

Past projects have included:

Disc-golf frisbee course on campus
School Coffeehouse
Monarch butterfly pollinator stations
Gaga-ball pit in playground
Natural wood bench installations
Providing gym equipment for the school

Confluence

Athletics & Adventure Sports

Students enjoy a dynamic athletics and adventure sports program that encourages both competition and personal growth. From traditional sports like cross country and track and field to adventure-based activities like skiing, snowboarding, rock climbing, mountain biking, and ultimate, students stay active while building confidence, resilience, and teamwork.

If we don’t offer a particular sport, students can still compete through partnerships with other local schools. We’ve had students compete in sports like wrestling, lacrosse, soccer, and water polo, and we’re here to help guide families through this process.

Clubs, Robotics, & Mock Trial

Cascades Academy is a place that believes school should be a place to pursue passions and hobbies outside the core academic program. In addition to our electives and expeditions, clubs are a student-initiated part of our weekly schedule during which upper schoolers are able to organize a group of friends around a favorite pastime. This is also the time during which the Student Leadership team meets to advance initiatives and plan social events. Other clubs have included:

Reading for Pleasure
Chess and Board Games
Ultimate Frisbee
Creative Space
Film Club
Latin Dance

US FIRST Robotics Elective
Students in the US FIRST Robotics elective will be members of Cascades Academy’s FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Team. Students will compete in a national competition where students team up with engineers to design and build a 120-lb robot in 6-weeks to compete against teams from around the state and at regional competitions.

Mock Trial
Mock Trial is a state-wide competitive program that is part puzzle, part performance theater, and part legal strategy. Throughout the program, a group of students review provided materials around a fictional legal case and bring to life the courtroom scene. With the support of local lawyers and hired coaches, the team builds their case and performs at a regional court house before a local judge.

Course Catalogues

15 Days of Traveling School

Students participate in two immersive Traveling School experiences each year to explore new places and cultures, deepen relationships, and embrace new challenges alongside a close-knit group of peers and faculty. These journeys push students out of their comfort zones and into meaningful growth, building confidence, connection, and curiosity.

Fall trips throughout the Pacific Northwest explore academic themes through a local lens, while spring programs transport students to dynamic locations around the world as we deepen course content and lean further into character skills and leadership. Past destinations include Cuba, Guatemala, Hawaii, the San Juan Islands, the Desert Southwest, Costa Rica, and Washington, D.C.

4 Years of College & Future Counseling

9th Grade: Foundations of Exploration and Awareness

Goals and Philosophy: Freshman year is about introducing students to the broader landscape of post-secondary opportunities and fostering curiosity about their future paths. Through exposure to college fairs, career exploration, and personality assessments, students begin building a foundation for self-awareness and long-term planning. Families are introduced to our collaborative approach to counseling.

College & Career Fairs: Students attend fairs to gain exposure to a range of schools and career paths, sparking curiosity about post-secondary opportunities.
PSAT (Optional): Freshmen may take the PSAT for practice and to familiarize themselves with standardized testing environments.
College Application Process Q&A: An interactive session answering common questions about the college application process, tailored to help students understand the road ahead.
College and Future Counseling Orientation for Students and Families: A kickoff event outlining the program's goals and resources, emphasizing the collaborative partnership between counselors, students, and families.
Introduction to Maialearning: Students explore Maialearning, a powerful tool for career and college exploration, to begin tracking interests and aspirations.
Self 101: Freshmen delve into self- awareness, self-direction, executive functioning, and community values. The Digital Literacy course complements this journey, equipping students with critical consumption and analysis skills.

10th Grade: Deepening Self-Discovery and Interests

Goals and Philosophy: Sophomore year focuses on self-discovery and identifying interests, skills, and values. Students use personality assessments and inventories to begin aligning their strengths with potential career and college pathways. Families engage in meaningful conversations about long-term planning with counselors.

College & Career Fairs: Sophomores revisit fairs, gaining deeper insights into post-secondary options and beginning to identify preferences.
PSAT (All sophomores sign up): The PSAT becomes a key tool for identifying strengths and growth areas in preparation for future standardized testing.
Future Interest Inventories Q&A: A session to review results from career and interest inventories, helping students connect these insights to real-world opportunities.
Personality and Interest Assessments: Tools like Myers-Briggs and Holland Codes provide students with a clearer understanding of themselves and potential career alignments.
Community 101: A student-led program promoting local engagement and fostering leadership, empathy, and a sense of civic responsibility.
College and Future Conferences with Families: Individualized meetings to review progress, discuss goals, and plan actionable next steps.

11th Grade: Preparing for the Journey Ahead

Goals and Philosophy: Junior year is a pivotal time for focused exploration, skill-building, and planning. Students take significant steps toward defining their goals, engaging in their internship projects, visiting colleges, and building a strong foundation for senior-year applications.

College & Career Fairs: Juniors actively research colleges and careers with a growing understanding of their priorities and aspirations.
College Admission Visits: On-campus presentations from college representatives allow students to ask questions and refine their understanding of school cultures.
SAT Prep Course: A focused course helping juniors prepare for standardized testing, emphasizing strategy and practice.
Internship Project: Students undertake internships to explore career interests, gain professional experience, and strengthen their résumés.
Career & College Exploration: Students deepen their research, using tools like Maialearning to build comprehensive college and career plans.
Building College Lists: Counselors help students curate personalized lists based on their goals, interests, and academic profiles.
College Tour Trip: A hands-on experience visiting colleges (California in 2023/24, Colorado in 2024/25), offering students a tangible sense of campus life.
Individual Meetings with Juniors: One-on-one sessions focusing on academic progress, testing, and college/career goals.
Common App 101: Students learn the ins and outs of the Common Application, laying groundwork for senior-year success.
College Essay Prep: Students draft early versions of their personal essays, receiving targeted feedback.
Initial Communication with Teachers for Recommendation Letters: Counselors guide students on approaching teachers for impactful recommendations.
College and Future Conferences with Families: Meetings to align on priorities and finalize junior-year goals.

12th Grade: Launching to the Future

Goals and Philosophy: Senior year is the culmination of the counseling process, where students apply their hard work and self-discovery to successfully navigate the college application process. The focus is on personal growth, showcasing achievements, and ensuring thoughtful decisions about their future.

Summer Meetings: Seniors meet with counselors to refine college lists, essays, and early applications.
College Essay Workshop and Refinement: An intensive workshop helping seniors craft compelling essays that reflect their unique stories.
Ongoing Individual Meetings: Regular check-ins to track progress, address challenges, and celebrate milestones.
College and Career Fairs: Seniors use fairs to make final connections with colleges and career programs.
Portfolio/Resume Building: Students compile polished materials that highlight their achievements and skills.
College Application Deadline Tracking and Support: Counselors assist students in meeting Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, and Rolling Admission deadlines.
Extracurriculars and Differentiators: Guidance on emphasizing awards, honors, and experiences that set students apart.
Letters of Recommendation: Students receive tailored support for securing and using strong recommendations for college, gap year, and/or workforce applications.
Ongoing Communication with 12th-grade Families: Regular updates and collaboration with families to ensure a smooth process for students after graduation..
Counselor Recommendations for All Applicants: Personalized letters showcasing each student’s strengths and readiness for college or other pursuits after high school.
Application Review and Submission: Final checks to ensure all materials meet college, gap year, or other program requirements.
Financial Aid and Scholarship Assistance: Comprehensive support navigating FAFSA, OSAC, and the CSS Profile.
College and Future Conferences with Families: Final meetings to support decision-making and celebrate accomplishments.

Community Voices

Ashley Ruff '25

Luke Triplett '25

Lauren Kelley

Jeff Wenger

Lasting Friendships & Powerful Mentorships

School is at its best when you’re surrounded by friends, teachers, and mentors who lift you up and push you forward. With small classes and a future-focused approach, we’ve got your back — whether you’re tackling a tough project, dreaming up big ideas, or finding your perfect college. We challenge, motivate, and celebrate one another in ways that create a palpable sense of community and belonging.

Our dedicated Advisory Program ensures every student has a trusted adult guiding them throughout high school. Meeting twice a week, advisory balances academic check-ins with a research-based social-emotional curriculum covering topics like neuroplasticity, decision-making, healthy relationships, and growth mindset.

Learning without limits.

Growth without boundaries.

$12,000 Scholarships for Rising 9th Graders

The Design for Good: Impact Scholarship is offered to numerous students committed to cultivating engagement, building community, and inspiring goodness. As an Impact Scholar, students will be part of a cohort of solutionaries who design and complete a community impact project.

LEARN MORE

Kai Sereni Named National Merit Finalist

Kai Sereni '25 has been named a National Merit Finalist — an honor awarded to less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors. A standout in math and robotics, Kai plans to study computer science and AI in college. Discover how Kai’s journey was shaped by passion, mentorship, and community.

READ THE STORY