Upper School Academics

Student Directed Projects

Student Directed Projects

A Student-Directed Project (SDP) empowers students to do an in-depth exploration of a topic of interest throughout the term.

The student designs, plans, and leads their research project in collaboration and with the guidance and support of a coach (faculty advisor). It allows students to delve deeper into their passion and to be the designer of their own learning. There is a wide range of Student-Directed Projects; they are multi-disciplinary, non-linear, and most importantly, student-created and led.

That’s what makes them so interesting.

At the end of the school year, students have the opportunity to present their work at our Learning By Doing showcase.

SDP FAQs

How does the SDP process work?
  1. The student writes a proposal, which is reviewed for approval by the Director of Upper School, Director of College Counseling, and the Director of the Hiatt Center.
  2. Once the proposal is approved, the student is responsible for leading the research and discussion during their meeting with their coach.
  3. The coach works as a resource to give feedback, assess the work, and offer guidance for next steps.
  4. At the end of the year, students who an SDP have the opportunity to showcase their work, during our Learning by Doing exhibit, an event that gives students the opportunity to share and explain their work to the community.

Beaver Country Day School admits qualified students of any race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, creed, handicap status, national origin or ethnicity to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, creed, handicap status, national origin or ethinicity in the administration of its educational, admission, financial aid, athletic or other school-administered programs or policies.