Springside School is a private pre-K through 12 day school. Students are transitioned well between grade levels and divisions, and taught holistically in the lower grades. In retrospect, I believe that lower school is academically intense, though a child would never realize it--things are taught methodically so that the girl does not realize she is learning, but always goes home with a great amount of new knowledge. Middle school is basically an extended preparation for the upper grades. Students learn the basics of language study in "Prima Lingua" in 5th and 6th grade, and learn how to study and read critically in the combined history and English course, "Civilizations," know to students as "Civ." Honors math is available from sixth grade on, and by eighth grade honors history is an option. Middle school honors classes are serious preparation for all upper school courses--the workload is demanding and the reading materials are challenging. In upper school, most courses have between 13 and 20 students, depending on the department. Faculty members are extremely well qualified and will always let a student know if there is cause for concern. Part of Springside's academic philosophy is that classroom socialization needs to happen at the right time, and, in ninth grade, the first year of upper school, Springside's girls share art and music classrooms with Chestnut Hill Academy's boys. This is a great introduction to the coordinate program, as students are introduced to one another in a less stressful environment, and are able to see how members of the opposite sex think. In eleventh and twelfth grades, most classes are co-ed (with the exception of some math and science classes, and all physical education programs). CHA offers a great resource to Springside, as most of Springside's own teachers are female--exposure to smart, sensitive male teachers is a fantastic advantage for girls. The history and English departments at both schools are exceptional. History courses are both academically and emotionally challenging, and students should not expect to do well without careful reading and annotation of the texts every night or close attention and active class participation. The math and science departments are also strong, though more focused on developing students who care about facts and details than on students who can understand and explain concepts. The "physics first" program, which makes "Intro to Physics" mandatory for all freshmen, is admirable, but puts girls interested in taking the AP Physics course as seniors or becoming engineers at a great disadvantage, as the boys at CHA have a complete physics course during their junior year. The school is definitely not an "exam factory," instead striving to teach each girl how to learn and develop a life long love of learning. A Springside student can expect to spend at least three hours on course work every evening, and most need to use free periods during the school day to work in the library.