Upper School FAQs

We have 1,243 students in our JK-12 community, and we have 618 students in Upper School (grades 9-12) with approximately 160 students in each grade level and 16 to 18 students in each classroom.

MICDS has a diverse, welcoming community. Here are some quick facts:

• 42% of our students identify as students of color
• Over 70 zip codes are represented in our student body
• 26% of our students are supported by more than $6.29 million in need-based tuition assistance
• School-wide, new students this year came from over 117 schools in the metro area and around the world

Our community is intentionally diverse. MICDS students practice different faiths, are ideologically and racially diverse, learn differently, and hail from homes around this city and the world. What unites us is a common belief in the call to action of our Mission Statement: to embrace all of the world’s people with compassion, to stand for what is good and right, and to lead lives of purpose and service.

Recent graduate Skye Patton ’23 shares, “If I had to pick just one part of MICDS that has been most impactful in my life, I would say the teachers. I have built some incredibly strong connections with the teachers because they are very understanding people who are passionate about what they do. Every time that I am passionate about a subject, there’s a teacher on this campus who is equally if not more passionate about that exact same subject. I’ve been able to talk to them, expand my interests, learn more about what I’m passionate about, and it makes me want to learn more. I am so beyond grateful that they’ve been able to inspire me so deeply.”

One of the top three reasons current parents love MICDS is our best-in-class faculty. More than 75 percent hold advanced degrees. Faculty teach their passion and expertise, as well as sponsor student activities, and serve as coaches and advisors.

Through our advisory program, each Upper School teacher serves as a mentor, confidant, advocate, and connection between home and school for 10-12 students throughout their high school years. Teachers develop deep, trusting relationships with their students and ensure all children are engaging in meaningful academic, social, emotional, and physical growth during their time in the Upper School.

Every September, Upper Schoolers attend Club Fest, a fair held outside in Hermann Courtyard where students learn about the numerous activities and community service clubs offered at MICDS. Representatives of each group are available for questions at Club Fest, and students can sign up to be part of any opportunity that sparks their interest. What if you have an idea for a new club? You can create it yourself!

In the 2022-23 school year, there were over 75 clubs and activities available. To name a few, students could be part of Student Council, MICDS investment Group, Model UN, RxAM, Entrepreneurship-Launch Club, Black Student Union, South Asian Student Association, Battle of the Burets, Mock Trial, Science Olympiad, Troubadours, Yearbook, Amnesty International, MIST, Peer Tutors, Period @ MICDS, Sustainable Futures, and so much more.

Our Arts Department faculty, all professional working artists, offer more than 40 studio and performing arts classes in the Upper School. Our drama, choral, band, and orchestra students enjoy three exceptional theaters on campus while our photography, design, architecture, and studio art students work in well-equipped art studios and can display their work in the Messing Art Gallery.

MICDS has an athletics requirement in Upper School that requires each student participates in an athletic sport or our Essential Fitness program in two out of three seasons per school year. This requirement fulfills the place of PE in Upper School.

We offer 29 different interscholastic sports in grades 9-12. Student-athletes enjoy state-of-the-art facilities and outstanding coaching—over half of our head coaches are also faculty members. 

Over the last 10 years, our athletic teams have claimed 76 state championships in 15 different sports. But winning is just part of the experience for our student-athletes. Our coaches focus on instilling values they’ll carry their entire lives: leadership, empowerment, and teamwork.

Essential Fitness is a program offered at MICDS where students learn how to exercise in a gym. As a part of this program, students are required to exercise three hours per week in the Fitness Center alongside personal trainers with the option of participating in small group workouts.

We use technology as a powerful problem-solving tool. Our teachers recognize that, when used responsibly, technology allows us to answer questions we could not with pen and paper alone. It encourages our teachers and students to differentiate, to create, to use real-world data to test complex models, and ultimately deliver a 21st-century education.

We are a wireless campus. All Upper School students receive a tablet laptop as new students, along with ongoing guidance on how to use this important resource effectively and responsibly, ensuring that they graduate as good digital citizens with the tools and resources they need for success in college and beyond.

MICDS has a vibrant and active parent body. Our Parents Association offers all MICDS parents and guardians numerous ways to engage in our community including through educational speakers, cultural events, book clubs, and volunteer opportunities. Most importantly, we collaborate with our parents through our Parent-School Partnership, a formal commitment between families and the School to embrace the tenets of our Mission Statement as we work together to support the growth of our students.

Tuition for grades 7-12 is $33,250 for the 2023-24 school year. Many of the costs associated with attending MICDS are included in tuition such as lunch, laptop and fees, ACT and SAT prep, after-school snacks, field trips, and summer orientation programs for new students.

We have a significant need-based tuition assistance program at MICDS. Schoolwide, 26% of our students receive tuition assistance, and we awarded over $6.29 million of need-based tuition assistance this year to families. The average award for grades 7-12 this year is $19,300.

Additional costs beyond tuition can range from $300 to $1,500, depending on the student’s grade and interests. Those receiving tuition assistance do receive assistance with costs essential to full participation in the MICDS community.

At MICDS, college counseling begins in the ninth grade. Through our unique, four-year program, students recognize their strengths and goals—ultimately choosing paths that meet their personal criteria and will provide a challenging environment for them to flourish after high school. It is our philosophy that strong communication among students, parents, and college counselors lies at the heart of a meaningful and successful college application process. 

Our Class of 2023 graduates matriculated to excellent and highly competitive programs at 91 schools in 29 different states as well as Washington, DC, Australia, and England. Fifteen student-athletes are continuing their athletic careers at impressive colleges and universities.

MICDS alumni from the past several classes are attending some of the most selective institutions in the country, including Harvard, Stanford, Brown, Columbia University, Vanderbilt University, Dartmouth College, Cornell University, University of Southern California, Carnegie Mellon University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, United States Air Force Academy, University of California – Los Angeles, Vanderbilt University, Washington University, and Yale. 

We welcome 30-35 new ninth graders each year. Our summer Bridge program for new students includes an orientation to the campus and the MICDS community, a preview of our academic expectations and procedures, and the opportunity to begin building relationships with MICDS teachers and students. In addition, each grade level hosts an orientation for new students to ensure kids are connected and comfortable before diving into their academic work.

We also have an advisory system where students regularly meet throughout the four years of Upper School with their designated group of the same 10-12 students and one faculty member. This group meets weekly and sometimes daily. Advisory is similar to a homeroom, but the group can meet all over campus and engage in a variety of activities and discussions. Faculty advisors and advisory groups move with students through their four years of Upper School which allows students to develop deep relationships and a strong sense of community which can lead to immense success.

“I think I have grown in pretty much every possible way. I understand how I function as a student and a learner to be able to study effectively and accomplish my goals. I developed my leadership skills through the roles that I have taken on in activities and athletics. I have made so many great friends throughout the years. Ultimately, I have gained a lot of perspective on my life and my time at MICDS.” – Ellie Gira ’22

“Besides being six inches taller, I feel like I have become a more well-rounded and empathetic human being, and I believe that everything I have learned at MICDS has allowed me to confront any challenge presented to me. Except drawing; I’m still pretty bad at drawing.” –Sam Lustgarten ’22

“I’ve changed in so many ways, both socially and academically. I feel like I’ve grown as a person, and it shows in my schoolwork. Everything from the way I introduce myself to how I write essays has been tweaked during my time here. I’ve learned not only how to work well with others but also how to spend time with myself.” –Amelia Markwell ’22

MICDS currently offers four World Languages in the Upper School: Spanish, French, Latin, and Mandarin Chinese. Of those four, Spanish is the only language that is offered at entry level for students.

We currently do not have a bussing system at MICDS, but carpooling is a very popular method for pick-up and drop-off within our community. With families from over 70 different zip codes in the Greater St. Louis Area, there is almost bound to be another family or many close by you with whom you can collaborate with for transportation. We are also happy to help you connect with families in close proximity to you.

Open House is a perfect time to experience some of what MICDS has to offer and to get some of your additional questions answered. RSVP to Open House here!

As you have more questions, please contact Teron Sutherlin, the Associate Director of Admission – MICDS Upper School. His contact information is below:

• tsutherlin@micds.org
• 314.995.7369

Additionally, our entire Admission team is delighted to help answer any questions. Meet the whole Admission team here.

Best wishes for your search!