Zenith High School (9-12)
The Quad Preparatory School’s Zenith High School corresponds to traditional grades 9-12. The prime entry point for admissions is grade 9, with admissions during the later years possible on a case-by-case basis.
At Quad Prep, we believe that learning should be ceilingless, and that belief reaches a pinnacle during the high school years. Zenith High School students enter ready to delve into a rich array of rigorous and engaging academic classes. Our high school programming retains the flexibility for different academic pathways and learning experiences, reflecting the expectation of substantial growth of social cognitive and self-regulatory skills achieved in our K-8 grades.
Quad Prep believes that learning in High School should be ceilingless, and we are excited to provide college-level instruction at any level, even if we have to look outside our doors.
In the high school years, academic learning is deeply personalized through a combination of small group seminars and 1:1 sessions with faculty in the core academic subjects. Executive functioning and study skills are taught weekly through a comprehensive program. Students are grouped into cohorts by grade level (prep). While students are grouped academically by level in each of their academic classes, preps are supported by a consistent team of psychologists, counselors, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and academic teachers who work closely together to support student growth.
Gifted Education in High School:
Program Snapshot
Math, Science, and Technology
Students take a minimum of three years each of math and science, with many accelerating into high school-level courses during the middle school years. This early advancement allows for a wide range of upper-level electives in both subjects. Math placement is highly individualized, with students grouped homogeneously by level to ensure appropriate pacing and challenge. In 9th through 11th grades, students attend three 1-hour math seminars and three 1-hour science seminars each week, along with a dedicated half-hour 1:1 session in each subject with their teacher. In math, this individual 1:1 time is used to provide enrichment, explore advanced concepts, or address specific skill gaps. In science, 1:1 sessions support students in maintaining their lab notebooks and offer additional opportunities for enrichment. All Zenith High School science classes include a minimum of 1,200 minutes of lab experience annually.
Humanities
Students take four years of both literature and history. In each year of High School, students have three 1-hour history and three 1-hour literature seminars per week. Additionally, they have a half hour of 1:1 tutorial time with their teacher. In history, 1:1 time is spent learning research and library skills and digital literacy, along with working on individual investigative inquiries relating to their studies. In literature, 1:1 time focuses on writing skills, preparing students for the level of writing that will be required in post-secondary settings.
Advanced Placement Courses
Zenith High School students have the opportunity to take an array of Advanced Placement (or "AP") classes. These classes are taught as college-level courses and have syllabi and materials that are approved by the College Board as meeting college-level standards. Students who take AP classes have the opportunity to sit for AP exams in May, which affords them the opportunity to earn college credit in that subject area. Quad Prep offers AP classes in all 4 major subjects—math, ELA, science, and history—as well as in Computer Science.
World Languages
Students at Quad Prep spend at least three years studying a world language. These classes are offered as three 1-hour seminars per week. Current languages offered are Italian, Latin, French, and Spanish. Students choose the language they wish to study and must study at least one language for two years. Students with language waivers due to language-based learning disabilities have the opportunity to pursue alternate coursework.
Visual & Performing Arts
Students complete at least two years of study in the arts. Arts classes meet twice per week in groups. Students choose between theater arts, music, or visual arts.
Physical and Recreational Arts
Students in our Zenith High School spent one-and-a-half hours per week in structured movement. Choices include fitness training, sports, and other movement-related activities.
Electives
Quad Prep IDEAlab
Each week, at the same time across 9th grade, students participate in Quad Prep IDEAlab. Based on the Schoolwide Enrichment Model, developed by Joseph Renzulli, the goals of IDEAlab projects are to tap into twice-exceptional students’ strengths, deep curiosity, and passions in areas of interest and talent. Harnessing creativity, educators and clinicians help students apply creative ideas in an inquiry-based fashion to attempt to solve a real-world problem in a field of special interest. It is also a place where all clinicians and educators are on hand to support the development of executive functioning for self-directed learning skills in planning, decision making, time management, and self-evaluation. Students have the opportunity to get involved with a variety of national conferences during this time.
College Counseling Course
In addition to individualized college counseling, all Quad Prep 10th and 11th-grade students participate in a unique weekly College Counseling course. In depth, students learn about the college planning process, receive support in identifying potential schools for their college list, and receive instruction on writing their personal essay. They are also supported in writing supplemental essays, if relevant. Health and wellness units, as well as general post-secondary planning topics, are covered during this period as well. Students end 11th grade with a solid draft of their personal statement ready to share with their college counselor.
Quad Prep Senior Year
Senior year in Zenith High School is distinguished by choice and preparation. Gifted, twice-exceptional learners thrive on voice and choice in their learning and are given multiple pathways to prepare for their post-secondary careers. Students take an advanced elective in history, literature, and/or other humanities electives. These electives are designed to provide students with a variety of rigorous and rich choices for academic study. Students have up to 12-13 hours per week for their chosen senior pathway. This allows students with different interests and goals to have ample time in a supportive manner to customize their course of study. A student may opt to complete a Capstone Project in their area of interest. Capstones are year-long projects, planned in advance, with the goal of planning, executing, and evaluating a current real-world problem in a field of interest. This involves interacting with working professionals and scholars in the field of study. Families of students interested in the Capstone option should make an appointment with our Capstone Coordinator in the second half of 10th grade. Students may also opt to use the 12 hours per week to take up to four advanced courses in any and all subjects based on their particular goals for college placement. Students may also propose to their academic advisor a hybrid plan that allows for a mini-Capstone Project with more modest goals and some advanced Senior Electives.
Student Advisory and Counseling
Students receive a half hour of academic advising and a half hour of counseling per week on an ongoing basis. The counselor and advisor serve as a team in all areas of our students' growth at Zenith High School. Advisors and counselors act as consultants for the faculty. Thus, a counselor may push into a seminar to provide extra executive functioning support as needed. Counselors work hand-in-hand with the student life team and push into student life clubs. In this way, they act, as needed, as coaches as students develop their social and emotional intelligences. Our speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and learning specialists all work on our integrated executive functioning curriculum, co-teaching in IDEAlab, running post-secondary planning seminars for one hour each week, and providing direct instruction of study skills in WorkspOT (combined sessions of occupational therapy and speech-language therapy). They serve as special advisors for students doing Capstone projects and work hand-in-hand with a student’s Capstone advisor throughout the year.
Upper School Leadership
Brendan Buckley, MS, MA | Upper School Co-Head, Academics
Brendan Buckley was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, in a log cabin that his parents built. He left Alaska in 2000 to attend college at Harvard University, which he graduated from with a degree in Government. After a year of working in politics in Alaska, he shifted to education, and graduated from Boston University with a Master’s Degree in Secondary Social Studies Education. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governors’ University.
After completing his degree at BU, Brendan moved to Brooklyn, where he worked for the public schools, as a private tutor, and as the History and English teacher for the boys in the cast of the Broadway production of Billy Elliot. For twelve years, he had the joy of being a member of the faculty and academic leadership team at York Prep, where he served as a History Teacher, Department Chair, Dean of Curriculum, and Director of Assessment.
In his non-working time, Brendan can mostly be found wrangling his two children through the playgrounds, pools, and museums of Brooklyn. Brendan enjoys sampling the cuisine of Brooklyn with his wife, exploring his neighborhood on his bike, and swimming with the Coney Island/Brighton Beach Open Water Swim Club.
Athena Stagias, MS, CCC-SLP | Upper School Co-Head, Clinical & Chief Executive Functioning Specialist, K-12
After beginning her career treating elementary students in a NYC charter school, Athena joined Quad Prep in the summer of 2019 as a speech-language pathologist and social-cognitive therapist. She later served as Lower School Associate Clinical Director for two years, where she supported the clinical development of students in grades K–5 and helped expand key initiatives, including the school's executive functioning program, staff supervision and didactics, and the Lower School-to-Upper School transition. In 2024, Athena stepped into the role of Chief Executive Functioning Specialist and Admissions Liaison. She led the development of a comprehensive executive functioning scope and sequence across both campuses, creating curricula, classes, and trainings for the school's staff and parents. In her new role as Interim Upper School Clinical Co-Head, Athena is excited to continue supporting Upper School students as they pursue their passions and share their remarkable gifts with themselves and the wider community.
Athena earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Franklin & Marshall College and her Master of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from New York University. In pursuit of ongoing professional growth, she has completed the Certificate in Meeting the Needs of Twice-Exceptional Children program and many professional courses in Language, Learning, and Executive Functioning.
Outside of work, Athena enjoys Broadway shows, cheering for the Yankees, and traveling with her husband and son.
Sheila Nixdorf | Associate Upper School Head, Academics and Science Department Chair and High School Advisory Coordinator
Sheila Nixdorf brings nearly a decade of education experience to Quad Prep, where she has been a Head Biology Teacher since joining the team in the Summer of 2021. Originally from Massachusetts, Sheila earned her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Boston College, where she also attended as an undergraduate, studying Secondary Education and Biology. Prior to Quad Prep, Sheila taught a variety of science courses at public and private schools in the Greater Boston area before moving to New York City.
While at Quad Prep, Sheila has brought her love of science into the classroom—educating students in courses such as Biology, AP Biology, Forensic Science, and Zoology. In addition to her course load, Sheila has been a driving force in the science department, organizer of the annual STEM Exhibition while serving as Science Department Lead, now Department Chair, and pushed forward our exciting science lab renovations. She has also served as Coordinator of our Zenith Academic Advising Program, where she doubles as an academic advisor herself.
Outside of work, Sheila is an amateur florist, avid reader, and cooking enthusiast. She loves walking her (famous to students) dog, Huck, to the local Brooklyn Farmers Markets to sample what’s in season.
Kirstin Spielman, MEd | Upper School Dean of Students
Kirstin Been Spielman has been an educator, school leader, coach, and counselor; has held leadership roles in New York City independent schools, public schools, and summer camps for over three decades; and has extensive clinical experience treating clients at The Center for Educational and Psychological Services operated by Teachers College, Columbia University.
Kirstin’s expertise in navigating the academic and social challenges of school provides her with a unique perspective on a student’s daily life. She works collaboratively with faculty, administrators, and parents to create actionable strategies and initiatives that ensure student success at school, at home, and in their social and emotional functioning.
Kirstin holds a BA from Connecticut College and an EDM in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University Teachers College.
Alberto Bassi-Smith, MA, MEd | Director of Experiential and Global Learning & World Languages Department Chair
Alberto joined Quad Prep in 2014, and he developed its first curriculum for foreign languages. Alberto is also a member of the World Leadership Council, which provides a regular forum for world language educators and administrators to discuss and share their questions, concerns, and suggestions with the New York State Education Department.
In Italy, he received a BA in Liberal Arts and an MA in History of Italian Theater and Events Management. Before moving to the United States, Alberto worked as a producer for his theater company, which staged Italian literature masterpieces for middle and high schools. When he moved to NYC, his love for sharing his culture and language combined with his interest in pedagogy pushed him to earn his second MEd in Adolescent Education at Hunter College, where he received the Teaching Award in Romance Languages and the Distinction in Graduate Studies Award. Currently, Alberto is furthering his education in the Educational Leadership program at SUNY Fredonia, driven by his desire to have a broader impact on students' educational experiences.
Before arriving at Quad Prep, Alberto worked with several private language schools where he taught both adults and teenagers. He firmly believes that learning a language must incorporate group interaction that sparks the interest of the students while instilling love and respect for other cultures and nationalities, and consequently creating a sense of community.
Lisa Marfleet | Director of College Counseling, Cloverleaf Program
Since joining the team in 2018, Lisa, in addition to her current role as Director of College Counseling, has filled several other roles including Director of Talent Development and Upper School Coordinator for Community Partnerships. Lisa brings over 25 years of educational consulting and college counseling experience to Quad Prep. As a member of Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), her background and focus has been dedicated to supporting students from non-traditional educational backgrounds as they transition to higher education. Helping to provide access to underrepresented students is at the heart of the work she has done for decades and has been instrumental in our mission to help students embark on their chosen futures. Lisa's varied background in arts and education has included work as an NYC public school teacher, humanities tutor, educational consultant, college advisor, fiction writer, literary editor, talent agent and film casting director.
FAQs
How does Quad Prep support gifted, twice-exceptional students in High School?
Our High School program for gifted, twice-exceptional students retains our hallmark personalization and flexibility to allow all students to grow in their unique academic gifts. Our High School faculty includes experts in a rich array of subjects, ensuring our students are met with encouragement, enthusiasm, and guiding expertise as they explore challenging questions about their niche interests.
What makes Quad Prep’s High School different from other high schools that serve gifted, twice-exceptional students?
Gifted, twice-exceptional high school students thrive when they are challenged appropriately, supported holistically, and encouraged consistently. The synchronicity of Quad Prep’s signature 1:1 instruction, larger group-learning experiences, and out-of-class learning in the core academic areas allows for true personalized learning plans. This also aligns with how students will engage with their learning as they transition to college.
Quad Prep’s size was purposely chosen so it ensures that students have enough academic peers at their level to join them in “just right “academic groups in “just right” academic courses in each subject. And, because our belief that learning should be ceilingless guides every decision, if a student exhausts the expertise of our highly talented staff, we look outside our doors to bring in visiting faculty that can serve our students in this very high, college-level work.
Finally, we firmly believe (and 14 years of student feedback has confirmed) that building relationships with teachers during 1:1 periods is the key to all our students’ successes and their favorite part of the Quad Prep experience. We are committed to providing scheduled half-hour 1:1 tutorials with each of their seminar teachers weekly, where students are encouraged to pursue questions and areas of inquiry beyond the seminar content.
How are High School students prepared for college?
In 9th grade, students begin engaging in college preparations through our signature Cloverleaf College Counseling and Talent Development Program. This program is built around three components: college counseling, talent development, and experiential & global learning. Each student’s post-High School trajectory and plan is uniquely tailored to support the asynchronous nature of the twice-exceptional education journey.
How does Quad Prep support executive functioning and study skills in High School?
Executive functioning and study skills are fully integrated into every school day, with increased emphasis on and expectation of academic independence. As students engage in college preparations through our signature Cloverleaf College Counseling and Talent Development Program, their post-secondary passions are bolstered and their executive functioning skills are honed through bespoke, personalized plans.
What student life opportunities are available in High School?
An important component of our program for gifted, twice-exceptional high school students is student life opportunities. In Zenith High School, students have the opportunity to participate in social nights, trivia nights, movie nights, Prom, athletic teams, clubs, and more. These opportunities allow for connecting with peers, cultivating friendships over shared interests, and structured choice time.
A not-for-profit independent college preparatory school, Quad Prep’s rich and robust curriculum engages, challenges, and inspires students at all levels, K–12, through our Lower School and Upper School programs. Quad Prep does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy applies to, but is not limited to, educational policies, admission, financial consideration, hiring and employment practices, use of school facilities, athletics, and other school-administered programs.
