High School Counseling

Burke's views high school placement as the capstone of the Upper School experience.

The placement process - through which the Burke's mission truly comes to fruition -- begins with an informational meeting in the spring of seventh grade and culminates when girls enroll in high school in the spring of eighth grade and parents are invited to a panel presentation by alumnae parents on the transition to high school. Families work in close partnership with Lisa Spengler, Burke's High School Counselor, to determine the next best place for each of our eighth graders.

Individual "fit" is our goal. We support each member of the eighth grade class-athlete, artist, gardener, leader, reader, performer, or simply teenager--in understanding who she is as a student and a young woman in order to better understand what she is looking for in a high school. The 45 girls of the Class of 2009 will move on to 15 different high schools, both private and public schools, both boarding and day.

On this page, you will find links to Ms. Spengler's Monday Note to 8th grade parents, posted weekly during the fall and early winter, as well as downloadable resources, a Day School page and a Boarding School page containing invitations and information submitted by schools.