A Northfield education begins with Grammar School I, which is comparable to Grade 6. Upon completion of Grammar School III, the student moves on to Freshman through Graduate classes. The courses of study are described below; more complete course descriptions for upper school classes may be found within each academic department page.

All new students are required to sit for placement tests before being assigned a grade. Our academic year is divided into trimesters. We grade on the 1-2-3-4 scale, with 4 being the equivalent to an “A” and 1 indicating a failure to pass.

First year students at Northfield are in Grammar School I; they study the basics in Grammar, Literature and Composition, World History, General Science, and Math. These are the fundamental skills necessary to provide the foundation of a Northfield education.

Grammar School II students build on what they learned in the previous year; they study Literature and Composition II, Greek/Jewish History, Physical Science, Pre-Algebra, and Geography.

In Grammar School III, students are encouraged to more fully utilize the skills they have learned in the first two years. They study Literature and Composition III, Roman/Christian History, Geology/Astronomy, Algebra I, and Latin I.

Students in their Freshman year at Northfield School work to expand and develop their studies, which include Medieval Literature, Medieval History, Biology, Algebra II, and Latin II.

Sophomore level students find their skills challenged by broad examinations of European Literature, European History, Chemistry, Geometry, and Greek.

Juniors continue to develop in each discipline, even as they continue to seek the connections among those disciplines. They delve deep into American Literature, American History, Great Books, Advanced Biology, and Trigonometry.

Northfield Graduate students enjoy diverse opportunities, including a year-long Graduate Project of their choice. They demonstrate the best of their abilities developed over their years at Northfield in such classes as Capstone Literature, Capstone History, Advanced Chemistry, and Algebra III.

Courses for College Credit: A number of Northfield classes are available for concurrent credit through Newman University: American History (HIST 1043; 3 credit hours), American Government (PSN 1003; 3 credit hours), American Literature and Composition (ENGL 1003: College Writing I; 3 credit hours), Introduction to Chemistry (CHEM 1003; 3 credit hours), Introduction to Chemistry Lab (CHEM 1001; 1 credit hour), and Biology (BIOL 1044; 3 credit hours).

Graduation Requirements: To graduate from Northfield, students must successfully complete 144 hours, receive 306 credits, and have at least a 1.5 GPA. Students must successfully complete two years of science, including Biology and Chemistry; two years of math, including Algebra II and Geometry; three years of history; three years of Literature, Rhetoric and Composition; and three years of languages.

We strive to develop a love of learning by providing students with opportunities for learning that go beyond the classroom door. Because we believe it is important to work for others as well as for ourselves, our students participate in community service every week. We also begin and end each academic year with week-long community service projects led by faculty members.

Northfield students play competitive sports, from chess to basketball to volleyball. They play in the band, in the orchestra, they sing, they dance, they perform. They compete in academic contests. They compete in poetry contests. They drop eggs, construct robots, make films. They go to June School, they go to January School. They have a yearly formal for the upperclassmen. And they love to learn.