Character Education

Upper School Advisory builds on Middle School Advisory by extending the same advisory group across every academic year. This builds years-long relationships between students and their advisor, as well as an exceptionally close group of students with a shared sense of identity.

All Upper School students must prove that they are engaged with the community. However, we do not measure student impact by logging “volunteer hours.” Instead, students choose their own causes and methods of engagement, developing an authentic partnership with local organizations.

Learn more about Community Engagement

During Interim Week in the spring, Grade 11 and 12 students connect with a business, government agency, or service organization in the community for an unpaid internship. 

Upper School offers elective courses that encourage students to acquire a deeper understanding of complex social issues and develop the skills needed to promote change within their community. 

Social Justice, a popular social studies elective, focuses on topics ranging from the AIDS pandemic in Africa to homelessness in San Diego, and includes hands-on outings throughout Southern California to explore relevant social justice topics.

The Center's mission is to provide authentic experiential learning opportunities, foster leadership skills, create a culture of inclusion, and instill core ethical values to help students make a meaningful difference in the world. The Center collaborates with many departments to enrich Parker’s character education, community engagement, DEIB, global education, and other programs.