Honors College

The intersection of passion and empathy.

Vision

The Tad Bird Honors College is a four-year cohort-based Upper School program focused on developing students’ ability to grapple with complex questions through inquiry-based learning, community-focused projects and seminar-style discussions. TBHC students are curious, passionate, engaged and collaborative.

Honors College Coursework

Honors College Biology: Inquiry & Analysis

Honors College English II

Junior Honors Thesis

Full-Year, 1 credit; required for Honors College members and open to all All Saints' juniors in good standing via application process
Students pursue scholarly inquiry about a topic or issue of personal interest using qualitative, quantitative or mixed-method research. Students synthesize high-level scholarship, conduct original study, and write and defend a comprehensive, polished thesis.

Senior Capstone Project

Full-Year; required for Honors College members and open to other Seniors who successfully completed Junior Honors Thesis
Building on their Junior Honors Thesis, students conduct either extensive empathy work with an organization aligning with their topic of study, or can establish an internship or laboratory experiment with an outside expert. Student work will remain focused on civic engagement while constructing a product or outcome to meet community needs for years to come.

Application Cycle, 2025-26

Student Info Sessions

Current and prospective All Saints' students in Grade 8 are invited to learn more about the Tad Bird Honors College at one or more of the sessions below.

Monday, January 12, 2026 @ 6:15 p.m. - Upper School Richardson Library
Wednesday, January 14, 2026 @ 12:45 p.m. - Williamson Reading Room

Attend a Student Info Session

PArent Info Sessions

Parents of current and prospective All Saints' students in Grade 8 are invited to learn more about the Tad Bird Honors College at one or more of the sessions below. All sessions take place in the Williamson Reading Room at All Saints' Episcopal School.

Monday, January 12, 2026 @ 6:15 p.m.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026 @ 8:00 a.m. (Updated time)

Attend the Parent Info Session

Application Deadline

January 23, 2026

Apply Now

Group Interviews

January 28-30, 2026

Individual Interviews

February 2-13, 2026

Decision Notifications

March 13, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Tad Bird Honors College different from other honors colleges?

The focus of the Tad Bird Honors College is not on content mastery and high grades; the focus is on skill development, cross-cultural competancy, and student-owned learning. The collaborative projects and round table discussions center on actively engaging complex ideas, devising solution and communicating effectively. Many Honors College students take ‘honors’ level classes during their Upper School experience for the added rigor and positive connotations on transcripts, but this has no relationship to the student's standing in the Honors College.

What are Honors College courses like?

What does the Honors College look for in applicants?

Honors College admissions is a holistic process that takes into account personal reflective essays, group and individual interviews, teacher recommendations, and traditional ‘data’ like grades and test scores to build a cohesive cohort with the abilities, skills, and mindsets necessary to create a dynamic experience for all students involved in the program.

The typical successful applicant exhibits the following qualities:

A willingness to use his or her imagination and envision what could be
A desire to understand the human condition and empathize with others
A growth mindset about his or her own, and others’, abilities
A spirit of collaboration inside and outside the classroom
An ability and desire to tackle complex, long-term projects
A high character that aligns with All Saints' values

Cohort groups typically are composed of 14 to 16 students, and the average number of applications over the past few years has been 30+.

If my student does not want to participate in the Humanities-centric Ninth and 10th Grade coursework, can he/she join the Honors College later?

Hear From Our Students

Aubrey Tyson '23

“I have been able to think in a different way that I haven’t learned in other classes. The skills that I learned in the Honors College are definitely applicable in other classes, jobs, college and the future. JHT has really taught me to be a better writer, researcher, and I had to push myself to interview people that I didn’t know and that was really scary at the time, but I’m really glad that I had the experience cause I feel much more prepared for college, job interviews and generally my future.”

Jake Milliken '23

“I chose the Tad Bird Honors College because it’s the program to help you best prepare you for college, especially with Junior Honors Thesis. The most helpful part of the program has been having multiple teachers in one room so that I was able to get a lot of different advice.”

Cara Edmonds '23

“I chose the Tad Bird Honors College because I’ve been able to do the projects and work based on my own interests. Hands down, the skill that I have most improved on is my public speaking skills.”

Riley Davis '23

“I chose the Honors College because I wanted something that differs from the norm. I wanted to engage in critical thinking and collaborative communication. I learned how to manage major projects like Junior Honors Thesis and Senior Capstone effectively.”

Leadership

Dr. Will Matsuzaki, Upper School Division Head, Director of Tad Bird Honors College

Profe Leslie Cox, Associate Director of Tad Bird Honors College

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