Common Senior Experience (CSE)

Common Senior Experience (CSE)

The Class of 2025

The Common Senior Experience (CSE) est. 2009

CSE Purpose & Social Issue

All seniors participate in a Capstone Project where they explore themes in a book addressing a significant social or global issue. For the Class of 2025, that book is Poverty By America by Matthew Desmond, a Princeton University professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Through reading and analyzing this work, students will develop compassion and gain insight into the persistent issue of poverty in the United States. Olympian High School is committed to engaging students in activities that build lifelong awareness and foster a positive school culture. We believe that in order to make the world a better place, students must work together to raise awareness of the economic disparities across America. This year’s Common Senior Experience (CSE) will challenge students to transform our school into a community that actively promotes a deeper understanding of the complexities of poverty and the economic inequities affecting millions of Americans each day.

CSE Goals

Our primary goal is to raise awareness of this important issue, though some students may also choose to raise funds for the cause. Each year, we partner with a local non-profit to support our efforts. This year, we are proud to partner with MAAC (Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee), an organization dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve economic mobility through community outreach and engagement. It is through this partnership, where Olympian seniors will develop a sense of community and become agents of positive change.

The CSE Senior Showcase

Join us on May 19, 2025, as our seniors present the results of their most impactful Common Senior Experience Capstone projects. Student-led groups will showcase cross-curricular projects they imagined, created, and implemented, demonstrating how they applied the OHS & Career Readiness Skills and the Habits of Mind. Through hard work and dedication, the Class of 2025 has come together to create this remarkable culminating Capstone Project portfolio night. Please save the date to celebrate our outstanding graduating seniors.

CSE Important Documents for Students: 

Resources