Academics

Shared Experiences + Choices

The Middle School program focuses on assisting students to become more independent learners and offers opportunities for students to explore interests both within and outside of the classroom. In sixth grade, students change classes and navigate the campus in cohorts that are together for English, history, math, and science courses. Sixth graders also take Foundations for Learning, a co-taught course that focuses on public speaking, study skills, and computer science that create an interdisciplinary learning experience. Seventh and eighth graders have their own unique schedules, giving them more independence. Middle Schoolers have a choice of languages: Chinese, French, Spanish, or Latin. In sixth and seventh grade, they participate in rotations that expose them to visual arts, choral and instrumental music, and theater, dance, and film, and in eighth grade, they take a full-year course in one department. Physical education classes give students an opportunity to learn about specific sports and fitness techniques, such as swimming, yoga, fitness, capoeira, and self-defense.

High Challenge, High Support

According to one of our Middle School deans, “middle school is messy.” A team of teachers and deans offer feedback to help students handle academic, social, and emotional challenges that naturally arise in middle school. Students develop critical thinking and communication skills while collaborating on interdisciplinary projects. During Morning Meeting, middle schoolers get to know students from different grades and find common interests and talents. Middle School assemblies introduce them to writers, artists, performers, and activists that help them learn how to make a difference. 

Expanding Horizons

Middle School students have the opportunity to try many new experiences and explore their interests in and outside of the classroom. Students have many choices, and many will join a club, participate in an affinity group, or begin playing on an athletic team. Students engage in many different adventures during Middle School Project Week, a week during which regular classes are put on hold and students participate in cross-graded activities within and beyond New York City, snowshoeing in the White Mountains, going behind the scenes at a Broadway show, and even observing surgeons at work. Middle school is all about exploration and discovery.