Middle School
Grades 6-8
8:00 AM - 3:15 PM
Mead’s middle school offers a safe and encouraging space for adolescents to discover and cultivate their passions through interactive, hands-on learning. As they learn to balance freedom with responsibility, students grow in independence and confidence. Through inclusive community involvement, student-led conflict resolution, restorative practices, and deep exploration of physical and creative expression, they develop both personally and socially.
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Our academic program is grounded in project-based learning and personalized inquiry, emphasizing essential skills and foundational concepts in mathematics, English language arts, science, history, and Spanish. Instruction is thoughtfully designed to cultivate critical and creative thinking while strengthening students’ abilities as communicators and collaborators.
Middle school instruction is structured in six-week cycles. Mornings are dedicated to building essential skills in English Language Arts, Mathematics, STEM, and Spanish, while afternoons provide opportunities to apply and deepen understanding through inquiry-based, project-centered learning.
Through interdisciplinary, project-based studies in language arts, science, and history, students develop critical thinking skills, refine their research and writing abilities, and learn to work collaboratively. They also take part in diverse group projects that foster creativity while introducing concepts of economic independence. At the end of a cycle of study, students participate in presentations to their peers, sharing their individual research related to the unit of study. Presentations give students an opportunity to consistently hone their public speaking skills and allow peer review and collaborative learning.
We foster a welcoming and supportive environment where adolescents can navigate the challenges and growth of early adolescence. Each student is guided by our dedicated team of middle school Guides, helping them become capable and valued members of the community. Along the way, they explore new opportunities, learn from mistakes, and discover a deeper understanding of who they are.
Beyond our Campus
We take a pedagogy of place approach to learning and constantly create new opportunities for our adolescents to engage outside the classroom.
Some of our community partners include:
Children’s Eternal Rainforest
Each year our 7th and 8th graders travel to Costa Rica’s Children’s Eternal Rainforest to study biodiversity and peace. We began this trip in February of 2020 to give our students the opportunity to use the culmination of their Montessori experience in the ultimate classroom, the dynamic rainforest of Costa Rica. During this trip our students participate in data collecting, supporting scientists and ecologists in their effort to survey and protect this incredibly diverse ecosystem.
Students also explore themes related to peace and how peace relates to biodiversity. The Children’s Eternal Rainforest (CER) is the largest privately owned track of rainforest in Costa Rica and exists because of the fundraising efforts of children all over the world. CER is managed by the Monteverde Conservation League. Visit their website to learn more or make a donation to aid in the preservation of this important landscape.