Middle school
7th - 8th grade
Our Montessori middle school program is a safe, supportive, inspiring, and academically challenging learning environment where students can be themselves, speak their minds, develop strong friendships, and learn to work effectively with others. Our students challenge themselves academically as they continue the Montessori emphasis on exploring new concepts in creative ways, entrepreneurship, setting goals, planning ambitious projects, and self-reflection.
How will your student benefit from Montessori middle school?
The Montessori approach for middle school emphasizes collaboration, big projects, self-direction, community engagement, and an entrepreneurial mindset as your student learns and grows.
Executive functioning skills
The Montessori approach offers your child an organic framework intentionally structured to build the skills that lead to both success and happiness in life: self-direction, planning, organization, concentration, goal-setting, delayed gratification, persistence, adaptable thinking, problem-solving, and more.
Real-world collaboration skills
Your student will collaborate on big projects, lead whole-school events, and access community resources as they pursue their own passion projects. These crucial skills remain with your student, bolstering their academic life, relationships, and career.
Individual identity
Areas of learning are integrated and skills developed in one area support your student's learning in another. Our prepared middle school environment is inspirational and offers a structure that allows them to drive their own learning, pursue mastery, and go farther and deeper into areas that interest them.
Integrated learning
Areas of learning are integrated and skills developed in one area support your student's learning in another. Our prepared middle school environment is inspirational and offers a structure that allows them to drive their own learning, pursue mastery, and go farther and deeper into areas that interest them.
Our middle school classroom
Our middle school classroom is a safe and welcoming setting for building friendships, exploring interests, and embracing challenges - a home base for guided exploration of the world beyond the classroom.
Flexible work areas
Mimicking collaborative office environments, students may access the in-class computer lab, library meeting area, table seating, or desk seating, depending on their needs and preferences for any given work.
Dedicated spaces
Students may access dedicated spaces throughout the school for computer programming, theatre, music, art, and outdoor project work as needed.
Community access
Our nearby community is a safe neighborhood, offering walking access to family-run restaurants, small businesses, parks, and green spaces. We use our school vans to access further resources in Southern California for field trips or student-led outings for research or other project work.
Inspiring Curriculum
Our middle school curriculum allows your student to go far beyond state requirements, focusing on deep understanding of concepts along with hands-on application of essential knowledge and skills. Ownership over learning and inspiring lessons work together to encourage your student to pursue mastery.
Core Montessori Program
Cultural program
We encourage your student's creativity in all areas! Our facilities include a school library, teaching kitchen, wood shop, art studio, theater, and computer lab. Students enjoy field trips, as well as on-site or coordinated extracurricular options in yoga, cooking, Spanish, science, art, music, Tae Kwon Do, and more.
Beyond the classroom
Yearly, your middle schooler will participate in off-site experiences, fundraising for their 10-day extended trip, and a variety of projects.
Field Trips
Off-site field trips supplement your student's learning
Overnight trips to places such as Joshua Tree, Julian, and Big Bear build your student's confidence and knowledge of the world around them
10-day extended trip to a studied destination such as Europe, China, Peru, Egypt, Costa Rica, Alaska, the Grand Canyon, or other inspiring location
Inspiring Projects
Your student will learn to manage projects requiring planning and creativity, as they take in information and present learning in their chosen format
Deep dives into areas of study that they are passionate about harness your student's enthusiasm and interest
Projects may take your student off campus to research, interview an expert, or explore a relevant resource
Fundraisers
Middle schoolers run fundraising activities with real-world impact, earning funds for their 10-day trip
Your student will learn the essentials of entrepreneurism, from creating a business plan to marketing and testing an idea
Students participate in large-scale fundraising events that engage the entire Montessori on the Lake community, including pancake breakfasts, book fairs, coffee stands, bake sales, and kids' nights out
