Setting the Foundation

Setting the foundation for academic work in Upper School and beyond, the Middle School program helps students develop effective organization, study and time management skills in a supportive yet challenging environment. Students are empowered to self-advocate and seek support with teachers who encourage open discourse. Providing Middle Schoolers with opportunities to build self-awareness and gain ownership of their academic personas, teachers give students increased responsibility in their academic work and expect them to lead their mid-year parent/teacher conference—providing an overview of areas where they have achieved success and need development.

Building self-confidence is supported through the integrated Life Skills program and myriad academic support structures. With a curriculum that encourages intellectual risk taking, students are regularly expected to make presentations, articulate their thoughts, listen to differing opinions, and factually defend their positions. This type of learning environment prepares our students to be both thought leaders and effective collaborators.

Key’s close-knit community also provides a safe and enriching environment during the sometimes tumultuous Middle School years. Key teachers really know the students well and enjoy a respectful rapport with them. Academic advisors are both advocates for and caretakers of our students, taking care of them personally and socially, and guiding their ethical development. With a Mission that values sensitivity to others, empathy and kindness are important tenets of life in the Middle School and create a cohesive environment where cliques are not an acceptable norm—by students or adults.