Solebury's Middle School

Why the Middle School at Solebury is unique.

“The Middle School Program is like putting a big toe into high school, without the pressure.”
--Middle School Parent

ACADEMICS

These are crucial years for students academically. Middle School needs to be a bridge between the fact-based world of elementary school and the idea-based world of high school. Rather than report, they need to analyze; rather than compute, they need to solve; rather than memorize, they need to explore. This is what Middle School education is at Solebury. Projects that require students to do research, develop their own ideas and express them are a major part of the curriculum. However, these new expectations require new skills, and special attention is paid to the development of proper study and work skills. Our goal is that each student discovers what type of learner they are and what methods work best for them. We have an incredibly talented and dedicated faculty. Their knowledge, the passion they feel for their subject, and their ability to connect with Middle School students make their classes dynamic. While they love this age group, they also all teach in the upper school. Therefore, the curriculum is specifically designed in conjunction with the upper school departments. The result is that our Middle School graduates have both the knowledge base and the skills smoothly transition to, and immediately thrive in, the upper school.

TEAMWORK

For students, this means working together on a project for class, on a community service project outside of class, playing a game in gym class, or on one of our co-ed Middle School sports teams. For the adults in their lives, this means teachers working with parents to optimize each student’s academic, social, and emotional growth during this time. Direct, interpersonal contact is vital for this age group. Our size allows us to operate like a family. Core values of kindness, honesty, and fulfilling one’s responsibilities to themselves and to the group are emphasized not in the abstract, but as things to be lived and practiced. There are times where each member of the community will be the one who is needed and other times where they need others. Through our closeness, we flourish as individuals and as a group.

GUIDANCE

The middle school years are full of wonderful things – incredible curiosity, unflappable enthusiasm, and tremendous potential for growth. At the same time, it is as challenging a period of life as there is. Through consistent guidance from the faculty who serve as students’ advisors and the Middle School Director, students have multiple guides available to them. The relationships between students and faculty that are so integral a part of Solebury, creates a dynamic where students embrace this guidance and see the adults around them as allies rather than adversaries. Because of this, our students don’t simply survive these years, they excel.

“It’s wonderful how middle schoolers have the opportunity to take electives or honors/advanced classes with upper schoolers. It helps develop their maturity and reasoning skills. The clubs and after-school activities are also integrated and offer good role models for the younger kids.”
--Middle School Parent

OPPORTUNITY

Middle School students at Solebury have their own activities, but also have access to the wide array of clubs and activities of the larger school. A student with a passion, or even a glimmer of interest in an area, is therefore able to explore it at a young age. This opportunity allows them to begin to acquire a sense of who they are and the contributions they can make to the school. The result is that our Middle School graduates begin finding their niche at Solebury early on, and go on to become leaders in the community.