Research shows that middle school years are when students begin to form their academic identities and goals, and our mission is to help them set that bar high. Our academic approach incorporates student-centered learning, collaboration, writing across the curriculum, time management skills, and learning by doing. The outcome is a community of able and inquisitive students who participate enthusiastically in their own education, and are ready to take on high school.

If you have questions about our academic curriculum, please contact Director of Middle School Admission, Allison Marsland.

Students investigate topics and conduct experiments over one month, then share their findings with an audience of families and the larger Williston community. The much-anticipated evening lets students develop their presentation skills and learn more about self-directed independent research.

Each spring, our Latin students attend Classics Day at the University of Massachusetts. Students participate in poetry recitations, create classical artwork, and compete in a trivia certamen that tests their knowledge of Latin, mythology, and classical culture.

Our public-speaking curriculum culminates in the spring with this rite of passage, when every student prepares and delivers a five-minute speech in front of the whole Middle School on a topic of their choosing.

At the start of each school year, we place every student in a small group of peers, led closely by a faculty member who gets to know each child well. These advisory groups are the cornerstone of our support system. They meet regularly for community-building activities, academic consultation, conversation—and breakfast pastries!

After being assigned a tree on campus, students provide seasonal observations and growth data to the Harvard Forest Schoolyard Long-Term Ecological Research Project. They then analyze the data set to determine the patterns and changes in growth habits over time.

A constellation of support, our Center for Academic Success provides students at every level with the resources, instruction, and academic support they need to succeed. We offer levels of support for every kind of learner, ranging from drop-in writing and math centers to a structured Academic Strategies Tutorial.

Students with a passion for reading can participate in a book club that meets throughout the year—including the summer! Students in the club meet during lunch for discussions about the books, including young adult staples like S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders.

In the fall, both grades visit these two renowned art museums as part of our fine arts curriculum. Working with the museums’ education coordinators, students learn observation skills, and a background in both traditional and contemporary art.

Our annual day set aside for programming on identity, Why Not Speak Day is a time to speak truthfully, listen intently, learn modestly, and engage respectfully. Students, faculty, and guest speakers lead workshops starting meaningful conversations to help students grow their perspectives.