Curriculum
Preschool
The Mountain Academy Preschool program for children ages three to five empowers children to construct their own learning. We encourage students to practice physical and cognitive skills through problem solving, teamwork, exploration and creative expression. Students learn to excel as critical thinkers and collaborators in order to prepare them for a lifelong love of learning. Parents receive daily documentation to show the progress we are making in our classrooms.
Lower School
As students transition from Pre-K to elementary school, the Mountain Academy lower school continues focusing on learner-centered education to allow children’s ideas and interest to drive the curriculum. We focus on the growth of each student as an individual, recognizing strengths and areas of need, which can then be addressed specifically in one-on-one or small group settings. Lower school students go on trips into their local and regional communities to learn about these places through economic, ecological and social lenses. We integrate social-emotional learning and character development with academics, encouraging students to practice conflict management skills and take responsibility for their behavior through self-governance.
Middle School
The Mountain Academy middle school program focuses on pairing essential academic skills with authentic, real-world learning. We take an interdisciplinary approach to learning, which results in deeper engagement and more “sticky” learning experiences for students. In everything we do, we incorporate social-emotional learning to give students the skills and habits they need to become the person they want to be. Our learning environment encourages conflict management, problem solving, critical thinking and self-governance. The middle school experience culminates in a capstone trip with eighth graders from both campuses.
Upper School
The Mountain Academy upper school program is housed on the Jackson Campus. Our small class sizes allow students and teachers to work closely to develop an academic path tailored to each individual student’s needs. Mountain Academy upper school students are encouraged to pursue their interests, which can take root in the form of an internship, volunteer work with a local nonprofit or more rigorous academic coursework. We offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, which aims to develop students who have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge, in grades 11 and 12. Students graduate with the social, emotional and academic skills necessary to thrive in college and beyond.
