EDUCATIONAL APPROACH
Our approach is grounded in the progressive education movement of the late 19th century, which emphasizes educating the whole child – their physical, emotional, and intellectual selves.
As a laboratory for collaborative, inquiry-based learning, we believe in the power of relationships. Together, we practice the skills of participation in a democratic community, including listening, self-expression, problem solving, and community care.
EARLY CHILDHOOD
NURSERY 3s, PRE-K, AND KINDERGARTEN
Even the youngest children are included in High Meadow’s community culture. Through observation and documentation, educators identify personalized approaches to supporting children’s growth and relationships. Open-ended play is balanced with project-based learning in a warm, family-like setting.
LOWER SCHOOL
FIRST THROUGH FIFTH GRADE
In the Lower School, we move from a focus on the natural processes of learning to a more structured, inquiry-based approach. Reading, writing, and math become tools children use to learn about the world and what matters to them.
As students grow into skills of research, inquiry, and knowledge sharing, we continue to prioritize emotional well-being and respectful community building as the center of all of our work.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
SIXTH THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE
Reconsidering and redefining the concept of middle school by focusing on students as individual learners, enabling each student to achieve their full potential in a progressive educational setting. Middle school students at High Meadow School work through a three-year interdisciplinary learning cycle. They use thematic lenses to explore the social sciences and hands-on experiments to work through the New York State Science Standards. Math, ELA, and Spanish are taught in small groups, as students move through their academics at a pace that is right for them, bringing their individuality and burning questions to the forefront of their experience.
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