7th-9th Grade
Designed for students spanning 7th, 8th, and 9th grades, this program continues building on the foundation laid in the previous Wheaton Montessori School years and introduces new aspects to challenge young adults’ rapid intellectual, social, and emotional growth. The program is structured to ensure that students encounter all components of the curriculum and overarching themes throughout their three-year tenure.
Experiential Learning and Student Empowerment
The Adolescent Community’s educational approach is focused on experiential learning and encourages students to take ownership of their education. By providing adolescents with the tools and guidance they need to pursue their goals, the program empowers students to be confident, capable adults who know their wants and needs and are equipped to make positive contributions to society.
The program has an integrated project-based curriculum in which classroom subjects are approached as interrelated and taught in an interconnected manner. As students study math, economics, science, humanities, language, and writing, they are simultaneously exposed to real-world issues and challenges, refining their problem-solving skills. Group activities such as sledding, ice skating, canoeing, and hiking help develop agility and strength as well as a sense of fun and confidence in meeting physical challenges.
Evolving into Joyful, Successful, and Confident Adults through This Program
One of the key developmental experiences of adolescents is working toward economic independence. This is fostered through systems of production and exchange where students learn how to start and manage their own small business. The program teaches vital skills such as bookkeeping, budgeting, purchasing, design, advertising, conducting surveys, research, writing proposals, and interviewing experts. These lessons instill critical values such as responsibility and the significance of hard work.
Beyond intellectual development, the classroom environment of the Adolescent Program supports the well-rounded social development of all students. This includes practice in social organization and division of labor through various experiences including cooking a community lunch every day and planning camping trips. The program guides students to become active citizens and fully informed problem-solvers. Students completing 9th grade in this program emerge as confident, well-adjusted, and happy, incredible adults.
It’s truly inspiring to observe how the Wheaton Montessori School Adolescent Program provides the ideal setting for students to expand their knowledge and experience real-world responsibilities while exploring their interests and pursuing their passions in an inclusive, supportive small environment.
We invite current families to sign up for our Parent Discovery Night in our Adolescent Community on Wednesday, February 5 at 6:00 p.m. by clicking on this link. Adolescent Community Classroom is also available for observation which you can sign up for by clicking on this link.
Prospective families with toddlers and children under 4 are encouraged to sign up for a school tour to explore the advantages of our programs, which lay the essential foundation for our Elementary and Adolescent Community Programs. Priority enrollment will be granted to those who enroll before March 15. Our waitlist for kindergarten-9th grade for Fall 2025 is currently closed. Please check back in April to see if the waitlist is open then. Individual tours will only be offered for kindergarten through 9th grade if the waitlist is open.
