Academics

A University School education is aimed at nurturing and harnessing the power of children’s curiosity and creativity with the goal of developing a commitment to lifelong learning. We believe that young minds learn best when they are actively involved in initiating their education. Far from being passive recipients of knowledge, students at University School are active and engaged participants in their learning process. Teachers must be much more than purveyors of information: they must be skilled designers of learning environments and experiences constructed to maximize the student’s opportunities to explore, iterate, and arrive at meaningful understanding on their own, with as much agency and independence as possible for each developmental level.

Early Education Programs

University School has developed intentional and thoughtful school programs for our youngest students filled with experiential and hands-on learning opportunities to stimulate wonder, curiosity, and intellectual growth. Learning through both structured and unstructured play is central to their development as well: through play students learn to self-direct and self-motivate, and are allowed to give free rein to their imaginative creativity. Students learn to solve problems on their own, analyze, and collaborate with others, building confidence and their sense of belonging. Kindergarten serves as the bridge between play-based strategies and the primary grades, by adding increased amounts of direct instruction in literacy and math. With multiple teachers in each classroom, there is ample opportunity for individual and small group enrichment and attention to each child’s needs.

Primary School

The primary curriculum at University School is designed to meet the varied academic and social emotional needs of students while continuing to foster curiosity, self-management, and goal-setting. Students lay the foundations for academic excellence and develop a passion for learning through appropriately scaled challenges, striving to be the best they can be using their own unique strengths. Learning is designed to be as integrated as possible: literacy is woven across all curricular areas and students are presented with opportunities to connect their learning across disciplines. The Bridges in Mathematics program emphasizes acquiring skills and appropriate application rather than simple outcomes and frequent pre- and post-assessment ensures appropriate placement and understanding. The judicious use of digital tools allows for individualized enrichment, extension, and acceleration.

Middle School 

Middle School is a pivotal period of intellectual and personal development, and the University School curriculum asks students to creatively tackle challenges and fully engage their personal interests and passions in their academic lives through dedicated research projects. Our middle school students can be found taking appropriate academic and social risks in a safe and supportive school environment. Students delve into discrete subjects, but are continually asked to draw connections between all areas of learning. Often already lovers of reading, they learn to delve beneath the surface of what they read to enrich their simple enjoyment; they learn not only the mechanics of writing, but how to unlock the power of the written word with more detailed understanding of voice and structure. Math pathways are varied and offer many advanced options, with multiple opportunities to earn high school credit. The Core Connections math program builds a sense of agency through robust understanding of mathematics conceptually and places students in real-world collaborative situations where they must listen to and learn from each other to solve problems as a team. Science is hands-on and offers opportunities to students not usually seen outside of a high school classroom. Students have options to explore electives in areas such as computer engineering and creative writing. This dynamic school setting nurtures University School graduates to emerge as confident and well-rounded learners who know for certain that they are poised to take on bigger challenges that lie ahead.