Our Middle School Students Are...

What do our students say about their Butler Montessori experience?

It's more than school, it's a community and a home. It's a safe space to learn and grow during the adolescent years. It's where school doesn't feel like school and every day is different. The lessons learned here build the foundation for life beyond school.

Not Your "Average" Middle School or Private School

Never a boring day on our student-run organic farm! Our students learn how to create, market, and sell products through our robust Micro-Economy program.  

Science

The Science program is interdisciplinary, covering topics across Earth, Life, and Physical Sciences. Whenever possible, these concepts are connected to our student farm so students can see the practical value of what they are learning. Through hands-on experiences, our students make connections between scientific concepts and the natural world, using the farm and campus as a living classroom to deepen their understanding of science.

Topics in the science program may include Ecology and Evolution, Chemistry in the Kitchen, Animal Behavior, Dynamics of Flight, Simple Machines, Geology & Soil Studies, and more.

Language Arts 

A strong emphasis on reading and writing is particularly important in the adolescent years.

Students learn how to express themselves creatively through poetry, short stories, skits, and speeches. They also practice expository and analytical writing in research essays, position papers, and lab reports. Following the writing process, from brainstorming to editing, is highly emphasized as all forms of writing are integrated across the disciplines.

Students read and analyze a variety of texts, including both fiction and nonfiction. They also cement their grammar and vocabulary skills through studies of Classical Roots.

Humanities

Students immerse themselves in topics such as Government and Civics, Immigration, Women's History, the Ancient World, World Religions, War and Peace, and more.

These topics are brought to life as students engage in debates, elections, speeches, field trips, research papers, document-based questions, seminar discussions, presentations, and more.

The program prepares adolescents for further areas of study and fosters lifelong skills of communication, confidence, and a deep passion for learning.

Math

The underlying aim of mathematics is to challenge students in mathematical thinking, understanding, and problem-solving at levels appropriate to individual students.

Student work includes lessons from age-appropriate Montessori materials, textbooks, individual projects, group projects, tests, and note-taking. During their time in the program, students progress naturally through topics in pre-algebra, algebra, and geometry, preparing them well for further studies of mathematics.

Spanish

The Spanish program provides students with a strong foundation to continue learning the language throughout their lives. Students build their vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills through meaningful, everyday experiences at school and in real-world contexts such as a 9th-year trip to Puerto Rico.

Whether preparing Community Lunch, playing games, or participating in class activities, students regularly use Spanish in different contexts, making language learning practical and engaging.

Theatre Arts 

Exposure to theatre is essential in adolescent development, as it enables students to express themselves creatively, step outside their comfort zones, foster confidence and empathy, and collaborate as a team. Intermediate students work on every aspect of their annual production throughout the whole year, whether they choose to be cast members, student stage managers, or designers of lights, sound, props, backdrops, sets, and costumes. This creates a sense of community responsibility and gives students a sense of ownership and pride in their individual contributions, building confidence as well as creative skills as they see their efforts pay off.

Music 

Students gain music theory knowledge that can translate to practical skills. Using both analog and digital means of creation, students learn the basics of melody, harmony, lyrics, and orchestration through the lens of original composition, allowing them to apply this knowledge to their own unique voices and preferred musical styles. Students also apply these skills to choral and theatrical performances for both the school and the wider community!

Visual Arts 

Students enjoy a dedicated visual arts class that exposes them to the Elements of Art, Principles of Design, and the different media used to create art. Students build the foundational skills needed to excel in more complex and intricate forms of art and learn about a variety of diverse artists. Students follow their interests to design and implement their own art projects using different artistic forms such as ceramics, paper mache, drawing, painting, and more.

Physical Education (PE)

Students in the Intermediate Program enjoy a wide and unique variety of physical outlets. Students have the opportunity to fully use the 22-acre campus, including facilities for ropes courses, archery, hiking, and more. From classes in wilderness survival skills and recreational tree climbing, to teambuilding and physical fitness, there's nothing boring about this PE program!

Organic Farm & Micro-Economy

Through the Micro-Economy and student-run Organic Farm, our students not only learn to run a small business and develop financial literacy skills, but they also develop a connection with the earth. Students raise chickens, geese, and goats, grow vegetables and herbs, and produce items such as homemade breads, cookies, sauces, and more. These items may be purchased by parents and staff every week at the Intermediate Farm Market.

From planting seeds or tending chickens to researching composting stations and implementing sustainability practices, our students are environmental leaders ready to change the world.

Summer Intermediate

The Intermediate Summer Program offers rising 7th, 8th, and 9th-year students the opportunity to learn the routines of the Intermediate Program, develop leadership skills, and contribute to the student-run Micro-Economy through their work on the Intermediate Farm. During each student's required 2-week rotation, they create strong bonds with their classmates that last throughout the year.

Travel & Culture

During their time in the Intermediate, students travel to different locations, including New York City, California, Wyoming, Washington, and more. These trips are tied to what the students learn in the classroom, ultimately culminating in a weeklong Culture, Science, and Peace Study trip each spring. 9th-year students, the oldest in the class, have a special opportunity to travel to Puerto Rico for a week to study marine biology and to practice Spanish immersion.

Students embark on other trips throughout the year, including camping and backpacking trips, a fully student-planned City Study in Washington, DC, local community service opportunities, and more.

Self-Expression Learning

Self-Expressions include a two-hour class each week with a small group of students. In these intensive courses, students experiment with different forms of creative and physical outlets, each guided by an expert. Examples of projects in Self-Expression courses include taking and editing photos in Photography, designing and sewing an outfit in Fashion Design, experimenting with stop-motion animation in Filmmaking, learning about natural dyes in Printmaking, and more!