Two boys drawing with crayons, with more students behind them, surrounded by a circular frame of seeds covered in frost, and another of lettuce sprouting in a garden.

Lower School

Our lower school curriculum cultivates curiosity and inspires the imagination.

Sustaining curiosity and enthusiasm

Our curriculum is rooted in active, experiential, and meaningful academics. From woodland explorations along the Wissahickon to seeing the connections between the cultures of the world, our elementary school students are immersed in learning that enables them to become stewards of the natural world and leaders in their communities.

Lower School, In Depth

  • A young girl balancing on a ledge.

    First Grade

    We start at the beginning, by helping our youngest students to learn how to learn and nurturing their innate curiosity.

    Learn About Our First Grade
  • A young girl drawing in a main lesson book

    Second Grade

    Second Graders approach the world with excitement, making new discoveries every day.

    Learn About Our Second Grade
  • A Third Grade class, holding up muddy hands after gardening.

    Third Grade

    In Third Grade, students are developing a sense of independence. Through lessons on architecture and farming, children learn to care for themselves by understanding how people have made homes and grown food throughout history.

    Learn About Our Third Grade
  • A child is sitting at a wooden desk, drawing and writing in a notebook with a pencil. The notebook contains colorful sketches and handwritten notes. On the desk, there are various colorful school supplies, such as markers, erasers, and a cork block, with shelves holding more supplies in the background.

    Fourth Grade

    At this age, children have become proficient in the skills taught in the early grades, and are ready to jump into a more challenging curriculum.

    Learn About Our Fourth Grade
  • A girl jumping into a sandpit at an outdoor event with spectators and other children watching on green fields under a blue sky.

    Fifth Grade

    Fifth Graders have reached a high point in development: their social, intellectual, and emotional skills are growing, and they are ready for more complex, abstract lessons.

    Learn About Our Fifth Grade
  • A classroom of children seated at wooden desks, some are writing or drawing in notebooks, with textbooks and stationery on the desks. The students are paying attention, with a girl in the foreground wearing a green sweater, a pink watch, and hair clips. In the background, there are bookshelves, windows, and colorful posters on the walls.

    Continue the Journey

    Students in our Middle School take on increasingly challenging academics while continuing to enjoy the artistic experiences they know and love.

    Learn About Our Middle School