Middle School

In Middle School, our first priority is to support our students on their journey from childhood to young adulthood, with all the joys, frustrations, complexities and accomplishments that come with it. In this close-knit community, each girl is encouraged to develop a sense of her unique strengths as she masters complex new intellectual, emotional, social and physical skills.

We believe that Middle School should be a time of spontaneity and exuberance, encountering adversity and exploring avenues to overcome it. We see this period as an essential moment for guidance from cherished adults, forging lifelong connections with new and old friends, and instilling a deep and unquenchable love of learning.

Our Middle School program embraces a student’s freedom to ask questions and not always have the answer, to experience the delight of discovery through process and to challenge her own thinking and that of her peers. As our students grow, so do their responsibilities and independence, all in preparation for the challenges and demands of the Upper School.

Tim BrownellHead of Middle School Student Life

An Education for the Future, Grounded in Tradition

During Middle School, students transition from the playfulness of preadolescence to a more purposeful and scholarly life—all in a nurturing and supportive environment. Grounded firmly in the liberal arts, the curriculum is rigorous yet accessible. English classes tackle universal themes in classics like The Odyssey and Great Expectations, while developing skills in a modern language of their choice before bolstering it with Latin. Technology is also an integral part of Middle School, with computational thinking classes, including robotics or coding, required most years.

Speaking Your Mind; Finding Your Voice

Middle School is a time for students to find inner confidence, develop their own point of view and learn to express themselves in a thoughtful and respectful manner. From weekly community meetings where students present to their peers, to moments of expression through music, art and drama, to public speaking courses for all of Class VII and VIII, Middle Schoolers begin to unlock the power of their voices while learning to listen intently and purposefully to others.

Unplugging to Connect

In Middle School we choose to use technology deliberately, maximizing its benefits while minimizing the opportunities for its distractions. Students are taught how to be good digital citizens while navigating the pitfalls and promises of social media, and they are provided multiple opportunities to take a break from technology during the school day and even at home. In our widely popular Digital Fresh Start program, students pledge to put down their phones and limit their exposure to social media. Parents are given tools to support their daughters when they choose to do a digital detox, as part of a division-wide initiative on improving mental health.

A Community Where Everyone Belongs

Middle School is a time at Brearley when students begin to develop a greater sense of their own identity while learning to value each other. They are taught to affirm and uplift each other, to listen intently and deeply, and to have respectful conversations across differences. From our numerous affinity groups and clubs, to health and wellness classes and peer-led groups, Middle School students are given abundant opportunities to grow socially and emotionally, ultimately preparing them to be part of a community of mutual concern and support.