Grades
6–8
Class Size
Small cohort model
Schedule
Mix of on-campus and off-campus days
Outdoors
Regular fieldwork & adventure-based exploration
Learning
Project-based, real-world learning
Support
Advisory & mentorship
Middle school has always been a big moment.
Kids are changing fast. How they think, how they move, how they see themselves and the world. They’re starting to notice what pulls them in and what matters to them.
What’s changed is the pressure to keep up.
To move faster. To do more. To stay on track. All at a time when kids actually need space to slow down, to go deeper, and to figure out who they are becoming.
We believe giving kids space is the real flex.
The kind of space that allows for focus, follow-through, and real challenge.
Middle school doesn’t have to be something kids power through.
It can be a time to discover what matters to you and start learning how to use it in the world.
Keeping up isn’t the goal. Growing well is.
How Learning Happens
Challenge and care, in equal measure.
Integrated, Real-World Learning
Learning comes to life through projects, studios, and service work that connect ideas across subjects and ask students to apply what they know.
Time to Go Deep
We prioritize depth over speed, giving students the time to think hard, revise thoughtfully, and produce meaningful work.
Learning in Motion
Learning happens on the move and out in the world, where bodies, brains, and place all shape how understanding takes hold.
Autonomy with Support
Students are trusted with real responsibility, with teachers nearby to guide, challenge, and support along the way.
Balance is created through strong relationships and intentional support, helping students find the opportunity in every challenge and every success.
“Making the move to Roots has been life changing for our child/family. In public school, our daughter felt tremendous academic and social pressure, anxiety and fear. She completely shut down. At Roots, she shows up every day as her truest self and she is embraced and celebrated for her kindness, imagination and quirks. Because of this amazing school, she has grown into a confident, empowered learner and community member.”
Sarah, 6th Grade Parent
Advisory
Nobody gets lost in the middle.
Advisory is a consistent touch point where relationships, care, and support come together with intention. In small groups with a consistent adult, students explicitly build executive function and social-emotional skills like planning, reflection, collaboration, and self-regulation.
Advisors help students stay grounded, navigate real challenges, and grow into greater independence with care, clarity, and high expectations.
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Educators are skilled guides in executive function, intentionally teaching and reinforcing the skills students need to plan, focus, adapt, and follow through.
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Social and emotional development is foundational to learning and mental health, shaping how students show up, connect, and grow each day.
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Each student has a trusted adult who helps them reflect, set goals, and make sense of challenges and successes along the way.
A Day in the Life of Our Oldest Learners
Growing into What’s Next
Middle school at Roots is designed with the long view in mind. Students leave with strong academic foundations, along with the confidence, self-knowledge, and skills they need to navigate what comes next in school and in life.
Milestones
These experiences are designed to honor and acknowledge growth — over the course of a year and across a student’s time at Roots.
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