Secondary: 12 - 14 years
The Secondary years mark a pivotal stage of development as students seek greater independence, purpose, and connection to the world around them. At Creative Montessori School, the Secondary program is a two-year experience designed to connect rigorous academics with real-world application, project-based learning, and meaningful engagement with local and broader communities.
At this stage, Montessori education places equal emphasis on academic growth and the adolescent’s expanding worldview. Students are encouraged to explore personal interests, contribute to their community, and develop the responsibility, resilience, and skills needed to engage thoughtfully as global citizens.
The interdisciplinary curriculum integrates Mathematics, Science, and the Humanities, helping students understand how cultures and societies have developed and evolved over time. Learning is contextual and inquiry-driven, allowing students to make connections across subject areas while developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Students are given opportunities to extend core academic work through research, collaboration, and planned outings that bring learning into real-world settings. To support independence and strong interpersonal relationships, students take on meaningful roles and responsibilities within the Secondary program and the broader CMS community. These experiences foster leadership, accountability, and confidence as students prepare for the next stage of their educational journey.
Parents frequently observe important growth during the Secondary years, including:
- Increased confidence, independence, and self-awareness
- Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- A growing sense of responsibility and leadership
- Deeper engagement with academic work through real-world connections
- Readiness — academically, socially, and emotionally — for high school
“The environment must be rich in motives which lend interest to activity and invite the child to conduct his own experiences.” -- Maria Montessori
Toddler
18 months - 3 years
Toddler classrooms at CMS are nurturing and stimulating environments where young children learn through all their senses and begin to develop an interest in exploring the world around them.
Primary
3 - 6 years
In a Primary classroom, the mixed age groups afford the older children the chance to serve as leaders in the classroom, and provide examples for the younger children to learn from and to model in a social and academic setting.
Lower Elementary
6 - 9 yearsIn Lower Elementary classrooms, mixed-age learning encourages curiosity, collaboration, and growing independence, allowing children to build strong academic foundations while learning from and alongside their peers in a supportive community.
Upper Elementary
9 - 12 yearsIn Upper Elementary classrooms, students take on greater ownership of their learning, developing leadership, critical thinking, and confidence as they prepare for the increased responsibility and independence of adolescence.
Secondary
12 - 14 yearsThe Secondary program connects academics to real-world experiences, empowering adolescents to think critically, explore personal interests, and grow into confident, responsible, and engaged learners.