Welcome to Middle Years (7th and 8th grade)
Students learn from an elevated curriculum that sparks curiosity and inspires them to reach their academic potential.
St. Stephen’s has been exactly what we were hoping for in a middle years program. My son has found the curriculum both challenging and fun, and he is enjoying school more than he ever has. The smaller class sizes at St. Stephen’s allow the teachers to give each child the attention they need to progress in their studies and also to develop personal skills that I feel have been overlooked at our other schools. My son is learning organization and time management, and for the first time, I’m observing that he is self-driven in his assignments and homework. The teachers challenge the students and press them to excel but are so kind and supportive. St. Stephen’s provides a physically, mentally, academically, and spiritually nurturing environment in which my 7th grader is blossoming into a well-adjusted and competent young adult. I couldn’t be happier with our experience.
Elevated Curriculum
The Montessori Middle Years program at St. Stephen’s supports the developmental needs of our students, including opportunities for self-reflection and formulating opinions. We create an environment where students feel safe as they go through the profound physical and emotional changes that are an integral part of adolescence.
The Montessori Middle Years curriculum includes:
- Advanced Math, Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry
- Physics, Chemistry, Physical Geography, Biology, Ecology
- US History, World History, Government, World Religions, Human Geography, Economics
- Advanced Language Arts
- Health, Wellness, Study Skills, High School Readiness
- Film, Music, P.E., Robotics, Spanish, STEM in the da Vinci Lab, Visual Arts
- Micro Economy
- Daily Student-Led Community Meetings
Results Driven
Our goal is to not only prepare our students academically but also to prepare them as responsible learners who are familiar with a traditional upper-level academic environment and workload. When students graduate from our Middle Years program, they are prepared to advocate for themselves as elevated learners.
We stand side-by-side with our students in preparing them to take the next step in their educational journey. Leveraging our expertise in the high school landscape of Houston and our understanding of our students and their learning styles, we begin our high school readiness program in 6th grade.
Our 8th graders gain entrance to the top high schools in the Houston area, including the following recent admissions.
- Private High Schools: Emery Weiner School, Incarnate Word Academy, St. Francis Episcopal School, St. Pius X High School, St. Thomas High School, Strake Jesuit
- Magnet High Schools: Carnegie Vanguard High School, Energy Institute High School, Houston Academy for International Studies (HAIS), HSPVA, Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions
Class Trips and More
Students organize and actively participate in science fairs, art showcases, film festivals, student journalism, internships, community service, and leadership opportunities. Off-campus, our students practice global citizenship through class trips dedicated to scientific, historical, and cultural inquiries.
While we take learning seriously, we seriously have fun. Laughter echoes in CoHo, a learning space dedicated to Middle Years. Come join us!
Messages from Middle Years Parents
Parents of our 8th-grade alumni speak about St. Stephen’s and the Middle Years program. View the video below, which they created for families of students in the Middle Years program.