Why Choose Middle School at OWS?

List of 5 items.

• We understand giftedness

  Our teachers are experts in designing intellectually rigorous experiences that keep gifted learners engaged and growing. Our program is academically accelerated. Gifted students learn quickly, so faculty can move beyond basic concepts and offer real depth: asking students to think critically, solve complex problems, and make meaningful connections across disciplines. At the same time, we understand that giftedness often comes with asynchronous development, and emotional intensities. That’s why our approach balances high expectations with high support.

• Real-world learning is central

  Open Window School students are active doers. During their time in our middle school, they are encouraged to ask questions, and put their theories to the test. Whether it’s launching a science project to the International Space Station or using mathematics to design and build to-scale models of food trucks, students solve real world problems, engineering their ideas into reality.  

• Leadership is fundamental

  At Open Window School, Middle School students are the leaders on campus. They plan and run assemblies. They create and lead clubs that reflect their passions, from robotics to a monthly student newspaper. Older students support younger peers through a robust peer-buddy program that runs across grade levels. They model kindness and inclusion, and they learn to notice who might be on the edges, then invite them in.

• Students have voice and choice

  We teach advocacy as a set of concrete skills, then create daily opportunities to practice. In advisory and core classes, students learn to listen with care, ask strong questions, use evidence, and propose solutions that serve the community. Open Window students learn how to speak up, and back it up. They write persuasive letters, design petitions, and present well-reasoned proposals to everyone from local leaders to school administrators.

• Our graduates are ready

  Our students are well prepared for a wide range of high schools and top-tier universities. They often have many options for high school, and are sought after by the nation’s most prestigious boarding schools. Schools seek them out because they are strong scholars and leaders who also bring the skills to navigate high school with confidence, including time management, self-advocacy, collaboration, and resilience.