Academics at St. Stephen’s

A Montessori pathway from 15 months through 8th grade—nurturing independence, curiosity, and confidence at every stage. Explore each level below to see what learning looks like in our classrooms and how we support the whole child: academically, socially, and emotionally.

Programs

Child smiling while playing with toy construction trucks in a classroom sand tray

Orientation (15–36 months)

A joyful, nurturing beginning rooted in Montessori. Toddlers are welcomed into a peaceful, purposeful environment designed for independence and discovery. Children pour, sort, sing, and explore language; they refine their senses, build gross motor control, and practice caring for themselves and their space. Toilet learning is responsive and respectful—never rushed. A consistent rhythm includes movement, outdoor play, and restorative rest. Highlights

  • Language-rich classrooms with stories, songs, and conversation
  • Early math through hands-on discovery (counting, sorting, matching)
  • Sensorial materials to build focus and vocabulary
  • Independence in action: snack prep, hand washing, dressing
  • Respectful toilet awareness and a calm daily routine
Explore Orientation

Child working with Montessori math materials on a classroom mat

Primary (PK3–Kindergarten)

A purposeful, empowering stage rooted in curiosity and confidence. Children work with beautifully designed materials that make abstract ideas concrete. With long, uninterrupted work cycles, they develop concentration, coordination, and pride in purposeful work. Literacy grows from sound-to-symbol connections and joyful writing; math concepts unfold through hands-on exploration. Cultural studies spark wonder about the natural and human world. In the third year, Kindergarteners step into leadership. Highlights

  • Independence, grace, and care for community
  • Strong literacy foundations: phonemic awareness, writing, emergent reading
  • Math through discovery: numerals, quantity, place value, operations
  • Sensorial work that prepares the mind for reading, writing, and math
  • Cultural studies in science, geography, history, art, and music
  • Kindergarten leadership with small-group enrichment and specials
Explore Primary

Teacher helping students with classroom research and worksheets at a table

Lower Elementary (1st–3rd grade)

A dynamic stage of discovery, collaboration, and growing independence. Students begin asking big questions and managing their own work with teacher-guided plans. Literacy and writing are woven through every subject; math moves from concrete materials toward abstraction. Science and cultural studies are driven by research, experiments, and Montessori’s Great Lessons. Multi-age classrooms cultivate empathy, mentoring, and community. Highlights

  • Work plans that build executive function and ownership
  • Reading, writing, grammar, and presentation across the curriculum
  • Math: number sense, operations, fractions, geometry—concrete to abstract
  • Science & culture: botany, zoology, geology, physical science, geography, history
  • Practical life reimagined as community stewardship and collaboration
  • Class meetings for problem-solving and respectful dialogue
Explore Lower Elementary

Child writing beside a laptop at a classroom table

Upper Elementary (4th–6th grade)

A time of ownership, inquiry, and meaningful challenge. Students manage personalized calendars and take responsibility for deadlines, deepening executive skills alongside academics. They write across genres, analyze literature, and pursue advanced math with conceptual understanding before paper-pencil fluency. Interdisciplinary cultural studies connect past and present, while projects and presentations hone leadership and voice. Highlights

  • Individualized planning with teacher coaching and reflection
  • Writing with purpose: creative, expository, persuasive, and research
  • Math: fractions, decimals, percentages, graphing, early algebra; geometry of area/volume
  • Interdisciplinary science, history, and geography with real-world application
  • Practical life at a higher level: teamwork, organization, and conflict resolution
  • Multi-age mentorship and structured class meetings
Explore Upper Elementary

Teacher watching a student solve a math problem on a classroom whiteboard

Middle Years (7th–8th grade)

A time to lead, reflect, and grow with purpose. Our adolescent program balances rigor with humanity. Students plan their work, set goals, and reflect—building confidence, self-advocacy, and time management. Coursework includes Pre‑Algebra/Algebra and lab sciences; language arts emphasizes voice, analysis, and public speaking. Integrated studies in history, world religions, and geography invite critical thinking and social awareness. Personal World fosters identity, resilience, and purpose. Highlights

  • Executive function: daily planners, long-term calendars, goal setting
  • Mathematics through conceptual depth and application/li>
  • Lab-based life science, physics, chemistry, and earth science
  • Language arts: literature circles, writing workshops, presentations
  • Social world: integrated humanities with dialogue and advocacy
  • Micro‑economy, off-campus learning, nature immersion, and high school prep
Explore Middle Years