Middle School Viewbook

milton academy

Our mission: Dare to be True

Milton Academy cultivates in its students a passion for learning and a respect for others. Embracing diversity and the pursuit of excellence, we create a community in which individuals develop competence, confidence and character. Our active learning environment, in and out of the classroom, develops creative and critical thinkers, unafraid to express their ideas, prepared to seek meaningful lifetime success, and to live by our motto, “Dare to be true.”

Academics: A passion for learning

At Milton, classes are small, which means that everyone is part of the action. Students settle into Harkness-style and student-directed discussions, where questions flow freely among learners. Students take core classes in English, Students:

Be yourself to find out who you are

Milton students will tell you that their friends and classmates are happy, prepared, diverse, open to new ideas, and excited about learning. They are engaged in their classes and eager to ask questions. Milton students like to create, problem-solve, work hard, laugh, and try new things. They can spend an afternoon with a group of friends who have a common interest, like robotics, math team, digital photography, or speech team. They can join their classmates in engaging with an assembly speaker, or discussing important topics during an affinity club meeting. They develop confidence in themselves and pride in their classmates. School is an exciting place for the 158 students in Milton’s Middle School.

math, science, languages (Latin, French or Spanish), social studies, computer science, and Common Ground (where students explore identity as it relates to their lives, their community, and the world). In these courses students make

connections across disciplines. Their intellectual energy deepens their understanding—it builds a framework for more sophisticated appreciation. Students discover new areas of study that fascinate and inspire them.

Faculty: Developing skills, fueling growth

Milton Academy’s Middle School faculty are experts in adolescent development. They empower students to take academic risks and try new things while uncovering budding talents and passions. Students participate in important identity work through our Common Ground curriculum and learn valuable executive functioning, study skills, social-emotional fluency, and responsibility in our unique 360 Class. Experienced teachers and advisors see the best in each child and support them through a rich and collaborative academic and co-curricular program. Through our rigorous and flexible curriculum, students are challenged to become critical thinkers, unafraid to share their ideas, while also listening to others. Striking the delicate balance between nurture and challenge, our program helps students develop the self-advocacy skills, independence, and confidence needed to continue on a path of lifelong learning throughout our Upper School and beyond.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice

Forty-seven percent of our Middle School students identify as students of color. The Middle School is committed to creating and sustaining a community in which diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) are lived and practiced each day. In our DEIJ programming, students explore how identity shapes their connections to others. During Common Ground, community conversations, and focus days, we practice engaging in discussions that examine current social issues and their historical context. Through these conversations, students learn to challenge dominant narratives as we strive to develop a deeper

understanding of the ways in which identity impacts our experiences. To support students, we offer a number of affinity groups in which students who share a common identity have an opportunity to find a specific connection and discuss shared experiences, both positive and

challenging. Additionally, we seek to create spaces in which students can further examine allyship and offer a number of cultural and training groups to support this goal. With the guidance and support of faculty and

staff, students work toward building an activism skill set in which they are empowered to disrupt norms and build more inclusive and just communities, both at Milton and beyond.

Arts Rotation

Both in and out of the classroom, Milton’s culture celebrates creative expression—in music, painting, writing, drawing, sculpture, and the performing arts. All Middle School students take four art courses on a rotating, quarterly basis. The courses include digital media and film, general music, performing

arts, and visual arts. In addition to our curricular offerings, students have the option to explore the arts further through participation in our musical ensembles (chorus, guitar ensemble, jazz band, orchestra). Students may also choose to act in or provide technical support for several performances each year.

Athletics and Intramurals

In the Middle School, we offer a robust and competitive athletics and intramural program that is open to all students. Although winning is an important goal, we also put a large emphasis on the process. Dedication and commitment to one’s team, demonstrating a positive attitude and sportsmanship, striving to win and doing your very best are key components of the Middle School athletic experience. Sports offered include soccer, cross country, field hockey, flag football, basketball, hockey, squash, wrestling, lacrosse, baseball, softball, track and field, tennis and volleyball. Intramurals are an opportunity for students to participate in a sport or activity that is both instructional and recreational. Intramural offerings vary by season, and include activities such as tennis, squash, pickleball, and badminton.

Clubs and Activities

Middle School students engage in a robust activities program to explore different interests and connect with students across grade levels. Students support their classmates and schoolmates, letting one another know that it’s safe to try something new, and to try again. Some commonly offered activities include Music Production, Dungeons & Dragons, Environmental Activist Team, Journalism, Filmmaking, Knitting, Rubix Cube, Photography, and Flag Football. Additionally, the Middle School offers four competitive academic teams: Math Team, Robotics Team, Speech Team, and Model United Nations.

Middle School Capstone Projects

The Middle School Capstone Projects are culminating events that represent a milestone in each student’s learning journey. In Grade 6, students have an opportunity to explore and share part of their identity through a community presentation. The Choosing to Participate (CTP) project is a Grade 7 interdisciplinary research project. Students choose a specific issue that has significance to the global community and, through extensive research, develop opinions and potential solutions. In Grade 8, students show leadership by taking the tools that they have learned in sixth and seventh grades to give an authentic presentation with a call to action to the entire Middle School community. The chances for students to grow and express themselves through these Capstone Projects are many and diverse.

Admission and Financial Aid

Milton Academy seeks to enroll students who are motivated and eager to learn. In the Middle School, our entry points are Grade 6 and Grade 7; we do not accept applications for Grade 8. Milton maintains a generous financial aid budget. Aid is need-based, and Milton strives to meet 100 percent of the demonstrated need of each student offered admission.

We encourage families to begin the admission process well before the January 15 deadline for initiating an application. Beginning the process early affords greater flexibility to schedule appointments, more time to complete paperwork, and, most importantly, time to reflect on the Milton Academy environment and your child. We look forward to getting to know you and your family throughout the admission process. Please scan the QR code below for a detailed admission timeline.