St. Andrews differention

[Anonymous]

Anyone here with knowledge about St. Andrews, particularly in the intermediate school?

Is there ability based grouping for math and reading?

Is the science and social studies appropriately challenging and thoughtful?

[Anonymous]

The IS is strong and the children are in their own (beautiful) building, which I think is a nice way to transition them from IS to MS.

Science at St. Andrew's is particularly strong. I'm not as sure about differentiated groupings (it's been a few years since my child has been in the IS) but I'd definitely schedule a tour!

[Anonymous]

The Head of the Intermediate school is the best! She is a wonderful teacher and very talented with helping the students socially when needed.

[Anonymous]

The classrooms in that intermediate school really were well thought out and are state of the art. I have toured them, but can't add anything else about the intermediate school.

[Anonymous]

Back to OP's questions. I can't speak to the intermediate school specifically, but science in middle school is taught very well at St. Andrew's --very engaging and creative, including labs and projects - but not overwhelming with homework. In high school, there are two types of differentiation -- 1) more prepared students take bio in 9th grade while others take earth science, then those students take bio in 10th and continue on that track; 2) by junior/senior year, there is a wider range of courses offered -- several different levels of physics (including AP physics), AP bio, robotics, and not sure what else -- look in the catalog on line.

By middle school, there are certainly no ability-based reading groups to my recollection. I think all students take the same English courses. In high school, however, St. Andrew's now does have regular and honors English classes (with honors eventually feeding into APs in 11th & 12th). In Math, differentiation certainly begins by 6th (again, could be earlier but I don't the intermediate school) and more so by 7th. Most students take high school level Algebra I in 8th grade, while a few of the strongest students take it in 7th and a few who are not yet ready take it in 9th.