Middle School
Montessori School of Northern Virginia
Middle School
Middle School at MSNV is a time of growth, discovery, and increasing independence. As students enter adolescence, they are ready for deeper academic challenges, stronger ownership of their learning, and opportunities to understand who they are and how they fit into the world around them.
Our Middle School program balances rigorous academics with real-world application, critical thinking, and collaboration. Students explore their interests through meaningful projects, discussions, and hands-on experiences while building the skills they need for success in high school and beyond.
Just as important as academic progress is personal development. MSNV Middle School students learn to manage their time, advocate for themselves, work as part of a team, and take responsibility for their choices. Teachers serve as guides and mentors, supporting students as they navigate both intellectual challenges and the social-emotional changes of adolescence.
Through this intentional approach, students leave MSNV confident, capable, and prepared — not only for the next stage of their education, but for life as thoughtful, engaged individuals.
The Curriculum: The Plan of Study & Work
| Mathematics |
| During our two-year program, students work at their own pace to cover topics in the Virginia Standards of Learning and achieve their goals within the curriculum. The math program provides opportunities to refine key mathematical skills, improve as a problem solver, and to learn and apply pre-algebraic, algebraic, and geometric concepts. As students progress through the introductory lessons, they have the opportunity to advance into Algebra I and Geometry. |
| MSNV Middle School Humanities Program |
| The Humanities curriculum for MSNV Middle School encompasses the study of subjects that define our humanity: language arts and literature, philosophy, geography, history, politics, civics, economics, visual arts, and performing arts. Highlights of the curriculum include social studies and English language components as well as the Socratic Seminar. |
| Science |
| The goals of MSNV’s science curriculum are to learn about the natural world, to examine how we know what we know, and to develop an appreciation of the role of science in human history. The science curriculum includes Life Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physical Science topics. |
| World Language |
Middle School students engage in independent world language study through the Rosetta Stone language learning platform. Students are given the opportunity to choose a language of interest—such as Spanish, French, German, Japanese, or others—and work through the program at their own pace. Rosetta Stone’s immersive, self-directed model allowed students to build foundational language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and vocabulary development. Through daily practice, students develop an ear for pronunciation and comprehension using real-life contexts and interactive exercises. |
| Human Development and Well Being |
| Students explore various health related topics under the guidance of Middle School staff and other community health professionals. MSNV’s curriculum is an extension of the OWL program initiated in the Upper Elementary Program. |
| Physical Expression |
| Through Physical Expression (PE) students develop their ability to meet challenges, come to appreciate new activities, and acquire new skills. The PE program offers a diverse range of activities where students will have the opportunity to enhance self-confidence, and develop a lifelong appreciation for active lifestyles. |
| Creative Self Expression |
| In this component of our curriculum we aim to nurture students' artistic abilities, self-expression, and creativity through a dynamic blend of puppetry, musical exploration, various visual arts, and other artistic expressions that students show interest in. The curriculum encourages students to engage in hands-on activities, collaborate with peers, and develop a deep appreciation for the arts while developing essential life skills such as communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking |
