IMAGINE A MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPERIENCE WHERE ALL STUDENTS FEEL VALUED, CONFIDENT, AND ENGAGED.
At The Elisabeth Morrow School, middle school is a defining chapter where the wonder of childhood seamlessly evolves into the burgeoning independence of adolescence.
Our balanced approach cultivates students who are both successful and well-rounded because we believe you shouldn’t have to choose either a rigorous education or a joyful childhood, an inspired journey or a celebrated destination. We give you both — and so much more.
Connect with us to learn how our middle school can offer your child some of the most powerful and transformative years in their educational journey.
The EMS Advantage
Features of the transformative education at The Elisabeth Morrow School
High School Placement
We connect students with the schools best designed to help a them thrive, including some of the most selective day and boarding schools in the country.
Advanced Studies Program
Students take for-credit courses designed for high school students, including business, marketing, computer science, and advanced placement (AP) classes.
Leadership Lab
Beginning in seventh grade, this signature program takes students through a series of academic challenges typically expected of students in high school or beyond.
Our students are accepted to the most selective secondary day and boarding schools in the country
The consistent demand for our graduates by the nation’s most selective secondary day and boarding schools underscores the power of an EMS education. From our youngest learners in the 2s program through eighth grade, we cultivate a core set of competencies – collaboration, innovation, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, communication, growth mindset, integrity, and self-efficacy – that equips our students not just for today, but for sustained success. This intentional pathway, ‘the EMS advantage,’ defines our Vision of the EMS Graduate.
Middle School at The Elisabeth Morrow School
Morrow House isn’t just “the middle,” but rather a culmination of childhood and the beginnings of adolescence.
Balancing challenge and support
During middle school, young people undergo enormous physical, emotional, and academic growth, becoming more independent with the continuous guidance and support of Elisabeth Morrow School faculty and staff. The curriculum in Morrow House encourages students to engage their natural curiosity about the world while becoming more serious about academics. Middle school students continue to be challenged and supported while developing a strong work ethic, which helps prepare them for the academic rigors of secondary school.
providing a developmental advantage
Research supports what EMS has known all along: Schools that culminate in eighth grade can better support students’ development at this pivotal stage. Studies also show that students in K-8 schools outperform their middle school peers in reading, language arts, and mathematics and have better overall experiences. Importantly, our eighth-graders are able to select their secondary school with a thoughtful knowledge of who they are — which evolves rapidly at this stage — and which learning environment will best serve them.
Parents and educators are partners.
Understanding each child’s unique journey during this significant developmental period requires a strong partnership with their family. By actively listening and collaborating, we gain invaluable insights into their experiences and identify opportunities for appropriate challenges that allow them to truly feel seen and heard.
Recognizing your child’s increasing independence and engagement beyond the home, we warmly invite your continued involvement in their school and extracurricular life. Together, we can nurture their appreciation for education, ignite a passion for learning, and collaboratively support their academic achievements.
