The Red Bridge Middle School Experience
Red Bridge Middle School is an empowering, learner-driven environment. Middle school is a time for nurturing students’ self-confidence, and our schedule, class structure and signature experiences are designed to support students through this period of rapid physical, cognitive and social change.
Time to pursue individual passions is balanced with collaborative endeavors around shared goals. Students have one-on-ones with their teachers and opportunities to lead their peers in clubs, school assemblies and more. We meet students where they are academically in the morning and place them in mixed groups for critical thinking in the afternoon. Students are grouped by their level of autonomy instead of by grade level, and our Middle School groups are Autonomy Levels 4 & 5.
Content blocks are longer to support students getting into a flow with their work, Deliberate Practice time can be extended into the afternoon as needed, and cohorts meet weekly to develop and strengthen their interpersonal skills. Red Bridge students know themselves and know how to navigate the world — so that no matter what path they take, they have the capacity to adapt and flourish.
The Red Bridge Difference
One-on-One Student Coaching
Every student at Red Bridge is known deeply. Throughout their Red Bridge experience, each student has a Learning Guide they meet with regularly for 30-minute one-on-one meetings. This ensures that every child is seen, listened to, and cared for throughout their middle school years. Students have an opportunity to share their passions, strategize around social challenges, talk through academic roadblocks, and ask questions to a trusted adult.
Deep Dives
Students have an opportunity to take an idea from conception to public presentation with annual Deep Dives. The Autonomy Level 4 Deep Dive is a collaborative project of students’ choosing, which gives students a chance to complete a full learning cycle while navigating group dynamics with coaching from their Learning Guide. Students learn how to reach out to experts, plan field excursions, and deliver public presentations. The Autonomy Level 5 Deep Dive is a more open-ended capstone project that allows students to showcase their content knowledge, communication skills, and work habits.
Goal Setting & Deliberate Practice
Middle School students have dedicated time each day to work on goals of their choosing. Deliberate Practice is an hour or more every day when Middle School students work on personal goals or academic goals to further their learning. This is also a time when students put their work habits into action by learning what it takes to stay focused, ask for support, and prioritize their tasks.
Milestone Trips
Students build self-knowledge and strengthen their community ties with overnight trips throughout their Middle School years. An outdoor orientation trip will kick off the middle school experience, and a multi-week international trip will close out students’ time at Red Bridge.
Middle School Curriculum
Academics at Red Bridge are rigorous, joyful, and highly engaging. Students have opportunities to work at their just-right level in math, reading, and writing. Every student participates in a math lab and a book club that meets them where they are academically. This is complemented by opportunities to put their learning into action with authentic work products, such as podcasts, theater productions, and science fair submissions. Every student graduates with a portfolio of meaningful work.
In addition to ensuring students develop strong foundational skills, Red Bridge teaches Observation (looking carefully at the world around you) and Critical Thinking & World Studies. These two subjects spark curiosity and refine students’ question-asking skills. Students have an opportunity to study a new language in Middle School as well. Red Bridge offers weekly instruction in Music, Character Habits, Work Habits, and Healthy Habits to ensure that students are well-rounded, kind humans who can turn their ideas into reality.
Sample Weekly Schedule
Learn more about Autonomy Levels:
Red Bridge groups students by Autonomy Level rather than grade level. Students are placed in an Autonomy Level based on their work habits (ex. time management, focus, initiative) rather than their age. Students advocate for their promotion to the next Autonomy Level.
On average, students spend two years in each Autonomy Level, but there is no set duration. Autonomy Levels are decoupled from academics, so students receive content instruction at their just-right level, while receiving the structure and support necessary to accomplish their goals based on their Autonomy Level.
Since Red Bridge does not group students by grade, Middle School is considered to be Autonomy Levels 4 & 5. Lower School is Autonomy Levels 1-3. You can watch a video about our model here.