Programs
Programs and Academics | PreK–8
A PreK–8 education designed for how children grow.
From the first days of PreK through the transition to high school, every year at Unquowa is shaped around what children are ready to discover, understand and become. Our PreK–8 program combines small classes, high expectations and individual growth with rich opportunities to create, question, collaborate, move, explore and lead. Students build strong academic foundations while experiencing a childhood filled with purpose, challenge and joy.
One school. Three developmental stages. A connected educational journey.
A child’s needs change significantly between PreK and eighth grade. Our program changes with them.
In Early Childhood, students learn through movement, conversation, play and exploration. In Lower School, they build essential academic skills while developing independence and intellectual confidence. In Upper School, they take greater ownership of their work, engage in increasingly complex ideas and emerge as leaders within the community.
Because these stages exist within one connected school, students grow in an environment that understands where they have been and prepares them intentionally for what comes next.
Early Childhood | PreK-K
The sparkle of childhood illuminates potential.
Our youngest students learn through purposeful play, exploration, conversation, movement and hands-on discovery. Early literacy, mathematics, social development and creative expression grow naturally within a full and engaging school day.
Students also experience visual and performing arts, world language, daily physical education, MakerSpace, outdoor exploration and farm-to-fork dining as part of the regular curriculum.
Lower School | Grades 1-4
Strong foundations. Expanding possibilities.
The Lower School years represent an extraordinary period of academic, social and personal development. Students strengthen core skills, learn to reason and plan, develop greater independence and begin to understand their responsibilities within a community.
Small classes, high expectations and active participation create an environment where students are challenged to think deeply.
Upper School | Grades 5-8
Challenge, independence and leadership.
Upper School students are ready to ask more complex questions, take greater ownership of their work and discover what they are capable of achieving.
Through challenging academics, interdisciplinary study, advisory, the arts, service and authentic leadership opportunities, students develop the confidence and independence they will carry into high school and beyond.
Signature Programs
Learning that reaches beyond a single classroom.
At Unquowa, the arts, engineering, outdoor learning, athletics, world languages, culinary experiences and technology are not occasional additions to the curriculum. They are part of how students learn.
A science question may become a CAD design and a 3D-printed prototype. A history lesson may continue at a museum or historic site. Produce grown in the school garden may become part of a culinary experience at lunch. A study of environmental systems may take students into our woods, brook or composting program.
Students learn to connect ideas, apply knowledge and understand that their work can have a purpose beyond the assignment itself.
High School Placement
Prepared for high school. Ready to lead.
High school preparation begins long before eighth grade.
It begins the first time a child presents an idea, leads a discussion, completes a complex project or discovers that they can meet a challenge. By graduation, Unquowa students understand how they learn, know how to advocate for themselves and are prepared to participate fully in the academic and community life of their next school.
93% First-Choice High School Acceptance Rate
Meet Our Experts
The most inspired experts for the most important time.
Unquowa students learn from educators who bring deep subject expertise, extensive classroom experience and a genuine commitment to their craft.
Faculty members continually expand their knowledge through advanced degrees, professional leadership, research, fellowships and collaboration with organizations beyond the school. Their expertise allows students to experience ambitious ideas and authentic work at every age.
See what learning looks like at Unquowa.
The best way to understand our program is to experience it during the school day.
