Lower School

As you explore the hallways and courtyards of Graded’s Lower School, you’ll discover a thriving, inclusive community where every student feels a true sense of belonging. Our diverse community of learners and educators represents a wide range of backgrounds and cultures, creating a rich tapestry of perspectives and experiences that enhances learning every day.

Our youngest learners begin their journey in a mixed-age, Montessori-inspired Pre-Kindergarten classroom. Kindergarten serves as a bridge to the primary years. In this final stage of our Early Years Program, children deepen their learning through exploration, build foundational academic skills, and develop greater independence, preparing for a smooth transition to first grade.

In first grade, students become part of the broader Lower School community, joining the older students on the playground and embracing increasingly rich experiences as readers, writers, mathematicians, and thinkers. As they progress through the grades, they move through the Lower School, eventually making the bustling central courtyard their home as third graders.

Fourth grade brings new opportunities and adventures, including students’ first overnight trip, while fifth graders are thoughtfully prepared for the transition to Middle School. Throughout their Lower School years, students explore music, express themselves through the visual arts, and develop healthy habits and confidence through physical education.

From the independence fostered in our Montessori-inspired Early Years Program to the increased responsibility and changing classroom environments of fifth grade, we believe our students are at the center of their own learning. Our goal is to nurture empowered, ethical, and engaged citizens who are prepared to thrive in a dynamic world.

We invite you to join us on this exciting journey of growth, discovery, and lifelong learning.

Ana Allen 
Lower School Principal