Elementary

1st Grade

Visit a Stratford first grade class and you’ll likely be greeted by students brimming with excitement about a complex engineering challenge they just solved, or invited to watch a theatrical performance with memorized roles, songs, and choreography.

Students learn about great composers and their music, and then apply what they’ve learned in math class to their music theory assignments. First graders are exposed to literary classics and characters, and learn to relate the characters’ experiences to their own lives.

Stratford’s teachers allow students to be themselves, and to accomplish more than they ever imagined.

2nd Grade

These are the defining qualities of the second graders at Stratford School. There’s a sense of purpose and structure to the school day that lets students know what to expect, and helps them create high expectations for themselves.

Second graders are immersed in Core Knowledge classes in math, vocabulary, grammar, reading and writing every day - building sequentially on skills they gained in first grade. Learning study skills and completing homework are essential to success at Stratford, but students find joy in the challenge.

From early on, Stratford helps students develop socially and emotionally too, providing these necessary bookends to their academic success.

3rd Grade

Third grade at Stratford is challenging and fun, focused on the development of each child’s unique gifts, talents, and personality.

The art and music are infused throughout the third grade curriculum, too, with twice weekly sessions that highlight great composers and fine artists in a variety of media, helping students see the natural connection between technology and creativity.

Grade 3 students aren’t simply memorizing principles of engineering – they actively participate in hands-on exercises as part of a team to put principles into action, solving complex problems posed by gifted teachers who let the students “figure it out” themselves.

4th Grade

Fourth grade at Stratford School looks very different than most Grade 4 programs, and our Core Knowledge curriculum is accelerated to ensure that students are prepared for the academic rigor of middle school with essential social and emotional skills as well.

Stratford fourth graders thrive with our STEAM-based curriculum, providing them with the opportunity to apply engineering principles of creation, testing, and analysis to all of their coursework.

Our teachers are renowned for their innovative approach to collaborative work in the classroom. Students learn to think critically, to question each other, and to apply the creative principals learned in art and music classes to technical challenges.

5th Grade

By the time Stratford students reach fifth grade, they have developed strong friendships, effective study skills, and a self-confidence that’s rare even in much older students.

Our fifth grade students understand that to develop a thorough understanding of any subject, you must start with foundational elements, examine all aspects of a problem, ask questions to gain additional information, and work collaboratively to create a solution. When students leave fifth grade, they’re ready for the exciting academic and social challenges of middle school.