From phonics in kindergarten to Algebra I in eighth grade, our curriculum is built one skill at a time — with room for wonder along the way.
Our Lower School gives children a joyful, structured start to school. Days combine explicit phonics and math instruction with plenty of time for read-aloud, outdoor play, art, and story.
| Subject | Focus |
|---|---|
| Language Arts | Explicit phonics (K–2), handwriting, spelling, grammar, and a literature-based reading program drawing from classic and contemporary children’s books. |
| Mathematics | Singapore-based math with strong number sense, mental arithmetic, and word problems. Manipulatives in K–2, transitioning to abstract reasoning in grades 3–4. |
| History & Geography | A four-year cycle: ancient civilizations, medieval world, early American history, and modern world. |
| Science | Life, earth, and physical science units with hands-on labs and outdoor field study in Kendrick Park. |
| Latin | Introduction to Latin vocabulary and roots begins in Grade 3. |
| Special Subjects | Art, music (Orff-Schulwerk), physical education, and library twice weekly. |
Our Middle School years prepare students for the demands of the finest secondary schools. Classes are taught by subject specialists in dedicated classrooms, and students take increasing responsibility for their learning through advisory and independent study.
| Subject | Focus |
|---|---|
| English | A four-year sequence in composition, grammar, and literature. Students read whole works — from The Odyssey in Grade 6 to To Kill a Mockingbird in Grade 8. |
| Mathematics | Pre-Algebra in Grade 7 and Algebra I in Grade 8 for qualified students; a strong general math track for others. |
| Science | Life science (5), earth science (6), physical science (7), and integrated biology & chemistry (8). Labs held in the Halloran Science & Maker Center. |
| History | Ancient (5), medieval (6), U.S. history (7), and modern world (8), with a strong emphasis on primary-source reading and expository writing. |
| Latin | Formal grammar-based Latin study, culminating in the National Latin Exam in Grade 8. |
| Arts & Athletics | Studio art, choral and instrumental music, and interscholastic athletics (cross country, basketball, volleyball, track). |
Every grade at Ridgemont takes part in the Outdoor Program. Kindergarten and first graders visit Kendrick Park weekly; upper-elementary students hike in the Bighorn National Forest each fall; and every eighth grader completes the four-day Bighorn Expedition — a rite of passage that culminates the Ridgemont experience.
Ridgemont takes a deliberate, developmental approach to educational technology. Lower School classrooms are largely screen-free. In Middle School, students learn to use word processing, structured research, and — beginning in the 2026–2027 academic year — approved generative-AI tools such as Anthropic’s Claude for Education, integrated into English and history classrooms under faculty supervision and coordinated by Grade 5 teacher Mr. Vinh H. Nguyen.
