Co-ed junior boarding and day school for students in grades pre-kindergarten through nine
Admissions
Why Ninth Grade?
At Indian Mountain School, the ninth grade is a distinct, academically rich, developmentally appropriate, culminating “Senior” experience in our consciously designed Upper School Program.
We recognize ninth grade as a unique time in adolescent development; our youngest teens are incredibly capable intellectually and extraordinarily vulnerable socially. The ninth grade at IMS gives young teens a safe setting where they can succeed within an outstanding academic program that offers exceptional opportunities to lead.
Academics
- Honors courses
- An iPad platform for ninth grade texts and classes
- Increased use of collaborative technologies such as Google Docs and class blogs
- Public speaking – assembly presentations of “This I Believe” speeches
- Increased Secondary School counseling including scheduled small-group meetings and SSAT preparation
- Varsity level sports; competitions with Secondary Schools
- Priority privileges in plays, musical groups, and art studios—rare in ninth grade at secondary schools
List of 3 items.
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Leadership Opportunities
- Peer mentors
- Tour guides
- Team captains
- Club leaders
- Wilderness trip leaders
- Leadership course required for all ninth grade students
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Residential Life
- Study Hall locations and time varies compared to lower classmen
- Expanded internet access
- Later lights
- Greater independence during down times
- Leadership roles, including mentoring and intermitent residence supervision
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Highlights
- Orientation and two-day ropes course
- Secondary school workshops
- SSAT prep courses
- SSAT test offered on site
- Class boat trip each spring before graduation
- Earned access to campus spaces during free periods
Ian Heissenbuttel and Elle Despres ’14 from their “This We Believe” speech at ninth grade graduation:
"One of the things that we learned as President and Vice President of the awesome Indian Mountain School Class of 2014 - Student Body is that we’re a pretty diverse group. This is a good thing, particularly in the way we learned to embrace our differences and come together as a community. "
