Preparing Students for High School and Beyond

Middle school is a pivotal time in a student's academic and personal development. At Merritt Academy, our private middle school program challenges students to think critically, communicate effectively, and become confident, independent learners in a supportive environment where they are known, encouraged, and inspired to succeed. As an International Baccalaureate (IB) Candidate School pursuing authorization for the Middle Years Programme (MYP), Merritt is committed to providing a globally minded education that encourages inquiry, intercultural understanding, and meaningful real world learning. Through rigorous academics, engaging classroom experiences, leadership opportunities, and meaningful partnerships with caring teachers, students develop the skills, confidence, and character needed for success in high school, college, and beyond.

Students benefit from a program that:

Develops strong academic knowledge through engaging, interactive learning experiences.
Encourages independence, collaboration, critical thinking, and inquiry in a student centered learning environment.
Strengthens communication skills through writing, presentations, collaborative projects, and purposeful technology integration.
Fosters leadership, character, global awareness, and responsible citizenship through Student Council, National Junior Honor Society, peer mentoring, community service, and the principles of the IB learner profile.
Prepares students for a successful transition to high school with the academic foundation, confidence, and responsibility needed to thrive in an ever changing world.

Merritt Academy is a Candidate School for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP). This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy: a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Merritt Academy believes is important for our students.

Academic Excellence

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Genius Hour

Genius Hour is one of Merritt Academy's signature learning experiences, giving students the freedom to explore their passions while developing the critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills needed for future success.

Students choose a topic that inspires them and conduct research, ask meaningful questions, and create original projects that reflect their learning. Throughout the process, they develop independence, perseverance, collaboration, and communication skills while taking ownership of their education. The experience culminates in presentations that allow students to confidently share their ideas with classmates, teachers, and families.

Genius Hour encourages students to become innovators rather than simply consumers of information. They are empowered to experiment, take risks, refine their ideas, and discover that learning extends far beyond the pages of a textbook. By connecting classroom knowledge with real-world interests, students develop a deeper understanding of how creativity and curiosity drive innovation.

The experience culminates in students presenting their projects to classmates, teachers, and families, giving them valuable opportunities to strengthen their public speaking, communication, and presentation skills. These presentations also foster confidence, leadership, and pride in their accomplishments while inspiring classmates to learn from one another.

More than a special project, Genius Hour reflects Merritt Academy's commitment to developing independent thinkers, confident communicators, and lifelong learners. By encouraging curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and innovation, students gain skills that prepare them for success in middle school, high school, college, and beyond.

Genius Hour encourages students to become innovators rather than simply consumers of information. They are empowered to experiment, take risks, refine their ideas, and discover that learning extends far beyond the pages of a textbook. By connecting classroom knowledge with real-world interests, students develop a deeper understanding of how creativity and curiosity drive innovation.

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Middle School Core Academics

Language Arts

Math

Science

Social Studies

Foreign Language

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t Merritt Academy, language learning extends beyond the classroom, preparing students to communicate with confidence and engage thoughtfully with an increasingly connected world. Our distinguished foreign language program, recognized by Washington Parent as a three-time winner for Best Foreign Language & Immersion Program, develops proficiency in French and Spanish through a rich emphasis on speaking, listening, reading, writing, and cultural understanding.

Beginning in 5th grade, French or Spanish becomes a core academic subject with daily instruction, allowing students to deepen their fluency and build increasingly sophisticated language skills. By the time they graduate from middle school, students can earn high school credit in French or Spanish, providing a meaningful academic advantage and a strong foundation for advanced language study.

Middle School Specialty Classes

Music

Art

Computer Technology

Physical Education

Social & Emotional Education

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Middle School Programs

Creating Character

At Merritt Academy, we have embraced our responsibility to teach character to the next generation.

Our comprehensive character curriculum provides a challenging plan to grow strong, quality character in our students.

Our whole-school approach to character education includes

Skills for Learning
Empathy
Emotion Management
Problem Solving

To learn more about our Creating Character Program, please click here.

Morning Announcements Program

At Merritt Academy, we empower our students in 5th through 8th grades to take the lead with our daily morning announcements. Each day at 8:35 am, students script, produce and present engaging announcements streamed live to all classrooms. This program fosters leadership skills, public speaking confidence, and teamwork among our middle school students, enriching their educational experience with hands-on, real-world communication skills.

Through this initiative, students learn valuable skills such as scriptwriting, editing, and video production. They collaborate with teachers to ensure smooth and effective communication across the school, all while honing their creativity and technical abilities.

The program uses a variety of tools, including video recording equipment, audio software, and digital editing platforms, allowing students to familiarize themselves with industry-standard technology. This hands-on experience provides them with practical skills that will benefit them in future academic and professional endeavors

Field Trips & Hallmarks

Field Trips and Hallmarks are carefully coordinated to enrich our elementary school curriculum with a level of interactive learning that encourages excitement and participation.

Students, teachers, and parents regularly look forward to many of Merritt’s hallmarks as annual traditions.

Constantly discovering new ways to use the greater D.C. area as our extended classroom adds an unparalleled layer to our student’s academic experience.

To learn more about our Fieldtrips and Hallmarks program, please click here.

Intergenerational Program

Project Pals

Project Pals is one of the many ways Merritt Academy brings character education to life. Throughout the school year, students from different grade levels are paired together for meaningful experiences that take place all year long, including reading activities, STEM projects, celebrations, service opportunities, and other special events that foster lasting relationships.

By connecting students across grade levels throughout the year, children build meaningful friendships while practicing kindness, leadership, collaboration, and responsibility in authentic, everyday experiences. Younger students gain confidence through the support of their older peers, while older students develop empathy, communication skills, and a strong sense of responsibility. These cross-grade connections help create the close-knit community that makes Merritt Academy feel like family.

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