Educational Philosophy

At Milton, students and teachers engage in learning that is purposeful, challenging, relevant, and enduring.

Students, teachers, families, and community members partner in creating a dynamic learning environment in which students become critical thinkers, empathic leaders, and active contributors to the world.

Student Outcomes

Mastery of Content and Skills
Students demonstrate skill proficiency and an in-depth understanding of subject matter content. In their explorations across disciplines, they utilize the Design Thinking Process, which emphasizes empathy, research, and creativity. Milton students learn to think critically, listen actively, consider multiple perspectives, and interact with curiosity and respect. They find joy in the rigors of challenge and accomplishment. Milton students communicate their ideas and expertise clearly and confidently in written and oral presentations and are poised for success in high school, college, and beyond.

Jewish Values and Living
Students gain a foundation in the rich intellectual, spiritual, cultural, and ethical traditions of our Jewish heritage and develop a deep sense of belonging to the Jewish people. Students incorporate Jewish practice into their lives in ways consistent with their families’ beliefs and traditions. They gain proficiency in Jewish text and in the Hebrew language, and they build a meaningful connection to the land, the culture, and the people of Israel. They explore the world through a Jewish lens and develop a strong moral compass.

Pursuit of Academic Excellence
Students demonstrate a commitment to excellence in their work. They create multiple drafts and revisions, incorporating teacher and peer critiques and personal reflection to produce their best work. Students learn how to provide and receive feedback in kind, specific, and helpful ways and apply it to improve their work. They share their learning broadly with different audiences and take pride in what they produce.

Core Beliefs

Children are capable and competent.
We approach students as individuals with innate capacity and boundless potential. We trust the students, and they are empowered by our trust in them. We encourage them to approach learning with an open mind. We inspire in them a growth mindset and the confidence to accept challenges that stretch their current abilities. Milton students develop important dispositions for life, such as creativity, autonomy, empathy, self-reflection, and collaboration.

Children learn in a variety of ways and environments.
We attend to the needs of each individual child and offer students opportunities to learn in a variety of social configurations: large and small groups; partners-in-learning (the timeless Jewish way of learning in chevrutah); and independent work. Teachers develop and adapt content and modalities to engage and support a variety of learners and cultivate in the students a deep respect for diversity in the classroom community.

Children are researchers, explorers, and innovators.
We open a world of knowledge for our students to explore, nurturing their innate intellectual curiosity and creativity. They grapple with increasingly complex questions and encounter interesting problems to solve in innovative ways. Milton’s educational environment encourages authentic learning, collaboration, service to others, and the exchange of ideas in an atmosphere of intellectual excitement and respectful debate.

Children are social, emotional, spiritual, and ethical beings.
We expose students to the world of Jewish learning, values, spirituality, and ritual. Our students find opportunities to connect with others through dialogue and shared action. We provide students with opportunities to develop social and emotional skills that support their individual growth and enhance their relationships with others. Teachers guide students to balance action with reflection and become empathic thinkers and doers.

Children thrive when they are part of a caring community.
We foster a culture of warmth, joy, inclusivity, care, and acceptance. Teachers understand their students deeply and guide them in their intellectual and emotional growth. Students and their families make lasting and meaningful connections. We celebrate each child, teacher, staff member, and family as an integral part of our diverse, pluralistic, and vibrant community. Milton students develop a deep sense of belonging, and they construct their identities as Jews, Americans, and global citizens.

Tackling New Challenges
STEM and Design Thinking
Hands-on Learning

“What impresses me most about the teachers at Milton is how well they know each child and what each child needs.”