The Sage Difference

The Sage School is an extraordinary place: a school purpose-designed to address the specific needs and learning styles of gifted children; a bringing together of highly trained faculty, carefully designed curricula, and like-minded peers; a community of enthusiastic learners who share a passion for intellectual inquiry, creativity, and discovery.

We are guided by one simple mission: to allow gifted children to realize their full potential. These children are out of the ordinary. We believe their school should be, too.

How is The Sage School different?

We Challenge.
Gifted children have a nearly unquenchable curiosity and desire for learning. The programs and the faculty of The Sage School provide depth, pace, and flexibility to challenge the intellectual intensity of gifted students.

We Engage.
Research has proven that, when gifted children aren’t engaged, they can become bored. Inward-focused. Tuned out. The Sage School is geared to energize and inspire.

We Nurture.
Academic success is only one dimension of a child’s development. We take a balanced approach to educating the various intelligences of each child – because we understand the critical importance of encouraging gifted young people to grow not only intellectually, but also socially, physically, and emotionally.

Teaching Gifted Students

While The Sage School is dedicated to educating gifted children and we have incorporated the best educational theories in developing our program, we do not subscribe rigidly to any one discipline of educational theory.

It is well documented in research and practice that children with advanced intellectual abilities benefit academically, socially, and emotionally when grouped with their intellectual peers in an environment with an appropriately challenging curriculum.

That’s why we have developed an educational approach centered on ability-based classroom groupings; dynamic, hands-on classroom environments; and depth of study and appropriate acceleration beyond traditional grade-level materials in core subject areas. Our curriculum is designed to establish a solid foundation of classical academic skills, encourage creativity, and challenge advanced learners.

Emotional, Social & Academic Growth

In addressing the needs of gifted students, we never lose sight of the fact that these children are more than just high test scores and exceptional academic abilities. Each Sage student is a whole person, and is nurtured and respected as such.

While our students pursue their academic potential, they are surrounded by opportunities for social and emotional development. During homeroom periods in the Junior Division and Middle School, Sage students reinforce academic skills such as writing, journaling, and problem solving; in addition, they develop social skills and awareness through group discussions of personal, local, and global social issues, and plan for community service initiatives.

In the Prime Division, students explore these issues through the ‘Open Circle’ curriculum.

Community service is an important extension of the social development in homerooms. Our students get involved in local, regional, and international community efforts: from cleaning up public spaces to raising money for families in need, to writing letters to veterans, international pen pals, and senior citizens.

Weekly all-school meetings, led by the Head of School, feature performances and presentations by students, classroom groups, and special guests. This weekly gathering also provides a unique opportunity for the school to come together as a whole, to recognize students for outstanding achievement or community service, and to share school news.