Uniforms are not required for middle grade students. Clothing can be a form of self expression and students are expected to wear clothes that they feel safe and ready to learn in. If a situation arises when an adult feels as though certain attire does not align with our school values or does not allow a student to fully engage classroom activities we reserve the right to ask them to change.

Children have the innate ability to guide their own learning and construct knowledge for themselves. This process works best when students have trusting relationships with their teachers, and what we call “voice and choice” in their learning. Students' questions and curiosities drive their own learning under the guidance and direction of the MAC Middle Teachers.

K-8 schools are noted for providing academic and social benefits to students. Research from the American Education Research Journal found that students who attended a K-8 school are more comfortable, feel safer, and ultimately perform better academically than their counterparts at traditional middle or 6-12 schools. This is partly due to the continuity that K-8 schools offer to students at the critical development period of early adolescence. Their connection to the familiar and the fact that they are known both personally and academically provide security and predictability during a time of rapid physical and emotional changes.

The traditional Montessori Secondary program responds to the adolescent's need to exhibit creativity, problem solve, take responsibility, and claim independence. The MAC Middle program supports these same needs with a teaching team that has deep, foundational experience in the Montessori method. The program expands on the traditional Montessori experience by utilizing a multi-pedagogical approach to each individual unit and child, combining elements of purpose-based and place-based pedagogies to guide students toward successful academic and social-emotional outcomes.

Our curriculum aligns with the common core standards, allowing for exploration of unique units of study that match individual student interests. Learning includes thesis writing, advanced science and math, language and historical events, in addition to art history, community engagement, service work, entrepreneur and business opportunities. While teachers gather materials and create scope and sequences that reflect national standards, student reflections, thoughts and ideas create the topics for future units.

MAC uses progress monitoring and responsive assessments to track data and support growth. In advisory, these tools will be monitored by the students in order to provide ownership and reflection of goals. MAC also uses MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) assessments which are computer adaptive achievement tests in Mathematics, Languages Usage, Reading and Science to assist in making informed decisions to promote students' academic growth.

MAC Middle is a 9-month program running from the end of August through the beginning of June.

The physical location of the school is at 2500 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80205; with lessons taking place at MAC’s second campus location in Curtis Park at its Stout Building at 816-818 25th Street as well as various locations in the city of Denver according to curricular needs, as aligned with the place-based learning model of the school.

Throughout the year, students and families will be advised 1:1 on high school offerings and preparation with their middle school advisor.