Sage Hill School will welcome approximately 140 seventh and eighth grade students on Aug. 17 for the middle school program’s inaugural academic year as they enter the school’s newest building.

Convocation 2026 caps a multi-year effort to fundraise, design and construct the new building. Additionally, school administrators have spearheaded hiring 12 middle school faculty members while simultaneously accepting students into grades 7, 8 and 9 for the first time in school history.

“The 7–12 campus allows middle school students to see what the next stage of their education looks like,” Director of Middle School Dr. Joseph Moody said.

Dr. Moody added that students will enjoy a unique and personalized experience.

The incoming class will follow a daily schedule built around five core subjects, together with electives and mandatory team sports. Newly accepted middle school students have either tested or will soon test into Math and World Languages classes and selected their electives for the 2026–27 school year.

Middle schoolers will have access to Journalism, Debate & Leadership, Robotics, Model United Nations, Theatre and Junior Classical League. Eighth graders will have the opportunity to campaign for student council leadership and apply for shadow day host positions.

The middle school and second gym building are in their final phases of construction. The building will include classrooms, faculty offices, a café and a gymnasium with seating for up to 1,000 people.

“Construction on the new middle school and second gym building continues to make strong progress, with noticeable advancements across both exterior and interior spaces,” said Dan Livingston, Director of Operations for Sage Hill.

The new spaces are designed to give younger students their own identity on campus while being connected to the larger Sage Hill community. A dedicated middle school Town Square and café will be paired with supervised shared access to the athletic fields and the Art Studio at Sage Hill.

Joint programs for upper school and middle school students are designed for connection, leadership development and mentorship.

“There will definitely be opportunities for interaction, but they will be intentional and age-appropriate,” Dr. Moody said.

As an example, the new Lightning Links program will match every seventh grader with and 11th grade student mentor for two years; likewise, students entering eighth grade will be paired with a 12th grader.   

The addition of a middle school was a critical part of the Sage Hill founders’ long-term plan and aligns with its core mission and vision, Head of School Patricia Merz said.

Families showed strong interest in starting earlier within the Sage Hill community, school leaders said.

Beyond the classroom, experiential learning will play a central role in the life of a Sage Hill middle schooler. Planned trips include a seventh-grade visit to Camp Stevens in Julian, Calif. and an eighth-grade trip to Washington, D.C.

“In five years, Sage Hill will feel like a fully connected 7–12 community, where students grow up together and build strong relationships across grade levels,” Merz said.