May 13, 2025
What is it about a PreK-12 learning environment that is uniquely powerful? Beyond just academics, this type of community fosters a sense of continuity, belonging, and deep-rooted connection that enriches the student experience. From the first day of school to graduation, students are surrounded by a familiar group of peers who nurture their growth and support their dreams. At MPA, this all-encompassing model creates a dynamic environment where meaningful relationships flourish, learning is intentionally built upon, and students are empowered to thrive.
Social Benefits
An amazing part of attending a PreK-12 school is that students are able to foster long-term, meaningful relationships with their peers (across all grades and divisions) and the adults in the building who know them well. Most adults can easily tell you about a teacher who impacted their lives–imagine if those teachers could stay in your life for an extended period of time and watch you grow. At the end of the year, after our seniors celebrate their last day of classes with each other in the Upper School commons, the next place they often head is to the Lower School to see the teachers who were fundamental in the foundation of their academic journey.
We often say it takes a village. When students truly find their village, they find a home here where they are supported, known, and seen for exactly who they are. And we have seen what happens to students who spend time in the MPA village. They blossom into confident, self-assured, generous students who dream big and do right.
Academic Benefits
At MPA, we have a comprehensive and cohesive curriculum because we are a PreK-12 space. Because we all work in the same building, we know what comes next and how to prepare students for the next step in their education. Communication between teachers and divisions allows for a smooth transition. Our faculty members are able to have conversations about where they have found success with each student and some challenges that each student might encounter in the future. Those conversations allow students and parents to come into a new grade or division without feeling like they are completely starting over each year. We are able to build and add to what we already know about a student.
Another very tangible advantage of a PreK-12 school on one campus is that everyone has access to the same academic and student support resources. Everyone in the building has access to outstanding facilities, teaching strategies, technology, and school counselors at each division level. That access really allows all students a unique ability to excel academically, artistically, and athletically.
Community Benefits
When you are part of a community that ranges from 3 to 18, students have a very clear understanding of their responsibility within the community. Older students are acutely aware that they are role models in the building, which is amazing because that means that every day, they have opportunities for leadership. As you can imagine, our little ones have amazing young people they admire and look up to.
These opportunities for building relationships across divisions happen in big and small ways every day. It could be a high-five in the hallway to our more formal programs like reading buddies, STEM education club, and pairing assemblies. As our Head of School Dr. Bill Hudson said, “Research supports what we’ve long known at MPA: cross-age partnerships boost academic engagement, strengthen communication skills, and nurture motivation. They help students develop both the heart and the habits of leadership. And most importantly, they remind us that school is not just a place of learning—but a place of becoming.”
The benefits of a PreK-12 education extend far beyond the classroom. At MPA, students experience the power of long-term relationships, a thoughtfully aligned curriculum, shared access to enriching resources, and a vibrant, multigenerational community. These elements come together to create a school environment where students are seen, known, and valued at every stage of their journey. In this village of learners and leaders, children don’t just grow—they flourish.
