Why 5th Grade?

At OHMS we know the middle school years mark a significant time in a girl’s life.

It is when she develops – physically, emotionally and intellectually – at a pace rivaled only by her first few years of life. We believe in the distinctive value of the middle school experience. 

Developmentally, Fifth Graders—usually around 10 years old—are at a high point in terms of confidence and positivity. By entering a middle school community during a time of personal strength, girls establish a solid foundation and parents and teachers build a trusting partnership in preparation for the confusing, challenging, but ultimately normal bumps along the middle
school journey.

We honor and respect the changes and challenges that usually fall within the Sixth and Seventh Grade years, and what we end up with is a class of remarkable Eighth Graders. Our Eights and our graduates are our best testaments to the OHMS middle school experience, which is a springboard for confidence and success in high school.