The Desert Garden Montessori School Middle Years and High School (MYHS) Program is a continuation of our Montessori program offered to Infant – Upper Elementary students and blended with the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP). Rooted in the principles of independence, curiosity, and real-world learning, our secondary program fosters student agency, executive functioning, and higher-order thinking, skills essential for success in college, career, and life. 

 

In grades 7–10, students engage in the International Baccalaureate® Middle Years Programme (MYP). As an authorized IB World School, we deliver an academically rigorous, inquiry-based curriculum that integrates seamlessly with Montessori philosophy. Students learn to make interdisciplinary connections and explore global contexts through classes that are designed to inspire students to think deeply and lead lives of purpose. 

 

Grades 11–12 continue to build on these foundations through advanced, interest-driven coursework, leadership opportunities, and preparation for post-secondary pathways tailored to each learner’s goals. 

Desert Garden Montessori is also fully accredited by both the International Montessori Council (IMC) and Cognia, ensuring that our program meets the highest standards of educational excellence. 

 

 

Learning with Purpose – Curriculum Overview 

Our core curriculum consists of 8 subject areas: English, Math, Social Studies/History, Science, Art, Design, PE & Health, Spanish. Elective & Club options vary from year to year and include options such as: Entrepreneurship, Rock Band, Ceramics, History Club, Cinematography, Violin, Sustainability, our Student-Run Cafe, and more! 

Classes are designed to encourage students to discover the relationships between school subjects and the world. Emphasis is on written and oral communication, as well as international-mindedness. We value teaching students how to be present and mindful, and incorporate this into our curriculum.  

 

The MYHS program approaches teaching & learning through the lens of 4 guiding principles: 

• Inquiry & concept based teaching & learning VS. traditional content driven approach 
• Criterion & mastery based assessment using rubrics and achievement levels 
• Curriculum focused on project based learning and real world application of knowledge  
• Mixed age groups for mentorship and leadership development 

 

Students engaged in our curriculum: 

• understand their role in a global world as a global citizen 
• are prepared for college 
• are independent and active participants in their learning 
• understand how to grow and make progress in each subject area 
• are inquisitive and curious about the world 
• make connections between subjects and engage in interdisciplinary studies 
• are critical and creative thinkers 

 

Graduates of Desert Garden Montessori high school must meet the graduation requirements as outlined in this document: Graduation Requirements 

 

Students in grade 7-10 follow the IB Middle Years Programme framework. Students in grade 11 and 12 continue with our Montessori/IB philosophy to meet high school and college entrance requirements.  

 

A roadmap for each year of the program can be found here: Student Yearly Plan 

 

Assessment & Growth  

In MYHS, we believe that assessment is an essential tool for developing engaging curriculum and encouraging active student learning. We believe learning occurs when teachers and students aim for purposeful and appropriately challenging learning goals. 

 

The purpose of assessment is to: 

• support curricular goals and encourage student learning. 
• inform, enhance, and improve the teaching process. 
• promote positive student attitudes towards learning. 
• support the development of rigorous learning experiences and outcomes by describing clear and directed learning objectives. 
• support students’ developing responsibility for monitoring and sustaining their own learning. 
• Assessment of student work, learning, and progress is a community effort. Teachers, administrators, parents and most importantly the student herself or himself will be responsible for participating in the assessment process. 

 

In MYHS we use criterion-based assessment. This is different from traditional grading as we do not use an arithmetical average to calculate a final grade. Traditional percentage based final grades can represent achievement attained, but frequently fail to drive learning or support progress for all students. Our assessment approach establishes goals and practices to enable DGM students, teachers, and parents to use the information assessments provide to improve learning outcomes and instruction. 

 

More information can be found in our Parent Handbook under the MYHS Section. 

 

Community & Culture 

At Desert Garden Montessori, community is the foundation of everything we do. In our Middle Years & High School (MYHS) program, students are part of a close-knit, inclusive environment where every individual is known, valued, and supported. Daily community meetings foster connection, reflection, and shared purpose, while small advisory groups ensure each student has a dedicated teacher-mentor guiding their personal and academic growth. Our culture emphasizes authenticity, empathy, and global citizenship, rooted in Montessori values and enriched by our IB framework. Students engage in monthly service outings, interdisciplinary capstone projects, and collaborative learning experiences that deepen their relationships with both peers and the wider world. Through this intentional culture of belonging and purpose, learners develop the confidence, compassion, and agency they need to thrive—within our community and far beyond it. 

 

Learning Beyond Walls 

In MYHS learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door, it expands into the real world. Through a wide range of experiences during their time in 7th-12th grade, our students learn to pursue their passions and apply their knowledge in meaningful, hands-on ways. 

• Electives & Clubs: Students choose from a wide variety of enrichment classes each semester based on their interests. Past offerings include: 
  • Rock Band & Violin 
  • Yoga & Fitness 
  • Gardening & Sustainability 
  • Chess Club, Book Club, Cinematography, History Club, and Yearbook 

 

• Going-Outs: Inspired by Montessori’s philosophy of real-world exploration, students regularly plan and participate in “going-outs,” which might include: 
  • Seeing a live performance of a play studied in English class 
  • Touring the Capitol after studying government 
  • Walking to the park for a game of soccer
     
• Internships (Grades 7–12): Starting in middle school, students have opportunities with short-term exploratory internships that grow into semester-long, credit-earning experiences in high school. Internships are student-led, supported by faculty, and have included placements at: 
  • Legacy Sports Complex 
  • Pomegranate Café 
  • DGM Café 

 

• Post-Secondary Planning (Grades 9–12): Students begin working with a counselor in 9th grade using the College Board’s Big Future curriculum to: 
  • Set academic and career goals 
  • Research and select college options 
  • Stay on track with applications and deadlines 

 

• Dual Enrollment: Through partnerships with EVIT, ASU Prep Digital, and local community colleges, students can: 
  • Take college-level courses 
  • Explore technical and career-based pathways 

 

• Service Learning: 
  • Students complete 10–20 hours of volunteer work each semester 
  • Students complete a capstone project twice during their MYHS experience:  
  • 8th Grade: The IB Community Project where students identify a need in a community and engage in service to address that need. 
  • 10th Grade: The IB Personal Project where students choose a passion project to pursue during their 10th grade year.  

 

• Annual Travel Experiences: Students participate in two major trips each year. 
  • Campout (Fall): A community-building retreat before fall break 
  • Field Study (Spring): A student-planned, service- and curriculum-based travel experience to destinations like: 
    • Costa Rica 
    • Puerto Rico 
    • New Orleans 
    • Barcelona 
    • France  
    • Germany