Now Offering 5th Grade!

Why We’re Excited

A Smooth Transition
Whether students come to Hyla from an elementary program ending in 4th grade, 5th, or 6th grade, our new 5th grade creates a seamless entry point for all area students. Students join our 5/6 cohort, stepping confidently from elementary into middle school life with caring teachers and small classes that make them feel known and supported.

Close-Knit Community
Multi-age cohorts give students built-in mentorship, deeper friendships, and more chances to collaborate.

Joyful Learning
From project-based academics to overnight retreats, 5th graders dive right into the hands-on, connected, and joyful learning that defines Hyla.

Opportunities to Contribute
In our vibrant middle school, students discover their voice and grow as community members, adding to our culture of Taking Care of Each Other.

Hyla’s 5/6 Cohort

Fifth grade students will be fully integrated into the middle school as part of the 5/6 cohort, with class sizes of just 12–18 students. They’ll engage in multi-age learning across subjects, always encountering fresh curriculum and new skills each year to ensure continued academic growth.

The Power of Cohorts

Multi-age learning has always been central to Hyla. In our middle school, students connect across grade levels daily through Clean Crew, Exploration Weeks, PE, electives, lunch, and break—fostering mentorship, collaboration, and belonging.

Hyla’s four-cohort structure (5/6, 7/8 in middle school and 9/10 and 11/12 in upper school) strengthens these connections by extending multi-age learning into core academics. Since its inception, our upper school has thrived with this model, and our 6/7 cohort in the 25-26 school year has done so as well. Research confirms what we see every day: multi-age classrooms increase student engagement, foster leadership, and promote academic growth.

What Students Can Expect

• Academic flexibility and growth through differentiated instruction and tailored support.
• Expanded social circles that encourage new friendships and peer mentorship.
• A stronger sense of community, with students known, supported, and celebrated.

Starting Fall 2026, students in grades 5–6 will be grouped into two multi-age sections. Seventh and eighth graders will continue in their three-section 7/8 cohort). Sections are made up of 12-18 students and thoughtfully created to balance academics, social compatibility, and opportunities for new friendships.

Section groupings shift during the year, allowing students to work with a wide range of peers. Cohorts also come together for signature experiences like multi-day overnight retreats at Camp Indianola, Orkila, or Burton—an experience students describe as “one of the most memorable and meaningful” parts of their year.

Intentional Curriculum Design

Hyla’s curriculum is designed on a two-year loop, so students will never repeat material but will instead engage in new content and skill development each year. Lessons are differentiated to stretch and support learners at every level. Each incoming grade of students can expect to build on their prior learning with a full year of new coursework, just as they would have in a single-grade class. You can refer to this curriculum snapshot document to see the planned units for the 25-26 school year. 

In keeping with Hyla’s approach to teaching and learning, lessons will continue to be differentiated to meet each student’s readiness and experience, and teachers design instruction to stretch and support learners at every level. Some examples include:

• Math placement - In math, students will continue to be placed according to their individual level, pace, and experience. Small group instruction allows teachers to tailor lessons, support growth, and foster confidence. As our middle school math teacher Cindy says, “Embrace your pace!”—a philosophy that continues to guide our approach.
   
• Signature experiences—like Shakespeare performances, the Improv unit, and the Archaeology Study—continue, just sequenced to match the cohort cycle.

This thoughtful design allows every student to be both challenged and supported while progressing along their individual academic path.