our four key values

curiosity

We Nurture Innate Curiosity

In the Socratic classroom, we begin with the premise that there is always more to learn. A child’s natural drive to ask more and better questions is refined with the guidance of expert teachers who support and encourage each student’s sense of wonder. Differentiated learning, Responsive Classroom practices, and two full-time teachers in each K-5 classroom create an environment where curiosity is engaged. We nurture the willingness to take risks, and the understanding that failing and learning from mistakes are essential to the learning process. 

curious boys in the garden

curiosity

We Nurture Innate Curiosity

In the Socratic classroom, we begin with the premise that there is always more to learn.  A child’s natural drive to ask more and better questions is refined with the guidance of expert teachers who optimally support and enhance each student’s intrinsic ability.  Differentiated learning, Responsive Classroom practices, and two full time teachers in each K-5 classroom are elements of this environment where curiosity and the willingness to try, fail, and learn from mistakes is viewed as an essential starting point for learning.

community

Kids Thrive in Our Community

What happens at the intersection of goodness and knowledge? In the Black Pine Circle community, students learn to engage with diverse viewpoints from a place of humility and self-reflection. Cultivating empathy and active listening supports academic as well as social and emotional growth. All facets of school life reflect our understanding that we are one interconnected family, and we succeed together. In a community that sees and values each individual, students build connections that may last a lifetime.

happy kids

community

Kids Thrive in Our Community

What happens at the intersection of goodness and knowledge? In the Black Pine Circle community, students learn to engage with diverse viewpoints from a place of humility and self-reflection. Cultivating empathy and active listening supports academic as well as social and emotional growth. All facets of school life reflect our understanding that we are one interconnected family, and we succeed together. In a community that sees and values each individual, students build connections that may last a lifetime.

inquiry

We Cultivate an Inquiring Mind

Through constant inquiry, our students develop deep understanding and exceptional critical-thinking skills. Academic excellence comes naturally to students who are immersed in a joyful and industrious learning community. Every day, our teachers partner with students to help them reach what Vygotsky called the “Zone of Proximal Development,” that vibrant state when the learner is at the exhilarating and sometimes uncomfortable edge of their abilities.

inquiry-excited-hands-up-opt

inquiry

We Cultivate an Inquiring Mind

Through constant inquiry, our students develop deep understanding and exceptional critical-thinking skills. Academic excellence comes naturally to students who are immersed in a joyful and industrious learning community. Our faculty partners every day with students to help them find what Vygotsky called the “Zone of Proximal Development”, that vibrant state when the learner is at the exhilarating and sometimes uncomfortable edge of their abilities.

VOICE

Their Unique Voice Will Emerge

Whatever your passion, your interest will find a home at Black Pine Circle School! Our exceptional arts program is just one way that children thrive while learning confidence, collaboration, and communication skills. By graduation, our students have developed individual passions and learned how to share that love with their communities. Students pursue mastery in the arts, in math, in our award-winning maker program, and in countless other areas that prepare them to enter high school with academic confidence and intellectual enthusiasm.

speaking out

VOICE

Their Unique Voice Will Emerge

Whatever your passion, your interest will find a home at Black Pine Circle School!  Our exceptional arts program is just one way that children thrive while learning confidence, collaboration, and communication skills.  By graduation, our students have developed individual passions and learned how to share that love with their communities. Students pursue mastery in the arts, in math, in our award winning Maker program, and in countless other areas that prepare them to enter high school with academic confidence and intellectual enthusiasm.

How We Learn

Socratic Approach

Hearing and holding disparate views cultivates broad-thinking, passionate learners.

Differentiated Instruction

Knowing your child deeply allows us to keep them engaged and challenged.

Arts & Academics

Our program thoughtfully integrates arts and academics, and incorporates social and emotional learning.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We believe that the strength and vitality of our community stems from diversity in race, sexual orientation, gender, ability, age, nationality and religion.

See What Happens in Our Classrooms

Key Facts

Lower School

students 1@300px

125
students

ratio icon

6:1
student-faculty ratio

Upper School

students-2@300px-v2a

199
students

student-teacher ratio icon

7:1
student-faculty ratio

Whole School

class size@300px

21
typical class size

advanced degree icon

50%
faculty hold advanced degrees

 

color-v6@300px

1 in 3
faculty of color*

 

Facts as of Sept 2022.
* self-identified

See More Key Facts

Why Parents Chose Black Pine Circle School

A strong sense of community, rigorous academics, and a loving culture are what stand out for me about Black Pine Circle. My own school experience was being taught a lot of what to think, so what also really resonates with me is Black Pine Circle’s Socratic Method–it isn't teaching students what to think, rather it’s teaching them how to think. It is very clearly front and center in everything that the school does.

Vivek Shah

KINDERGARTEN PARENT

What I thank BPC for is the opportunity and the space for the kids to feel comfortable in their own skin. There's such an environment of inclusiveness that I feel that between my three kids, all of their quirks and silliness and stubbornness that’s part of them, it's all welcomed and accepted.

Thao Nguyen-Horowitz

2nd, 5th & 7th Grade Parent

What I love most about Black Pine Circle is that these words–curiosity and community and inquiry and voice– aren't just values of the school or characteristics you see in your kids, they're intrinsic in the teachers here. The teachers are pushing our kids to be their very best because they're doing the same in their own careers. And to have that inspiration and that push from your teachers as well as that support for your kids has been defining for us as a family.

Alex Ashton

7th Grade & Class of 2023 Parent

My kids are dramatically opposite from one another and BPC has been an equally wonderful place for both of them. This is a testament to the school because BPC has supported both of them equally - celebrated their strengths and challenged them where they needed it.

Erin Reding

7th Grade & 4th Grade Parent

I feel like BPC has been my village, to be honest.... I have three very different children and they've all thrived at BPC, from an artsy, more intellectual daughter to very sporty sons.They've each felt comfortable with their classmates, with their teachers, and really well supported. Never once in the 15 years that we've been part of BPC has any one of them said they didn't want to go to school, which I think is really remarkable and a real testament to BPC!

Jenny Lederer

7th Grade, Class of 2021, & Class of 2018 Parent

What I love most about Black Pine Circle is the joy I feel around the school. I feel it when I'm talking to the students, when I'm talking to the teachers and staff – everyone seems to really emanate a sense of joy. When choosing a middle school for my daughter, Black Pine Circle’s belief that there is joy in adolescence, that these years can be an incredibly positive experience, that really resonated with me.

Vivian Li

8th Grade Parent