Our adolescent program is rooted in hands-on, experiential learning and meaningful work. Students engage in real-world problem solving, project-based learning, and community-centered study, while pairing the program with academic pathways that fit their needs and goals.
Academics
For academic coursework, families use an accredited online pathway alongside the Meridian Micro Farm program. Many families currently use Acellus Academy to support core academic coursework. Meridian also coordinates with Bridgemont International School when that pathway is a better fit. Other options, including homeschool curricula or College Credit Plus, may also be appropriate depending on a family’s circumstances.
The daily rhythm begins with a concentrated two- to two-and-a-half-hour academic work cycle, followed by extended Erdkinder (land and community) work. Academic time is intentionally focused rather than extending online coursework throughout the school day.
Students also engage in Socratic-style small group meetings, guided by an adolescent teacher. This meaningful discussion around projects and tasks is an essential component of our real-life, responsibility-driven curriculum.
Land & Community Work
Land time includes preparing, planting, tending, and harvesting across multiple growing seasons. Students work at Mt. Washington Community Garden, evaluating growth and adjusting plans as necessary. They also participate in cultural studies including ecology, biology, and environmental science at nearby 130-acre Stanbery Park.
Community work extends beyond the garden and gives students meaningful responsibility within the places and organizations around them. Students participate in practical work that supports community life, from caring for shared spaces and managing laundry to service work at the local food pantry and culinary arts experiences in a community kitchen.
Regular visits to the local library provide access to research materials and a mini makerspace, supporting project planning, documentation, and design work. As projects evolve, we schedule field studies with community organizations and small businesses that connect directly to current work.
Students also join Meridian Micro School students each day for nature hour, providing regular time outdoors for movement, social connection, and unstructured play. A weekly creek visit with the elementary students extends this time in nature. Unstructured outdoor experiences are an important part of adolescent development and help students build resilience, confidence, and a lasting relationship with the natural world.
Market Days & Micro Economy
Students explore entrepreneurship through the development of a small-scale micro-economy connected to the work of Meridian Micro Farm, utilizing the Micro Business for Teens curriculum to support planning, marketing, budgeting, and business management. Opportunities may include preparing products, participating in community events, donating food, and occasional market sales as projects develop.
Throughout the program, curriculum emerges from real work, responsibility, and community life rather than from predetermined subject silos.