Celebrating her today. Preparing her for tomorrow.
In the upper elementary years, your daughter is starting to think about who she is, what she wants to do, and how she can make a difference in the world. Yet she’s also still a child—playful, energetic, joyfully—immersed in the present moment.
In our Lower School, we honor and celebrate your daughter for who she is now, while guiding her to pursue her curiosity, talents, and aspirations as far as they take her. She emerges from Grade 6 fully prepared, academically and personally, for our Middle School.
Our Distinctive Departmental Model
Because our Lower School is departmentalized, your daughter learns every subject from a specialist, diving deeply into math, English, science, art, music, technology, and world languages at an earlier age. Lower School teachers plan their curriculum with their colleagues in Middle and Upper School, so your daughter gains the high-level writing, mathematical reasoning, scientific method, and critical thinking skills she needs to thrive throughout her NCS journey.
Building IndependenceExperts in child development as well as their subjects, your daughter’s teachers work closely with her and you to get to know her personality, passions, and learning style. They understand how to help her when she needs it and let her take charge when she doesn’t, so she learns to self-advocate and becomes increasingly independent. |  |
Creating CommunityOur Lower School classrooms hum with excitement as students explore, play, and create together. In this vibrantly collaborative environment, your daughter forms true friendships and learning partnerships that can endure through her NCS years and beyond. |  |
The Lower School Covenant: Respect, Integrity, Service, and Enjoyment (RISE)
The goal of our covenant is to build community and to create a safe and inclusive space for every person. We guide students to act with love and respect for themselves and for others so that every individual feels a sense of belonging.
Lower School Signature Moments
Each grade culminates in a much-anticipated capstone experience that lets your daughter draw on—and demonstrate—her growing independence, confidence, and leadership skills.
| Grade 4: Annual Play |
| Your daughter and her classmates perform a play for their older peers and for you. When she takes the stage, her one-of-a-kind personality, humor, and talents—known and previously unknown—all shine forth. |
| Grade 5: Beta Day |
| Working with a small group, using on-campus resources including our science labs, Lower School Library, and fully equipped makerspace, your daughter designs and prototypes a working solution to a real-world problem. On Beta Day, her group shares their invention with the whole school. |
| Grade 6: Chesapeake Bay Trip |
| Your daughter’s Lower School experience culminates in this highly anticipated three-day research trip. Conducting hands-on ecological studies, she develops high-level field research skills and deepens connections with her classmates. She’s ready and excited for Middle School. |
Lower School Curriculum
| Grade 4 |
| This is the year for your daughter to learn about NCS—and herself. As she gets to know a new school and new people, she practices adaptability, responsibility, community building, and stepping out of her comfort zone. |
| Grade 5 |
| Your daughter strengthens her independence, friendships, and leadership skills as she delves into more advanced academics. Leaning into a growth mindset, she develops increased persistence and academic stamina. |
| Grade 6 |
| The last year of Lower School brings a new world of experiences, opportunities, and roles to explore. Your daughter takes on greater responsibility and independence as an agile leader and resilient problem solver. |
Explore Lower School Curriculum
“Our daughter has been at NCS since 4th Grade and is now a rising 7th Grader. We could not be happier with the school. The teachers care about and support her while also holding her to a high academic standard. She has developed great organizational skills and independence. She has also formed deep friendships with other students. These girls are each other's cheerleaders.” –Parent