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Seven Hills School

Schools of Distinction Profile

Seven Hills School was recognized in 2024 as an AMLE School of Distinction. One of the goals of the program is to foster a network of schools that share promising practices positively impacting young adolescents. The below profile provides highlights a few of Seven Hills School’s exemplary practices aligned with the 18 Characteristics of Successful Middle Schools.

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Demographic Information

Location: Richmond, Virginia
School Setting: Urban
Grade Configuration: 5-8
School Enrollment: 94

Leadership

Head of School - Dagan Rowe
Assistant Head of School for Program - Will Murphy
Assistant Head of School for Advancement - Drew Lineberger

Key Practices

  • Experiential Learning Fridays- River Days, Exploratory Courses, Team Teaching
  • Advisory
  • System-wide executive function support

Highlights of Exemplary Practices Aligned with the 18 Characteristics of Successful Middle Schools

EMPOWERING

Facilitating environments in which students take responsibility for their own learning and contribute positively to the world around them. Students choose their exploratory courses for each term. Students lead their parent-teacher conferences, set goals, and co-create courses, assignments, and clubs. Our year-end Expo focuses on personal growth and the process.

Culture and Community, Every student’s academic and personal development is guided by an adult advocate. Through our advisory sessions, conferences, and communication policies, each student has one adult that knows him and his family.

RESPONSIVE

Using the distinctive nature and identities of young adolescents as the foundation upon which all decisions about school are made. “Oversight” and our approach to discipline is rooted in our understanding of the developmental changes of young adolescents. Classroom setup, assignments, organizational systems, and our weekly schedule are designed to support executive functioning. Our horizontal and vertical alignment of note-taking skills and approaches to research are designed to support young adolescents.