High School Montessori Program - Oneness-Family School

Following Curiosity

OFHS students are creative thinkers, community builders, and collaborators. Through learning by doing, engaging with the community around them, and following their academic interests, our students are poised to become highly skilled in areas necessary to thrive in the complex 21st century – adaptive problem-solving, communications, and holistic leadership.

What is a Montessori High School?

We believe that in order to change the world, our adolescents must live it. Rooted in a global practice of Montessori adolescent education, our high school provides two fundamental needs for adolescents: protection during a time of transition between childhood and adulthood, and an understanding of the society they are about to enter. In our community, work is purposeful, student-driven, and authentic. Teachers guide, rather than dictate.

If you’re looking for a school that prepares you for tomorrow, not yesterday, you’ve found your home.

A DAY AT OFHS

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With intentionally small class sizes, students are known deeply by their teachers, allowing for individualized guidance, meaningful dialogue, and learning that is responsive to each adolescent’s strengths, interests, and growth.
Students engage directly with real-world challenges and materials, transforming concepts into lived understanding and building skills through doing, reflecting, and applying their knowledge in meaningful contexts.
One-on-one quality time with teachers ensures that each student receives thoughtful mentorship and consistent support.
Rooted in Montessori principles, the focus on critical thinking encourages students to take intellectual ownership of their learning—questioning, analyzing, and synthesizing ideas through self-directed work.
An adaptive network of student support—anchored in an advisory program, close faculty mentorship, and a strong partnership between the Director of Student Affairs and teachers—ensures that each student is known and thoughtfully supported throughout their high school journey.
With an emphasis on both academic and social-emotional success, students are supported in developing strong intellectual skills alongside self-awareness, resilience, and healthy relationships.
Students explore entrepreneurship, service, leadership, and travel, applying learning in real-world experiences that build skills and confidence.
Students benefit from a tight-knit community of faculty, staff, and peers, where strong relationships support meaningful learning.

Quote: Dechen Dyson-Marshall (’24)

A highlight of going to OFHS was all the different opportunities, experiences, and projects I got to be part of—things that continue to shape both my work and my life.

What You’ll Study

All of our classes are designed to challenge our students and follow their passions through integrated, meaningful study. Students don’t just learn for the sake of learning- they learn to contribute to our community as they emerge into adulthood.

Students are generally grouped in mixed-aged cohorts of 9th and 10th grade and 11th and 12th grade. With individualization at our core, this means that no two students are expected to be in the same place at the same time. Learning occurs in cycles that give each student opportunities for lessons and deep engagement at the “just right” level.

Students are enrolled across the academic disciplines- Mathematics, Science, English, and Social Studies. However, these disciplines are not silos, but lenses to understand the world. Student-driven projects integrate the knowledge from classes along with the students’ passions.

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Leading with Courage & Compassion

“Oneness-Family Montessori High School empowers students to become leaders in an ever-changing world, helping them develop the skills and practical experience necessary to address 21st century problems with their own unique talents and gifts.”

— Andrew Kutt, Founder & Board Chair

Key Program Components

IMPACT Program

The IMPACT program (Inspire Meaningful Participation and Connection Through Service and Work) embodies Maria Montessori’s vision for adolescent education, recognizing that adolescents have a fundamental need to contribute meaningfully to society and develop economic independence. Through our IMPACT Program, students leave campus once a week to engage in internships and service within the DC, Maryland, and Virginia community, including organizations such as the Food Forest Collaborative and the Immigration and Refugee Outreach Center.

This program addresses the adolescent’s developmental need for:

Economic Independence: Learning to navigate professional environments and understand the value of one’s contribution
Social Contribution: Engaging with real community needs through service and meaningful work
Valorization: Receiving recognition for their genuine contributions to society
Integration of Learning: Connecting academic knowledge with practical application in authentic contexts

X-Term

X-Term is where immersive learning takes center stage. It is a three-week intensive period in March, during which students focus on one course of study for those three weeks, with everything else coming to a halt. At the start of the year, students and staff together decide on the X-Term offerings and staff co-create those offerings in community with each other and with students, providing them during those three weeks. These are experiential, involving many off-campus excursions and opportunities for students to truly stretch their interests and areas of expertise.

Previous elective courses have included:

Cultural Anthropology
Deep Sea Biology
Graffiti, Street Art & Sketchbooking
Poetry & Creative Writing
Astronomy
Sociology of Deviance
Anarchism & Political Writing
Women & Non-Binary in Media
Ichthyology
Local Cuisine & Culture
Nutrition & Kinesthesiology
The Art and Science of Debate

College Counseling

Reflecting Montessori’s focus on individualized learning paths, our College Counseling program at Oneness-Family High School tailors guidance to each student’s unique strengths and aspirations, facilitating a smooth transition to higher education. The Head of School, School Counselor and faculty collaborate to support each student in their college preparation.

Mastery Learning Record

OFHS is proud to partner with the Mastery Transcript Consortium to offer the Mastery Learning Record (MLR) alongside our transcript when students apply to college. The MLR is a digital portfolio which is student-created for the purpose of demonstrating the skills, habits, and accomplishments that our students have undertaken during their time at OFHS. These digital portfolios are built by our students across their four years at OFHS and demonstrate the individualized, deep learning that our students take on.

College Preparation

At each level students learn skills around social interaction, etiquette and interviews which provides a strong foundation for their college visits and interviews.

The college prep process begins in the 9th and 10th grade, where students develop writing, self-reflection, goal-setting, and self-advocacy skills essential for a successful college application process.
Faculty advisors begin discussions with students in 11th grade about what kind of college or university might be a good fit for them, and help them understand how to determine what makes a good fit.
The school supports students taking the PSAT, ACT and SAT tests. Families may elect to engage school-recommended private tutors that work in conjunction with the school on test prep.
Starting in 11th grade, students begin working on their college essay as part of their coursework. Our Humanities teacher provides support with essay-writing as part of this ongoing process.
In 11th and 12th grade, regular conferences with students, faculty and parents focus on college preparation and transcripts as needed.

Field Studies

At Oneness-Family High School, learning extends far beyond the confines of the classroom walls. With the rich tapestry of opportunities offered by the Washington, DC area, students embark on a journey of enrichment through field trips and field studies that connect them with partner organizations, businesses, nonprofits, centers of arts and scholarship, and government agencies. Students are also immersed in the natural beauty of the area, embarking on hikes, camping trips, and scientific field labs in local and state parks.

Previous Field Studies Include:

Chesapeake Bay: Students engaged in research in environmental science and biology through hands-on labs.
Howard University / LeDroit Park: Students explored the history of the community in the area and conducted research at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library.
Assateague Island: Students engaged in field research focused on climate change and rising sea levels.
Eastern Market: As part of their Cultural Anthropology studies, students practiced participant observation to identify cultural norms observed at the historic public market.

Throughout the year, students embark on trips directly related to their curriculum, broadening their perspectives and deepening their understanding of academic subjects.

Odyssey Trips

Each year, students participate in two Odyssey trips designed to foster growth, community, and student agency. Both trips provide immersive experiences where adolescents learn to care for themselves, each other, and their environment while practicing real-world skills.

Fall Odyssey

Our fall Odyssey focuses on building community—giving students immediate experiences of living and working together. While staff handle most of the planning, students take responsibility for maintaining the community and managing aspects of daily life, including planning and cooking meals and co-creating the trip schedule. This shorter trip also lays the groundwork for the fully student-led spring Odyssey.

Spring Odyssey

The spring Odyssey is fully student-led, celebrating the community that has grown throughout the year. Students choose their destination, plan the itinerary, manage the budget, and execute every detail of the trip. This experience empowers adolescents to take full ownership of the process while living and working together, reinforcing the skills, independence, and collaboration introduced in the fall.

Student Support

Our student support program integrates an advisory curriculum, counseling support, and health and physical education to support our students’ social-emotional skill development and nurture their self-discovery journey. Through weekly discussion and reflection, the program fosters self-awareness, emotional resilience, and informed decision-making, empowering students to thrive academically, mentally, and physically while equipping them with the tools they need for a fulfilling future beyond high school.

The program adjusts to each student and to their particular needs and includes an advisory program, student counseling as well as a robust parent education program focusing on the topics of importance for parents today.

Advisory Program

Advisories provide a space for developing social and executive functioning skills, in addition to being a space for friendship and relaxation. The Oneness-Family School advisory program emphasizes advocating for peace, awareness of self, creating community and self-advocacy skills as primary goals.

Each student is assigned to a group which meets weekly with an advisor. The lesson topics range from self-care to developing one’s reputation. Past topics have included the school’s anti-bias/anti-racism work, including discussing differences and exploring bias and privilege. The program is flexible and adapts to school needs and student and parent feedback as needed.

Student Counseling

The school employs school counselors to work with students individually, in groups, and by grade. Throughout the year students can ask for meetings focusing on typical adolescent concerns. All new students meet with the school counselor to support their transition to OFHS.

Leadership Program

Our Leadership Program is embedded in the daily and weekly operations of our community. Each student participates in two leadership teams per trimester- they might be organizing our spring trip, serving on our student council, or designing and maintaining our outdoor environment. Students are also responsible for communal conflict resolution at our community meetings, which are entirely student-led. Lessons emerge as students learn what it means to lead and live together in a mini-society where everyone’s needs are met.

Production & Exchange

Production & Exchange provides a key experience for adolescents. Montessori emphasized that adolescents need to experience social and economic independence at this developmental stage and must learn to make meaningful decisions involving money. In our production and exchange program, students choose to produce something by selecting a product to create. They initially sell these products at our holiday bazaar during the Festival of Lights in December.

The production and exchange class operates once a week during the first trimester. Students who wish to continue their production and exchange work may do so through a student club that can meet as frequently as they are able. Future sales possibilities include other school events and potential participation in local farmers’ markets, where students can sell their products to the broader community.

Practical Life

Practical Life studies are integrated into the curriculum, emphasizing hands-on experiences to equip students with essential life skills. From mastering job interview techniques to navigating public transportation, students learn the practicalities of real-world situations. They plan and execute field trips and camping expeditions, fostering teamwork and problem-solving skills while building confidence in their ability to navigate diverse environments.

Meal-planning and cooking sessions go beyond culinary arts, teaching students about nutrition, budgeting, and self-sufficiency in the kitchen. Additionally, gardening activities instill an appreciation for nature and sustainability, as students learn to cultivate plants and understand environmental stewardship.

Practical life activities extend to hands-on tasks such as building birdhouses and bat houses, exploring urban design with a focus on integrating nature, and learning automotive maintenance skills like changing a tire. Through these experiences, students develop resilience, resourcefulness, and a holistic understanding of the practicalities of daily life, preparing them for success beyond the classroom.

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Experiential Learning

The Oneness-Family High School Montessori curriculum fosters self-motivation and a love of learning with student-led experiential learning, small class sizes, quality relationships with teachers, and a flexible network of student support that builds a strong social and emotional foundation for academic success.