Sussex is an independent, private school dedicated to offering the best possible learning opportunities for children from Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. This year we celebrate our 42nd birthday!
Sussex School teaches to the academic, social, and emotional developmental needs of every child.
A Unique Campus that helps Preserve Childhood:
Students consider our 2 1/2 acre campus a second home, skating on the
ice rink and building forts and fairy houses in the trees. Our teachers
utilize the entire campus for teaching beyond the classroom. Our
campus buildings include a beautiful old stone-faced house, three
separate classroom buildings (two of which are the first LEED*-certified
school buildings in Montana), a spacious art studio, and a multi-use
facility that serves as an auditorium and gym.
Small Class Sizes: The suggested class size for all
classrooms is 14 students. The school has 118 students, nineteen full
or part-time teachers, and five administrators. With small class sizes,
we are able to teach to the individual child and facilitate learning
experiences that guide each student toward their academic potential.
A Dynamic Staff: Our experienced staff is dedicated to
creating and teaching a progressive curriculum. This can be seen in
cross-curricular projects through thematic units that are relevant to
everyday life, bringing learning alive.
A Whole-Child Curriculum: We teach to the whole child by
enhancing our curriculum of core academic subjects with a visual and
performing arts program, a foreign language program, a music program, an
outdoor and adventure education program, and a service learning
program.
The Big and Little Program: The Big and Little program
is a cornerstone program at Sussex. Students are paired with a child
older or younger than themselves for an entire school year. On average,
students come together four times a week for general assembly
activities and to read with one another once a week. The effects of
this program can be seen in the care and affection that are seen across
the grades, from the soccer field to the ski slopes to the classroom.
Academic Rigor: We promote individual thinking and give
our students the skills to research a subject, analyze and synthesize
the information, and articulate what they have learned.
Place-Based Curriculum: We have two buses that
students use weekly for field trips into our greater community.
Learning goes beyond the walls of the classroom, and curriculum is tied
to the Missoula community to enhance our students’ understanding of
place.
*Leadership in Energy and Efficient Design