School begins at 8:30am, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Students at schools that open at 8:30am vs. schools that open even a half hour earlier are shown to sleep longer, be happier, have better cognitive development, better physical health, and better grades.

Monday through Thursday, dismissal is at 3:30pm, and on Fridays, school lets out an hour early at 2:30pm. For families who need early drop-off or late-pickup, we will offer before- and after-school care options.

Check out our schedule for more details about what a school day at Rock Creek looks like!

Students with cell phones or other smart devices must store them in a secure location for the entirety of the school day. As per our tech policy, we want to free kids from the temptation, distraction, and pressure of notifications & social media, and we want students to be present for their peers and teachers. Maintaining a phone-free school environment supports students’ mental health and enables them to form better friendships and learn more in class.

In middle school, electives are covered through our innovative Badging program. Students choose different projects to explore within the arts, personal fitness, and other elective topics. Through the badging program, we teach students how to effectively manage their own work. The badging program helps students uncover and hone their interests and teaches them how to take ownership over their work and lives.

Our sports program will begin in 7th grade, once we have enough students to support the program. In 5th and 6th grade, students will stay active through the personal fitness badges that are a part of our Badging program, through a regular movement class, and through weekly fieldwork.

Our program is designed to develop lifelong agency.

Our Practical Liberal Arts courses emphasize ideas and skills that matter in the world today. We modernize math, pushing toward data, computational tools, and problem-solving. We transform history and science with connected data science classes & weekly fieldwork. We restore reading books to the center of the English classroom and expand the forms of writing students learn well beyond the five paragraph essay.

We also create space for students to explore their interests and learn to manage their own work. In badging, and through annual passion projects, students explore and pursue their interest with support from teachers. All students also take a Practical Psychology course where they learn science-based tools to manage themselves and their work. A daily open & close provide space and skills for students to prioritize, plan, and reflect.