The Grove Community School blends advanced academics with hands-on learning in upper grades

The Grove Community School in Conroe is expanding an upper-grade Montessori model that pairs harder academic work with construction projects, outdoor time and practical skills. School leaders say the approach is meant to produce students who can analyze, create and solve problems, not just test well.

Why it matters: - The Grove Community School is trying to show that upper-grade rigor does not have to mean more time at a desk. - The Conroe Montessori school is pairing advanced academics with outdoor learning and practical work as students move into Upper Elementary and Junior High. - The model is designed to build problem-solving, independence and real-world skills alongside academic performance.

What happened: - Upper Elementary and Junior High students at The Grove Community School split their time between challenging academic work and hands-on projects. - Students analyze literature, interpret scientific data and solve complex math problems. - Students also measure lumber, repair picnic tables and work together on construction projects. - Head of School Chris Gillaspie said the school expects more challenging academics as children get older, but does not want students to spend their entire childhood sitting at a desk. - The Grove Community School was founded in 2019 and has expanded its programs as students have grown.

The details: - Upper-grade academics focus on analysis, synthesis and application. - Students conduct research, interpret data, examine historical and scientific questions and construct evidence-based arguments. - Students also complete longer-term projects that require connections across disciplines. - The school begins nationally normed standardized testing in fourth grade to monitor growth and benchmark performance. - Recent results showed 80% of students scoring in the 75th percentile or higher in math problem solving. - Students have also shown strong performance in reading. - The school’s nearly five-acre campus supports outdoor learning, recreation and projects. - Junior High students spend at least 90 minutes outdoors during a typical school day. - Campus projects have included building an outdoor stage. - Other practical projects have included repairing picnic tables. - Students learn to measure, plan, use tools appropriately, collaborate and fix mistakes when projects do not go as expected. - Gillaspie said the school wants students to know how to use a drill, repair something broken and build something other people will use. - The Grove’s Upper Elementary program is nearing capacity for the current school year.

Between the lines: - The Grove is positioning hands-on work as a core academic tool, not an enrichment add-on. - The school’s approach reflects a belief that movement, outdoor time and practical skills still matter in the upper grades. - Standardized testing is used as one outside measure, but the school says it is not trying to produce strong test takers alone. - The program suggests a broader definition of student success that includes communication, craftsmanship, collaboration and responsibility.

What’s next: - The Grove continues developing its older programs as more students advance through the school. - The Upper Elementary and Junior High offerings will keep growing with the student body. - Gillaspie said the school will keep emphasizing both academic rigor and meaningful childhood experiences as the upper grades expand.

The bottom line: - The Grove Community School is betting that students can do serious academic work and still learn by building, moving and spending time outdoors.