Academics
I am beyond thrilled with the education and school experience my daughter is receiving.
CMI is the only public school in DC implementing a continuous international curriculum from preschool through middle school. In 2017, CMI became the first public school in the United States to achieve accreditation in the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) and began using the International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC). In addition to rigorous academic goals, the curriculum encourages international awareness. Learning through thematic units, students engage in interactive, hands-on projects that spark curiosity, encourage teamwork and make connections to real-world issues. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade study Common Core Standards–based English language arts and mathematics.
The CMI program incorporates Dr. Stanley Greenspan’s developmental approach to education in order to support individual learning styles that are explained by differences in the ways children process information. Understanding and supporting each child’s unique social and cognitive development is crucial for teachers and parents as together we prepare our students for academic and future success.
In addition to arts integration in our academic subjects through the IPC and IMYC, we provide our students with music, movement, visual arts and drama during the school day and in our after school clubs.
Global language classes in Spanish and Mandarin are provided to all students up to third grade; fourth through eighth grade students choose one language with the goal of working toward proficiency in the chosen language.
Technology is also an important part of learning at CMI: students build skills in Information and Communications Technology through their hands-on projects that are part of the IPC and IMYC; they use technology to communicate, connect, and hone critical thinking. Our middle school program features STEAM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Arts-Math) integrated into IMYC units, allowing students to engage deeply with their coursework through multiple modalities.
At CMI, we teach children about health and nutrition in the curriculum. Because we understand the importance of healthy dietary options for our students, we ensure that our school lunches meet or exceed national requirements for healthy meals.
We also address our students’ wellness through opportunities for movement and exercise in physical education classes, after school clubs and throughout the school day. Activities include yoga, dance, sensory integration work, and physically active games.