College Prep Starts in Grade 3: A Scorpion-Wide Journey from Curiosity to Confidence

Rather than being something that starts Junior year of High School, college prep at Sage Ridge School begins in grade three and is for every Scorpion, aged 8 to 18. 

While college acceptance is certainly within reach with Sage Ridge School’s 100% college matriculation, college preparation at Sage Ridge goes far beyond Ivy League or selective college admissions. Our mission is to equip each student, starting in Grade 3, with the skills, habits, confidence and character needed to thrive in college and life. From foundational reading, writing, and problem-solving in the Lower School, to intellectual curiosity, independence, and resilience in the Upper School, Sage Ridge focuses on developing well-rounded, capable young adults ready for the challenges ahead, wherever their paths lead.

Beginning in Lower School, our project-based curriculum cultivates curiosity, resilience, executive functioning, and a love of discovery — skills imperative for success in Middle and Upper School, college, and beyond. From the introduction and implementation of the Socratic method; a Shark Tank-style entrepreneurial project diving into innovation, critical thinking, business concepts, presentation and research; and the Zoo planning project utilizing critical thinking, problem-solving, real-world application, spatial reasoning and strategic planning; our 3rd graders begin to cultivate essential academic and life skills early on.

By Grades 4 and 5, students engage in even deeper, interdisciplinary projects such as the Earth Eco Water Challenge and Thomas Creek water testing, as well as the Family History project, which enhances research, presentation and public speaking skills. 

These Sage Ridge-exclusive programs prepare Lower School students to think critically, adapt quickly, engage meaningfully, and lead with integrity. 

Beyond working with their peers to build academic and life skills through a project-based curriculum, this year, Lower School students had an exciting new opportunity to apply their skills in an inspiring and meaningful way: they hosted a College Fair for Upper School Scorpions.

This initiative is one of many that connect students across grade levels. 

“Lower, Middle and Upper School students regularly connect, mentor, and learn from one another,” Assistant Head of School Emily Dolan said. “Scorpion Team competitions on Field Day, Friday campus meetings, theatre performances, athletics, club activities and Coffee House are all incredible opportunities for students across grade levels to learn and grow together as a community.”

On April 30, Lower School students hosted the College Fair for Upper School students, showcasing colleges selected by the Class of 2026. The project began with classroom lessons on “What is College,” and evolved into grade-appropriate projects, researching campuses identified as being of interest by Juniors set to graduate in May 2026. 

“College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won,” Sage Ridge Director of College Counseling Rob Lamb said. “Learning about different kinds of universities and starting to think about finding the right fit in the Lower School is very important. In such a competitive landscape, it’s less about chasing rankings or a college’s perceived prestige and more about finding the right size, type, academic offerings, student life and setting for each student.” 

Colleges and universities are omnipresent at Sage Ridge. During Friday’s community meetings with grades 3-12 students, Seniors’ college acceptances are announced. The Sage Ridge Class of 2025 was admitted to schools from coast to coast, including schools with acceptance rates for regular decisions as low as 4%. Once Seniors choose their right-fit college, they can wear their college’s sweatshirt any day of the week. Leading up to the April 30 College Fair, Lower School students wore university gear for their colleges of interest and the schools they researched. 

“I learned about unique classes like tractor driving and chimpanzee studying to university traditions such as Dragon Day at Cornell University,” Sage Ridge Junior Beatrice Liwanag said about the Lower School-led College Fair. “Learning about these different colleges from these engaging Lower School students inspired me to explore my horizons and think about more options when I start college applications in the fall.”

Leading up to the fair, Lower School students also hosted trivia competitions with their peers about what they learned. The 8 to 11-year-old students proudly represented their selected universities and surprised Upper School students with their enthusiasm and knowledge:  

• Fifth-grader Cassie Alexandridis: “They’re really into science, economics and communications at UC Santa Barbara.”
• “If you’re interested in film, this is where you want to go,” 4th-grader Hailey Brown said confidently about her school, Loyola Marymount University. 
• Fourth-grader Izzy Gaude on the University of Florida: “It is where Gatorade was invented. They even have biology AND football!” 
• Fourth-grader Amelie Brownell: “I didn’t know chicken nuggets were invented at Cornell!” 
• Fifth-grader Odin Muller was excited to share that astronaut Buzz Aldrin went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). 

Fifth-grader Joie Sweeney said that astronaut Neil Armstrong went to the University of Southern California, and “USC has the most Olympic medal winners in the U.S.” Class of 2025 graduate Jeremy Gupta is headed to USC in the fall. 

Fifth-grader Foster Gray discovered that Upper School Calculus and Physics teacher Mr. Donald Johnston played basketball at the University of Michigan, the school Foster was representing. 

It wasn’t just an academic exercise—it was a community event that united our youngest and oldest Scorpions in a shared journey of learning, dreaming, and growing. Junior Patty McMillin shared her interest in forensics and a career with the FBI. She is searching for a school with a great criminology department. Third-grade students raised their hands enthusiastically when asked if they were interested in STEAM fields and space exploration. 

An education at Sage Ridge School emphasizes not only critical thinking and collaboration but also empathy and service to others. The College Fair project, which researched schools of Juniors’ interest, provided insightful perspectives from the school’s youngest cohort. 

“This was an incredible opportunity to connect Lower and Upper School students as well as provide a learning experience that includes critical research skills with a real-world application, all while fostering a sense of community between our youngest and oldest students,” School Counselor and Faculty Director of the College Fair project Heather Power said.