Hilldale School adopted an accelerated curriculum with specified goals to be attained at each grade level. It is comprehensive and challenging and seeks to provide both breadth and depth in all subjects. Hilldale encourages high expectations, a sense of world citizenship and social responsibility, an understanding of our environment and the need for personal stewardship of our environmental resources, positive ethical values, and critical thinking.

Instructional Methods
The Hilldale curriculum is structured to encourage the development of academic skills in efficient and engaging ways, drawing upon traditional and contemporary instructional methodologies and philosophies. Teachers include hands-on learning experiences and real world connections in order to make the learning experience meaningful and enjoyable. We emphasize presentation and mastery of basic skills and subject content in phonics, reading, grammar, composition, spelling, vocabulary, math, science, geography, and history, providing the necessary foundation for study in most higher level academic disciplines. Inquiry-based learning, project-oriented learning, critical thinking, and problem solving skills are infused into daily practice and encourage further depth and breadth in each subject matter. Students are prepared to successfully meet the challenges they may face in the future; thoughtful and creative arts provide balance and meaning to their lives.  

Language Arts
Hilldale School offers a strong foundation in Language Arts through the implementation of excellent phonetic-based early-reading programs. Students develop skills in reading, comprehension, composition, and speaking through extensive and varied literacy activities and literary resources beginning in Kindergarten. Vocabulary studies begin in second grade, when students can still absorb words easily into their daily vocabularies. Yearly “Young Author” projects encourage creative writing. Literary Analysis and library skills instruction enhance our strong Language Arts program.

Mathematics
Hilldale uses the Singapore Math program in K-6 to help students develop a mastery of mathematical concepts, a love of math, and self-identification as mathematicians! Instruction encompasses three stages of mastery from the concrete level to the pictorial stage to abstract understanding. Fluency in number sense and place value are explored and understood. Mental math and word problem solving are primary skills. Singapore Math brings the real world to the children and helps children understand the math all around them. In middle school, students are ready to discover the wonders of Pre-Algebra, Algebra, and Geometry. Those students who are ready for even more are afforded an opportunity to excel.

Science
Our Science program utlizes the FOSS program of hands-on scientific research and inquiry. Students are encouraged to ask questions, investigate, and utilize the scientific method of discovery to find the answers. Yearly science fair projects begin in Kindergarten, and middle school students have daily "current science events" discussions, leading to a thorough knowledge of how science is continuously affecting students' world and lives.

Social Studies
Our Social Studies program is far superior to what most schools offer. We feel strongly that students need to know about their communities, their country, and the world in order to be good citizens. To this end, we use not only a strong Social Studies series beginning in Kindergarten, but also an intensive world map studies program. We participate in the National Geography Bee and sponsor an annual International Fair. We integrate the Core Knowledge international topics into our curriculum, and we continually point to how we can be better citizens. Seventh graders study civics and take a constitution test.

World Language
As part of our goal to develop a sense of world citizenship and social responsibility, we introduce world language (Spanish) from the beginning in Kindergarten, when it is still possible to develop an ease of pronouncing and thinking the language. This is not an immersion program, but by second grade, students do feel fairly comfortable communicating in the language and are learning grammar and adding to their vocabularies. Students in fourth and fifth grades study Latin, and middle school students study Latin and Greek word roots for the vocabulary program which helps to develop a strong knowledge of English vocabulary and grammar.

Technology
Technology is integrated into the curriculum to help students develop the comfort and skills to carry them forward in our ever-changing world. Students learn computer literacy beginning in Kindergarten with once a week Technology classes and a deep integration of tech in their Language Arts and Math classes. Weekly technology classes have specific grade level content and typing goals, and all classes from Kindergarten to eighth grade participate in coding programs. Middle school students will create a digital project based learning legacy project and create their own website. Students create the digital literary magazine as well as the yearbook.

Music, Art, Physical Education, & Ethics
In addition to the strong academic instruction, Music and Art and Physical Education classes are provided to all students. Ethics (Character Education, Philosophy, and Debate) encourage creative expression and critical thinking. Each class also enjoys a variety of field trips which extend the curriculum by providing cultural and aesthetic experiences. In all subject areas, it is our ongoing goal to find the best curriculum for our students, to present this curriculum in the best manner possible, and to allow our students to develop to their maximum potential.