Wavecrest Junior High

Adolescent Community | Ages 12 to 14 Years

The Wavecrest Junior High Program of Santa Cruz Montessori provides a safe place for adolescents to develop autonomy, initiative, and collaboration in a respectful and caring community. Our students participate in activities that cultivate responsibility for the planet, their peers, and themselves. They learn to embrace challenges, manage their time, self-advocate, and define themselves as citizens of a community and the world.

Self-Discovery and Exploration

Our adolescent program is designed to foster self-discipline, confidence, and a personal vision of the self as students transform from children into young adults. Wavecrest students are encouraged to be active participants in their educational process, in addition to guides working closely with parents during this crucial stage of development.

• Humanities – Language arts and history.
• Art– Creative expression in two and three dimensional projects, art theory.
• Mathematics – Pre-algebra, algebra, and geometry instruction
• Science – Biology, chemistry, geology, geography, physics, astronomy.
• Spanish – Listening comprehension, oral production, reading, and writing.

Our staff consists of trained guides from the AMI Adolescent Orientation, specialty instructors, and resource specialists. “Specialty instructors,” include local experts and parents, who are invited to work with the students on a regular basis for various projects, physical education, creative expression, community service, and more. Students organize “coffeehouse” presentations where they can explore their creative self-expression, including dancing, singing, sharing poetry, or producing a play.



In addition to their studies on campus, Wavecrest students explore the Monterey Bay Area and the Central Coast, and take a yearly trip to Yosemite National Park and another trip to explore outside of California. Wavecrest students have the opportunity to participate in the Santa Cruz Montessori after-school intramural sports program playing teams from other schools.

Farm Program

Each week, Wavecrest students work at the Live Earth Farm Discovery Program in four areas of interest: field studies, health and wellness, creative expression, and micro-economy. The farm program gives students the opportunity to experience farm-to-table work with gardening, cooking, building, caring for animals, production and exchange at their own farm stand. By experiencing hands-on, cooperative work on the land, students develop a sense of worth and identity within the social fabric of their community. The work consists not only of practical experience but also of intellectual growth achieved through formal lessons.