GWUOHS plans to add sixth and seventh grades starting next academic year, Head of School Alison Mistretta announced on Jan. 23. While some students believe this change could strengthen the school’s sense of community, others worry that a smaller faculty may struggle to support a wider age range of students.
“It allows us to build relationships with students earlier and intentionally shape the academic foundation that supports long-term success through high school. Schoolwide, this expansion strengthens our community by creating a more cohesive 6–12 pathway,” Mistretta said.
Many students, however, express concerns.
When senior Nikhil N. came to the school in eighth grade, he found a well-connected environment. But he has noticed that a lot has changed since then and worries that adding more grades might further separate the school community.
“Currently, I feel like I barely see any interaction from younger students, and I’m worried that even younger grades might feel more disconnected from the school community,” Nikhil said.
While junior Maxim D. acknowledges potential problems, he does not believe the addition would harm the school community.
“It could make the environment less mature and possibly lead to further segregation. I doubt it would happen though, since our community is very welcoming,” Maxim said.
Freshman Samantha M. adds that the change could allow students to get to know each other earlier and help make the community more engaged.
Another common issue that many students brought up was a possible shortage of teachers. In January, three faculty members were laid off. Mistretta, who had announced the decision in a schoolwide email, cited “enrollment trends” and “budget considerations” as the main reasons for the staffing change.
“I think the school is definitely likely to experience some growing pains. We have a pretty great faculty, but it is small, and I’m not sure how our teachers will be able to deal with even more students,” Nikhil said.
Sophomore Bryson T. worries that adding new grades will intensify teacher workload and reduce their ability to adequately support students.
“I think it will affect GWUOHS by stretching teachers thin, especially after losing three teachers late last semester. The secondary effects that may happen due to the addition of these grades is that with the teachers being stretched thin having to teach these grades, that they will have less time to help students and might decrease the quality of education,” Bryson said.
In response to concerns regarding staffing, Mistretta mentioned that enrollment will drive the staffing for these grades. GWUOHS will not proceed with the expansion unless at least 20 students enroll for the two new grades.
“Expanding to include sixth and seventh grade has been a carefully planned and financially responsible decision. We conducted a thorough review of enrollment projections, staffing models, and resource allocation to ensure this growth is sustainable and aligned with our long-term strategic goals,” Mistretta said.
Nikhil noted that this addition could impact how the school handles extracurricular activities and leadership opportunities.
“I think we might see a change in course offerings, the types of clubs offered, and how student leadership opportunities function. I think that over time, things might become tailored to a much younger audience, but I’m not sure what the impacts of that could be,” Nikhil said.
Mistretta said some clubs will be specifically designed for one grade group, while others will be available to students at all levels. Clubs tied to advanced academic experiences will remain more limited to high school.
“Our priority is creating meaningful engagement for all students while preserving a safe, supportive, and developmentally appropriate experience across grade levels,” Mistretta said.
As of now, GWUOHS does not plan to expand beyond middle and high school.
“Our focus is on thoughtfully launching and strengthening our middle school program while continuing to provide the exceptional high school experience that defines GWUOHS. We believe in growing with intention, not simply growing for the sake of expansion,” Mistretta said.
