Why Choose Welsh Hills School?

Welsh Hills School follows the Montessori philosophy which states that carried within each child is the adult person that child will become. To be able to develop to his/her fullest physical, intellectual, and personal potential, we believe that each child must first achieve freedom through order, and self-discipline within a warm, loving atmosphere.

We are committed to a process-based educational program where students are encouraged to evaluate their work regularly in order to achieve high standards of quality. Reading and writing are dynamic processes that integrate the instruction of all subject matters.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What makes the Early Childhood program at Welsh Hills different from other preschool options in our area?

Welsh Hills provides a dedicated curriculum that begins at age 18 months and continues seamlessly all the way through 8th grade.  The Montessori program at Welsh Hills School is an educational program that is integrated into the school and launches the educational journey that will continue seamlessly as the children grow.

Are there other independent school options in the area that offer similar benefits at a lower cost?

Welsh Hills is a fully-accredited independent school, meeting the high standards of excellence set forth by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS).  This level of accreditation is unique in this area and is similar to well-known Columbus schools such as Columbus School for Girls, Columbus Academy, Wellington School and others.

How does Welsh Hills utilize the Denison University athletic facilities for its physical education program?

Welsh Hills enjoys a partnership with Denison University that enables the older students to participate in Movement classes at Denison under the instruction of a student teacher and a Welsh Hills faculty member. This collaboration offers our students unique opportunities to participate in a great variety of athletic activities utilizing state-of-the-art collegiate facilities.

The Middle School class sizes seem small.  What are its advantages?

The smaller Middle School class size enables our faculty to really get to know the class members and create educational opportunities that are best suited to challenge and stretch them, in addition to supporting their social, emotional, physical, and moral/ethical development during this important time in their lives. Welsh Hills is able to utilize some “Erdkinder” approaches to education, which is closely related to nature and the outdoors.  Field trips with small classes are much simpler and can be much more frequent.  In addition to exposing the students to nature and the environment, it also builds on the practical life skills that they began developing at the earliest levels of their Montessori Education.

What do you mean by focus on the “whole child?”  Don’t all schools do that?

The Welsh Hills curriculum focuses not only on academic and intellectual aspects, but also integrates social, emotional, physical, and moral/ethical components of a child’s growth to help each student develop
as a whole child.

Do Welsh Hills graduates excel primarily in the liberal arts?

Welsh Hills graduates go on to quite varied paths in their further education and careers, ranging from mathematics, computer science, engineering, education, broadcasting, music, history, political science, just to name a few.  The Welsh Hills education aims to prepare its graduates with the skill sets needed to pursue their passion and to succeed in diverse fields.

How does Welsh Hills encourage kids to become “lifelong learners?”

Unlike many schools that measure success by focusing on passing tests, the Welsh Hills philosophy encourages children to explore their ideas, take risks and make discoveries, and learn to love the “process of learning,” such that they are prepared for life’s challenges.  We recognize that learning is a lifelong process that goes well beyond passing the next test, and we strive to nurture that love for learning in the Welsh Hills students.

What is the Welsh Hills approach to leveraging Montessori methods?

The Welsh Hills philosophy is rooted in the Montessori tradition, especially from age 18 months through the 3rd grade.  As students move into grades 4 through 8, the educational methods still leverage Montessori principles and provide seamless continuity to students, but also include additional approaches that are not strictly Montessori-based.