Educators recognize, from practical experience and quantitative research, that boys have particular learning styles. MBA has the ability to tailor the curriculum to make students as comfortable with poetry as they are with physics. Choosing themes to which boys respond – courage, adventure, risk-taking, honor, and a sense of duty –
is an effective approach to enhance learning and communication. MBA takes advantage of the opportunity to structure and present course materials designed to meet the unique learning requirements of our young men.
MBA recognizes the need to prepare boys for life in a coeducational world. Our boys interact regularly with girls in a number of settings. Students of both genders collaborate in book clubs, art shows, service projects, and athletic competition. They also take coeducational trips to explore colleges, the outdoors, cities, and foreign countries – building lifelong friendships along the way.
At MBA we know how to inspire boys.
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“Our boys exude energy and joyful intensity in everything they do. I’ve seen boys explode in arm-pumping en-thusiasm over getting an answer right in class with the same kind of abandon they display in a pep rally!”
- Anne Christeson, Foreign Languages |
Our teachers actively engage them in learning by setting the stage for discovery, involvement, and action. They understand how boys learn, what they know, and what they are capable of accomplishing. On an even deeper level, they get to know the boys as individuals, and they work diligently to champion their individual efforts. Boys at MBA excel in the arts, in debate competition, in athletics, and in creating college options for themselves. They form lifelong friendships here, develop deep personal convictions, and learn to give freely to causes in which they believe. Our students lead enriched and satisfying lives, due in part to the inspiration, opportunities, and cohesiveness inherent in an all-boys school.
the junior school
The Junior School
The Junior School is designed to meet the particular needs of our seventh and eighth grade boys. This comprehensive program attends to the emotional, social, and moral growth of our youngest men, as well as to their intellectual and athletic development. We recognize that every boy is a Gentleman, Scholar, Athlete in training, and the Junior School provides the tools and support he needs to realize his full potential in the areas of integrity, academics, creativity, and physical fitness.
• Foundations established though challenging age-appropriate curriculum
• Faculty dedicated to the academic,
social, and emotional needs of 7th and 8th grade boys
• Strong student support through advisory groups, help sessions, and frequent parent-teacher-student communication
• Nine acres of athletic fields specifically designed for the Junior School
• Collaboration program with Harpeth
Hall providing academic, athletic,
service, and social activities
• Optional trips to Florida, Wyoming, the
Northeast, and the Southwes
• Class trips and weekend excursions
• Classes representing 15 public and 15 independent schools
• Junior School graduates comprise 95% of MBA’s National Merit Scholars and the majority of valedictorians and salutatorians
Clubs & Organizations
Buckeye (student literary magazine)
Top of the Hill (student newspaper)
FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes)
Geography Bee
JAG (Jewish Advisory Group)
MathCounts
Outdoor Club
Science Olympiad
Service Club
Soup Kitchen
Special Olympics
Spelling Bee
World Affairs Challenge
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Boys begin each day in their homerooms where they are
“MBA finds a way to make hard things fun, and also satisfying. I have surprised myself by going beyond what I thought I could do here. I was also surprised by the variety of kids at MBA. People with many different talents and personalities come here, and they each can shine.”
- Jake Hymes (’10) |
greeted by an advisor, who also teaches their first period class. The role of the advisor is to identify and respond to their students’ academic and personal needs, serving as both advocate and mentor. A partnership among students, their families, and teachers is formed based on mutual communication and trust. Frequent e-mail correspondence, in addition to phone calls and conferences, facilitate timely and meaningful contact among the MBA community. Teachers are available 30 minutes before school to provide the boys with additional academic attention.
The core curriculum of the Junior School is fully integrated with that of the High School. Courses are designed to build the foundation upon which all high school academic study is based. Consequently, students in the Junior School have more options available for advanced study in grades 11 and 12; 95 percent of our National Merit Scholars, and the majority of our valedictorians and salutatorians, have had their start here. To complement the core curriculum, a wide variety of enrichment courses and activities is available: choral and instrumental music, forensics, art, newspaper and literary magazine publications, as well as Science Olympiad, World Affairs Challenge, and MathCounts. The rich and varied offerings are designed to reflect and expand upon the diverse academic backgrounds of the incoming students. A typical class, representing educational institutions throughout Middle Tennessee, is comprised of 15 independent and 15 public schools.
A devoted faculty of men and women appreciate the vibrancy of students this age; they know how to harness an adolescent boy’s enthusiasm to ensure that learning will be both meaningful and productive. For example, students enjoy building Rube Goldberg contraptions and writing book reviews that are published on the web site. Skills in writing, language, critical and creative thinking, scientific experimentation, and problem solving are emphasized within a curriculum that is both focused and flexible. Junior School teachers prepare the boys for high school by helping them develop strong study habits, organizational skills, and a sense of personal responsibility.
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“Boys soon discover that they can be themselves in the small, all-male class. The ‘cool factor’ falls away as boys openly discuss their ideas and feelings in response to literature; they support each other in the challenge to become competent writers.”
- Libby Bourland, English |
Physical activity plays an important role in the lives of boys; the athletic program offers a full range of grade-level interscholastic sports throughout the year, as well as non-team activities and intramurals. The goal is to provide many levels of competition while promoting a high level of physical fitness. The newly-developed Junior School athletic facility, spanning nine acres on 42nd Avenue, has two lighted playing fields and a baseball diamond.
The Junior School is made up of 14 classrooms, a commons room, a computer lab, administrative offices, a conference room, and a student study area in the Jack C. Massey Building. Using Massey Hall as the hub, students take courses in music, theater, and forensics in other buildings on campus. The Ingram Science Building, for example, houses sophisticated laboratory classrooms designated for Junior School students, as well as a research lab, botanical areas, and a lecture hall.
Junior School traditions create lifelong memories. Seventh grade students ride to school with their senior big brothers on registration day; the Camp Laney retreat encourages bonding among new students and teachers at the start of the school year; and the eighth grade graduation trip celebrates the entire Junior School experience. Collaborative events with the Harpeth Hall Middle School offer age-appropriate academic, social, athletic, and service activities throughout the year. Boys have the opportunity to take weekend excursions, trips to Florida and Wyoming, as well as the Peaks trip which has long been an MBA tradition. Events that bring the Junior and High Schools together include weekly assemblies and activities that encompass service projects and pep rallies.
The spirit of camaraderie among students in the Junior School is remarkable; the boys have an uncommon appreciation for the achievements of their classmates, and they truly enjoy one another. There is a sense of common purpose in all that they do. Whether the boys are playing Hacky Sack, rehearsing for a performance, or studying Latin, the Junior School of Montgomery Bell Academy is a special place for boys at a special time in their lives.
The High School
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What transpires over the course of four years is truly remarkable: boys of promise become men of character. |
The MBA High School is defined by academic challenge and intellectual curiosity, a powerful sense of camaraderie and a breadth of opportunities. Students are encouraged to establish a strong work ethic, to invest in themselves and the lives of their classmates and teachers, and to take risks by pursuing a variety of interests. Over the past century and a half, over 10,000 boys have taken this journey.
The transition from the Junior School to High School is symbolized by the Ocoee rafting trip, setting a tone of freedom, friendship, and promise. Freshmen eagerly embrace the expanse of the campus as their academic and extracurricular options increase. They begin to explore leadership opportunities in service, honor, and student government. Advisors are at the helm to help the boys begin to chart their academic and extracurricular courses at MBA.
Sophomore year is marked by a better understanding of academic and behavioral expectations. Students accept an increased responsibility for their education and personal conduct. The support of faculty, advisors, and guest speakers (who model courage, loyalty, and sound decision making) is critical at this stage of development. As 10th grade students become more invested in the life of the school community, they begin to understand that MBA is a place where they can lead, inspire, and find lifelong friendships.
Students in their junior year face academic challenge with a shared sense of purpose and heightened camaraderie. Surrounded by a school community that values excellence in learning, boys appreciate the importance of a strong work ethic. They share a vision of high expectations, in leadership activities like theater, debate, music, service, and athletics, and in the college selection process. Pursuing a range of opportunities leads to further academic and personal growth as students establish a foundation for a strong college application.
Seniors begin an important transition by assuming peak leadership positions and serving actively as  role models. They take pride in becoming big brothers, in speaking at school events, and in setting the tone for the school. The college selection process is itself a rite of passage as students explore within themselves to define their goals for college and career. They savor the camaraderie that comes with their last year of the rituals, traditions, and events that make MBA unique. A sense of anticipation pervades the campus as senior boys and their families prepare for commencement. When faculty, parents, and students join in celebration of individual and group achievements, and reminisce about shared experiences, the MBA Big Red spirit comes alive with affection and loyalty. |
