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Courses at the Mountain School

At the Mountain School, learning comes alive through courses that combine academic rigor with real-world application. Each semester, students immerse themselves in honors-level, college-preparatory classes that explore literature, science, and society through the lens of sustainability, community, and place.

From analyzing classic texts to conducting field research on our Vermont hillside campus, Mountain School courses inspire curiosity, critical thinking, and collaboration. You’ll leave not only better prepared for college, but more connected to the systems—natural and human—that shape our world.

Core Courses

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The Foundation of a Mountain School Semester

Our Core Courses provide the academic backbone of the Mountain School experience. Every student enrolls in three essential courses designed to reflect our mission, learning principles, and sense of place:

Honors English

Explore the intersection of language, identity, and environment. Through reading, writing, and discussion, students develop their analytical voice and learn to express ideas with power and precision.

View Sample Honors English Syllabus

Honors Environmental Science

Investigate the relationship between people and the planet through fieldwork, lab studies, and critical inquiry. Students examine geology, climate, land use, and ecology while exploring the cultural and historical forces that shape our environment.

View Sample Honors Environmental science Syllabus

Honors Food Systems Studies

Discover how food connects people, land, and culture. This seminar explores agriculture, sustainability, and social justice—examining the global and local food systems that sustain our world.

View Sample Food systems Syllabus

Elective Courses

Explore Your Interests, Deepen Your Studies

In addition to the required core courses, students select up to three electives each semester. These courses enable students to stay aligned with their home school’s curriculum while exploring subjects that interest them.

Elective offerings vary by semester and may include:

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Mathematics

Honors Algebra II

Honors Precalculus

AP Calculus AB

AP Calculus BC

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English / Humanities

Honors Creative Writing*

Environmental Publications*

Honors Environmental Humanities

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Modern Languages

Honors Spanish

AP Spanish

A woman giving a presentation in front of a group, with a slide that reads 'Food Systems Thinking + Relational Change Shaping' and features a graphic of a tree. The slide also shows the names Nicole Civita, JD, LL.M., Michelle Auerbach, PhD.
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Arts

Culinary Studies

Art & the Environment

Music*

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Credit and College Preparation

How Courses Transfer

All Mountain School courses are designed to align with honors and AP-level standards and count for full credit at your sending school. Our admissions team can help you plan your semester schedule to ensure smooth credit transfer.

view sample transcript

Academic Challenge and Support

Mountain School courses are intentionally challenging—but deeply rewarding. Expect meaningful discussion, substantial reading and writing, and personalized guidance from experienced faculty who help you grow as a thinker, communicator, and leader.

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Advanced Placement Opportunities

Students frequently take AP exams in:

  • English Language or Literature

  • U.S. History

  • Spanish or French

  • Calculus AB or BC

  • Environmental Science (optional with additional prep)

Our interdisciplinary courses build the analytical and problem-solving skills needed for success on AP exams and in college-level study.

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Interdisciplinary, Experiential Learning

Whether students are taking soil samples from the fields in Honors Chemistry or exploring local dairy farms as part of Honors Food Systems Studies, TMS courses connect learning to the world around us. Often, assessments and final projects invite students to utilize knowledge from other subjects and to demonstrate understanding in varied ways - from papers to projects to presentations.

Why Courses at The Mountain School Matter

A semester of courses at The Mountain School transforms how you see the world and your place in it. You’ll strengthen your academic foundation, learn to think critically about systems and sustainability, and gain confidence as a learner and leader.

​Learn by doing. Grow through belonging. Lead for the common good.

That’s what our courses—and our students—are all about.

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