Middle School

Middle School is a time for excitement and exploration as students develop independence as learners and leaders, artists and athletes, scientists and singers, and roles as yet unknown to them.

Our rigorous college-prep curriculum is enhanced by a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities for Middle School girls. And we encourage them to try it all—clubs, committees, activities, non-athletic teams, sports teams, and service learning.  We provide many avenues for our students to experience and to try new things, to explore, and to test their limits. 
As Middle School progresses, students begin to realize their strengths and interests, discovering what and where best to invest their time and energy in Upper School.

middle school girls in lab coats

middle school girls with robotics

Middle School is a time of many changes academically, emotionally, and physically. The life of a Middle School girl can be tumultuous at times. McGehee’s extraordinary faculty as well as our Counseling and Learning Support Services professionals, understand the unique challenges during these developmentally important years and provide the curriculum, supportive environment, and guidance needed to help each girl navigate these challenges and discover her potential.

These years are also a time to build upon foundations established in Lower School and to encourage our girls to become responsible for their own learning experience in preparation for Upper School. Our teachers challenge students to take academic risks and encourage them to set high expectations for themselves. Middle School students are making more choices for themselves, and our faculty are there to help students learn to make thoughtful and responsible choices.

middle school student with teacher


Jessica Holl is incredibly excited to be the Head of Middle School after leading the Performing Arts Department and teaching general music and choir in both Lower and Middle School at McGehee for 15 years. Jessica received a double Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College in Vocal Performance and Music Education and received her Master of Music Education from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. She is passionate about helping preadolescent and adolescent girls bravely transition from concrete learners to abstract thinkers while becoming honorable, empathetic members of their community.  Attending the Gardner Carney Leadership Institute's Leadership Lab at Fountain Valley School in Colorado in June, 2019, further inspired Jessica to lead and guide McGehee’s future leading women. Jessica enjoys the many aspects of her job and appreciates the time she spent working on the ISAS Self-Study Steering Committee as well as the many opportunities she has to work collaboratively with her colleagues.

“Our goal in Middle School at McGehee is to guide young women through their most transformative years by fostering an innovative, collaborative learning environment that includes a culture steeped with positivity, inclusivity, collaboration, and risk-taking critical to the development of adolescent girls.”
–Jessica Holl, Head of Middle School

Jessica Holl, Middle School Head