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7th Grade & Under
Family advising and early direction-setting. Build confidence, explore options, and make big-picture decisions.
Why Start in 7th Grade or Earlier?
The earlier your child starts, the farther ahead they will be. By 8th grade, academic tracks are largely set. If you want your child on the advanced path in high school, the work starts now.
Common Questions
We often hear these types of questions from parents of younger students:
- How can we help our younger kids start earlier than our older children did?
- Should my child attend public or private school?
- How do we apply to competitive private middle or high schools?
- My child has no direction. Where do we even start?
- My child is advanced. How do we make sure they are being challenged enough?
What Our Students Are Doing in 7th Grade and Under:
Here is what to expect as a parent when you enroll your child in this program before 8th grade:
- Talent, Interests & Self-Discovery: We identify your child's natural aptitudes and emerging interests through assessments and conversation. For children with no clear direction, this is the first step. For advanced students, this helps us understand where to push hardest.
- Executive Function & Learning Skills: We work alongside your child to build the organizational habits, time management, focus, and self-discipline that high school demands. For children who struggle in these areas, we help them build a solid foundation. For those who already excel, we introduce more advanced practices and responsibilities to keep them growing.
- Reading, Independent Study & Intellectual Development: We get your child on a rigorous reading and learning path outside the classroom, exposing them to more advanced content and ideas than school will. We begin teaching them how to learn and teach themselves.
- Community Impact & Civic Engagement: We get your child engaged in their community earlier than most. We help them identify the communities they are part of, spot real problems worth solving, and take their first steps toward meaningful impact.
- Course Selection & School Planning: We help your family navigate middle and high school decisions, including public versus private, competitive admissions, and advanced academic tracks. If your child needs to be on an accelerated path by 8th grade, we plan for that now.
- Communication & Social Development: We work on your child's communication skills and getting them comfortable speaking with adults and peers. We also begin introducing them to potential mentors, teaching them how to conduct informational interviews and build relationships with people who can help guide them. These skills compound over time and most students start too late.
- Family Involvement & Responsibility at Home: Parents play a bigger role at this stage. We include them more frequently because their observations give us insights we cannot see in sessions alone, and your child will need your support to implement our plans. We also make sure students are growing as contributing members of their household.
Deliverables and Results
By the time your child enters 8th grade, we should have the following:
- Clear Interests and Initial Direction
- Strong Executive Function and Study Skills
- Reading and Independent Learning Habits Established
- Community Impact Work Begun
- High School Track and School Pathway Planned
- Communication Skills and Confidence Building
- Family Alignment and Responsibility at Home
Our Coaching Approach
We follow a structured format to ensure kids get the highest value possible in school and out of school.
- Biweekly sessions with the student
- Quarterly parent reviews with additional check-ins as needed
- Update emails tracking progress and action items after every session
- We play the role of consultant, coach, and teacher as needed
- Family members are included in sessions more frequently at this stage when needed
Long-Term Roadmap
See our roadmap for your child's learning
Who Is This For?
- Families with older children in our program who want to get their younger children started
- Families who wish they had started earlier and want to make sure their younger child has the advantage
- Families navigating private middle school or high school admissions
- Students who have no clear direction and need help getting started
- Advanced students who are ready for more demanding work and bigger ideas
What does this cost?
View Pricing
This program has up to 12 flexible sessions with Kate Stone Prep
See Pricing Options
Book a Consultation Call
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