Academics &
High School Readiness

Subjects and electives

Core subjects: English language arts, mathematics, science, and humanities. Scholars read novels and articles, write arguments supported by evidence, solve mathematical problems, and investigate scientific questions.

Curriculum: EL Education for English language arts, Eureka Math for mathematics, and Amplify Science for science. Humanities includes the history of Black and Brown people and connects history to civic life.

Electives: Chinese, dance, visual arts and Art with a Heart, theatre, physical education, health, computer science, and leadership/transitions. Offerings vary by grade. Scholars take one elective per trimester, with placement based on their schedules and needs.

Academic challenge

Yes, if she demonstrates readiness through assessments, teacher observations, and grades. Algebra I placement depends on that readiness. Contact the school team to discuss how placement is determined.

Work scholars create

Projects connect classroom subjects to real questions and give scholars an audience for their work. Recent examples include fifth graders making public-service announcements about natural disasters, seventh graders explaining plastic pollution through documentaries and infographics, and eighth graders researching diseases and leading a panel with survivors.

Teachers guide scholars through research, feedback, and revision. Scholars must explain their ideas and support them with evidence. These examples come from FY26; projects change as teachers plan new learning.

Following her progress

At Scholar-Led Conferences, your daughter shares her work, explains her progress, and discusses next steps with your family. Celebrations of Learning let you see completed projects and hear scholars explain them. Passage Portfolio Presentations bring academic work and character growth together in a presentation to a community panel.

Teachers give feedback on classroom work and check understanding during lessons. Ask your daughter’s teachers which skills she has mastered, what she is still working on, and how you can support her at home.

Reading and mathematics support

LMCJ uses i-Ready across grades 5–8. The program of studies also lists small-group intervention in grade 6 and MCAP Boost in grade 8. A scholar’s intervention support depends on her needs and schedule.

If you are concerned about reading or math, contact your daughter’s teacher to discuss the skills she is working on and the support available for her grade. Ask what she will work on, when the support takes place, and how you will know whether it is helping.

Preparing for high school

Academic preparation: Scholars read and research across subjects, write using evidence, and revise their work after feedback. Eighth graders who demonstrate readiness can take Algebra I. Grade 8 offerings also include leadership/transitions and MCAP Boost.

Speaking and explaining her work: At Scholar-Led Conferences, your daughter presents her learning and progress to her family. In Passage Portfolio Presentations, she shows evidence of academic learning and character growth to a community panel and answers questions about her work. These experiences give her practice explaining her thinking and responding to adults’ questions.

Choosing her next school: Lillie for Life begins before eighth-grade promotion and guides scholars through high school choice. Contact admissions@lilliemay.org or call (443) 320-9499 to connect with the team about this process and your daughter’s options.

Where alumnae go

Our alumnae continue to a range of public, independent, and parochial high schools. Across Lillie May’s first decade, documented destinations include:

• Baltimore City College
• Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, including its Ingenuity program
• Western High School
• Bard High School Early College
• Baltimore School for the Arts
• Baltimore Design School
• George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology
• Roland Park Country School
• Friends School of Baltimore
• Cristo Rey Jesuit High School
• Mercy High School
• The Catholic High School of Baltimore
• St. Frances Academy
• City Neighbors
• Mervo

Our Lillie for Life program guides scholars through high school choice before eighth-grade promotion. This list reflects documented destinations across multiple graduating classes. Admission depends on each high school’s requirements and process.

Source: FY26 Annual Report, “Lillie for Life,” page 12.

Academic growth in FY26

In March 2026 i-Ready results, 82 of 200 scholars assessed in reading (41%) and 54 of 179 assessed in mathematics (30%) achieved at least twice their typical annual growth benchmark.

Typical Growth depends on a scholar’s grade and starting performance. These figures describe growth, rather than grade-level proficiency. Ask the school team for current proficiency results alongside growth data and examples of scholar work.

Source: FY26 Annual Report, page 13.