OUR MISSION We cultivate the boundless potential of highly gifted children, nurture their passions and talents, and develop a diverse community of creative and constructive lifelong learners.
OUR CORE VALUES Responsibility, Integrity, Discovery, Empathy, Resilience
OUR STATEMENT OF INCLUSIVITY We are committed to building a connected community that embraces multiple perspectives and cultural competency to strengthen gifted education and growth in the whole child. At Mirman, we strive to integrate inclusivity in our curriculum, school culture, and institutional identity. We honor and support a community built on diversity of thought, experiences, and identities to best engage our students in the academic, sociocultural, and complex world in which we learn and live.
FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL There’s no doubt that Mirman was ahead of its time in 1962 when founders Dr. Norman and Beverly Mirman began their journey with a handful of pioneering students in their living room. Walking Mirman’s campus today, while I can tell you that so many things have changed as we continue to advance in technology and philosophy, I can also tell you that the pursuit of boundless potential has not. The only independent school in Los Angeles that exclusively focuses on highly gifted students, Mirman is uniquely positioned to challenge and inspire the children we serve. To be a Mirman student is to be part of a special cohort of creative and caring children — led by a faculty trained to help them flourish. The Mirman experience is impossible to capture in a single document, but I hope that within these pages, you begin to find a sense of what we’re all about, what we’re up to, and what it might feel like to join us in our vision, our mission, and, most important, our community. So, in the spirit of discovery — one of our Core Values — I invite you to dive in and learn more. We’re honored to have your consideration. Respectfully,
Dan Vorenberg
WHO WE ARE
Mirman students are artists, athletes, builders, musicians, thinkers, and doers. We make room for students to develop their gifts and explore their passions, whatever they may be. Mirman is one of the only places in the country where these remarkable children can truly be among their peers. Highly gifted is a clinical term applied to people in the top 1% of intelligence norms, so determining if a child is highly gifted requires IQ testing. Despite the wide range of ways these talents might manifest in a young person, research in the field has revealed some common indicators of giftedness. At Mirman, a highly trained teaching faculty made up of lifelong learners assists our students in nurturing and developing these traits to their fullest potential.
5 signs of a highly gifted child Thinks deeply about complex issues Has a surprisingly global perspective Displays insatiable curiosity Uses advanced language Yearns to explore interests in great detail
WHERE WE COME FROM
Giftedness is not confined to a particular neighborhood, background, or socioeconomic status. Mirman’s campus is an inclusive and welcoming environment, home to a diversity of thought, beliefs, and life experience. Our curriculum and experiential learning opportunities encourage our students to appreciate different perspectives. Our families represent a wide range of races, ethnicities, religions, family structures, and walks of life, and their stories are highlighted and honored throughout our campus. As we prepare our students to be the next generation of leaders in an increasingly complex global society, we recognize the importance of celebrating and experiencing a wide variety of viewpoints and cultures.
FAMILIES FROM
ZIP CODES
STUDENTS OF COLOR
A WORLD OF EXPERIENCES, A MULTITUDE OF VOICES,
FAMILIES, AND ONE COMMUNITY.
HOW WE LEARN
Giftedness is an asynchronous
for every student in every subject.
development, meaning that every
In a Mirman classroom, it is not
student at Mirman has a unique set
uncommon to see multiple small
of strengths and areas for growth.
groups approaching a topic at different
We believe that learning should have
levels of complexity. Some students
no ceilings, and that a child-centered
in a math class may model basic
approach is required to support our
equations with manipulatives while
students in their development. For
others work to solve more advanced
this reason, Mirman classes offer
algebra problems. In the next room,
specialized attention that provides
one literature circle may be examining
the appropriate level of challenge
the structure of a plot while another
discusses larger themes in a book. On
traditionally fourth grade material.
our central lawn, an art class may break
Those grade-level standards are
up into groups to work on different
then taught through a thematic
pieces of a larger installation. The
lens that encourages students to
goal is for every Mirman student to
explore the topics with greater depth
be known, challenged, inspired, and
and complexity. This allows for our
supported.
students to be challenged academically while still being among their peers in
Each of our classes is accelerated
an environment designed to promote
by one academic year, meaning a
and support their social and emotional
third grade class will cover what is
development.
An education that celebrates all dimensions of childhood doesn’t take place strictly at a desk. On our campus, a holistic approach to learning means that all aspects of an individual’s gifts are supported — in the classroom, on the basketball court, under the stage lights, or in a concert hall. Just as we work to provide the appropriate level of challenge for our students
WHAT WE DO
in core subjects like math and reading, we support our artists and athletes with many opportunities to develop their skills and perform. At Mirman, one passion does not preclude another — we give our students the room to explore the interplay of their interests, even those they have yet to discover.
THEMATIC UNITS
Your child might…
In alignment with best practices
IN LOWER SCHOOL
in gifted pedagogy, Mirman builds
Design a utopian society
in natural opportunities for crosscurricular connections. Gifted students often excel at applying knowledge from one area of study to another, and this allows for novel ways of approaching problems. Teachers
Dissect a sheep brain to learn about neuroscience Build arcade games to explore Greek mythology Design a new numeral system
collaborate so that each grade level at Mirman has a central theme through which subject area is approached.
Create a creature from recyclable materials and envisioning its environment — in a foreign language
MIRMANX
MirmanX is a middle school startup accelerator for Upper School students to tackle moonshot projects which have the potential to help
IN UPPER SCHOOL
Use statistical analysis to solve a real-world problem Compete in First Lego League robotics
a community in some meaningful, tangible way. Mirman provides the material resources and professional guidance to support an idea from genesis to market, including funding for each member of the student
Produce, engineer, and mix their own music Learn web programming fundamentals ….and much more!
cohort. Past projects have included facial recognition software to assist those with dementia or Alzheimer’s, a documentary on prejudice against
Visit
Iranians in America, a robotic soccer
mirman.org/programs
practice partner, and more.
to explore our offerings
SERVICE LEARNING
DESIGN THINKING
Service Learning at Mirman is an
Starting in Kindergarten, our Director
opportunity to integrate community
of STEM works with every class on
engagement into the broader K-8
design thinking strategies. The lessons
curriculum. These experiences include
center around using empathy to
service projects specific to the themes
identify a need in the world around
of each grade level, larger community
them, working together to come up
endeavors which engage the entire
with possible solutions, and designing
school, and additional initiatives
prototypes through various iterations.
developed by student leaders. Our
This framework is consistently used
goal is to produce students who are
across the disciplines, such as in
fully engaged with — and open to —
technology, math, writing, and art.
the world around them.
ATHLETICS
STUDENT DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Mirman’s athletics program has
Each year, a group of eighth grade
participation and physical space:
students have the privilege of representing Mirman at the National Association of Independent School’s Student Diversity Leadership Conference. These student leaders are the only middle school representatives in the country to be invited to the conference. They work to develop effective cross-cultural communication skills and to better understand the nature and development of effective strategies for social justice, ultimately leading various community initiatives, events, and presentations.
enjoyed explosive growth both in a multi-phase project saw the installation of new athletics facilities, courts, and fields in 2017. All students take physical education classes, and team sports begin in third grade. Our coaches focus on mechanics, teamwork, and good sportsmanship, and our teams compete in the San Fernando Valley Private School League. Practices occur during physical education class, and students have the option of competing in games after school. Sports offered include cross country, flag football, soccer, volleyball, and more.
WORLD LANGUAGES
ARTS
Every student at Mirman takes
The arts are an integral part of
a language through our World
every Mirman student’s education.
Languages department, beginning in
Our Concert Singers consistently
Kindergarten when they are exposed
win national awards and recently
to both Mandarin and Spanish. As the
performed at New York's Carnegie
students continue their studies, they
Hall. Starting in third grade, all students
can choose to specialize in Spanish,
participate in drama classes, becoming
Mandarin, or Latin.
comfortable in front of a crowd in preparation for their culminating experience in fully produced Upper School plays and musicals. Each year, students also take classes in the visual arts, exploring everything from painting to large-scale art installations.
WHERE WE GO NEXT
Recent graduates and alumni of Mirman School have gone on to study and thrive at the following institutions: HIGH SCHOOLS
COLLEGES
Archer School
Amherst College
Brentwood School
Brown University
Cal State LA Early Entrance Program
The Colburn Conservatory of Music
Choate Rosemary Hall
Columbia University
Crossroads School
Cornell University
Flintridge Preparatory School
Dartmouth College
Geffen Academy
Duke University
Georgetown Day
Harvard University
Groton School
Howard University
Harvard-Westlake
Johns Hopkins University
Kent School
The New School
Marlborough School
New York University
Milken Community Schools
Northwestern University
New Roads School
Oxford University
North Hollywood Highly Gifted Magnet
Princeton University
Notre Dame High School
Stanford University
Phillips Academy Andover
University of California — Berkeley
Phillips Exeter Academy
University of California — Los Angeles
Polytechnic School
University of Chicago
Sierra Canyon
University of Pennsylvania
Stanford Online High School
University of Southern California
Thacher School
University of Texas at Austin
UCLA Lab School
University of Virginia
Viewpoint School
Vassar College
Westridge School
Wesleyan University Yale University
APPLY
Mirman remains one of the most
KINDERGARTEN
successful schools for highly gifted
1. Take an I.Q. test with one of our
students in the country. This
approved testers
reputation starts with an amazing
2. Submit your application online
group of passionate, insightful, and
3. Schedule a parent interview to
empathic students. Throughout our admission process, we work to find the right pairing of student and learning environment.
help us get to know your family 4. B ring your child to a Saturday Kindergarten playdate 5. S ubmit recommendations and records from your current school
We seek to not only get to know your child’s unique passions, skills, and
LOWER SCHOOL
personality, but also your hopes and
First through Fourth Grade
dreams for them as they continue to
1. Take an I.Q. test with one of our
grow and evolve. By striving to truly
approved testers
know your child and family, we hope to
2. Submit your application online
help guide you during this important
3. Schedule a parent interview to
journey.
help us get to know your family 4. Bring your child for a classroom visit day
A national leader in tuition assistance, we are committed to working with families to make a Mirman education accessible during and beyond application and admission. Our team looks forward to getting to know your family and is excited for the opportunity to assist you through the process of choosing the perfect school for your child. If you are interested in applying to Mirman, these are the next steps:
5. S ubmit recommendations and records from your current school UPPER SCHOOL
Fifth through Eighth Grade 1. Take an I.Q. test with one of our approved testers 2. Submit your application online 3. Take the ISEE test 4. S chedule a parent interview to help us get to know your family 5. Bring your child for a classroom visit day 6. Submit recommendations and records from your current school All deadlines can be found at
mirman.org/admission
LEARN MORE admission@mirman.org (310) 476-2868 16180 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles, California, 90049
mirman.org
16180 Mulholland Drive Los Angeles, CA 90049 (310) 476-2868
mirman.org