THERE ARE A FEW ROUTES that can be taken on the drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco. The 5 and the 101 are freeways that move quickly, but the scenery is bland and after a while the ride becomes boring. The Coast Highway, on the other hand, takes more time. But each bend in the road reveals a vista of spectacular beauty. Crossroads Middle School can be compared to a drive up the Coast Highway. A STRONG MIDDLE SCHOOL EDUCATION considers self-discovery to be as important as academics in preparing students for Upper School. Crossroads Middle School supports a student's right to discover the set of learning styles, study skills, and passions that will facilitate a life-long interest in learning. This is accomplished through a rich offering of academic classes, arts courses, athletics, human development, and outdoor education experiences. Students are expected to acquire the skills that will ensure success in the Upper School, but are also encouraged to know who they are and what makes them feel worthy as human beings. In its purest form the word educate means to draw out; therefore, a Crossroads education is not solely directed by programmed expectations for the next level of study. EDUCATING CHILDREN IN THIS NEW MILLENNIUM is a far greater challenge than it was a quarter of a century ago. Technology has turned the entire universe into a classroom by allowing students to access information on a global and immediate basis. The amount of knowledge they can attain in a matter of seconds is enormous. Today's children virtually have the whole world in their hands. TECHNOLOGY HAS ALSO IMPACTED TEACHING in a very significant way. Teachers now have many roles. Along with disseminating information, they must also facilitate the acquisition and integration of information. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM described here is the result of educators making decisions about age and developmentally appropriate experiences for pre-adolescents. It is considered progressive because it prepares students for a future that will demand self-assurance, flexibility, and creativity.