Welcome to Middle School!

Grades 5 - 8:

Upon entering the Middle School, students are grouped in three or more sections depending upon overall class size. They may be placed in these sections according to their instructional needs. Sectioning in some classes is determined by performance in school during the previous year, by standardized test scores and by teacher recommendations.

Click for an in-depth description of each grade:

• Grade 5
• Grade 6
• Grade 7
• Grade 8

Aside from sectioning for developmental reasons, we also try to create different groupings in other subjects so that a child may spend some time with other students at his or her grade level. These different groupings help to promote social as well as academic growth.

Each middle-school student takes the four major academic subjects (English, mathematics, science and social studies). In our middle-school transitional grade 5, instruction occurs in a combination of self-contained and departmentalized classes; the students move from classroom to classroom. Most fifth graders and sixth graders take French or Spanish five days a week or study skills. Seventh and eighth graders take French or Spanish and/or Latin. (Students entering the Lower School in eighth grade and those eighth graders who did not take French, Latin, or Spanish in seventh grade usually cannot be placed in a beginning foreign language class.) Critical reading, enrichment reading and study skill classes are offered in the seventh and eighth grades. Depending on students’ particular needs, these special courses may be taken in lieu of a foreign language with guidance gained from a psychoeducational report.

Middle-school students also take concomitant courses in art, computer (grades 5-6 only), health, music and physical education. Physical education schedules are different for each grade. There is also a daily activities period that is used for assemblies, band/chorus rehearsals, occasional study halls and various other activities.