Middle School

Math

Sixth grade Math is split into three major strands: number sense, data analysis, and geometry. The number sense strand focuses on students mastering fraction and decimal operations, ratios and proportional thinking, and probability and statistics. The data analysis strand focuses on students mastering measures of center and appropriately using data tables and graphs. Finally, the geometry strand focuses on area, perimeter, surface area, and volume of various shapes.

Reading and Language Arts

Students explore the elements of reading and writing and develop the ability to create and respond to the written word. Students continue to progress throughout middle school in reference to exposure to literature, writing, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, research, and speaking. In sixth grade, an emphasis is placed on the Holocaust, Greek mythology, elements of the short story, poetry, and the hero’s journey. 

Science

Sixth grade Science focuses on hands-on learning through situational experiences. The topics covered include rocks and minerals, cells, animals, motion and forces, and basic chemistry. The students will use the scientific method to carry out experiments and to explore the world around them.

Social Studies

Sixth grade Social Studies focuses on the ancient world.  Students learn about the beginnings of mankind and the human story. They explore the great early civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt and the Middle East, India, China, Greece, and Rome, and connect how these ancient cultures continue to influence our modern world.

Math

Seventh grade Math is split into three major strands: number sense, geometry, and algebraic thinking. In the number sense strand, we focus on students mastering the concepts of order of operations, operations with negative integers, percentages, probability, irrational numbers, and proportional thinking. In the geometry strand, students will master finding the volume of various prisms, angle measure, the Pythagorean theorem, and the bisection of various shapes. The algebraic thinking strand focuses on beginning to solve one and two step equations and inequalities in order to prepare them for the high school level algebra that they will encounter in eighth grade.

Reading and Language Arts

Students explore the elements of reading and writing and develop the ability to create and respond to the written word. Students continue to progress throughout middle school in reference to exposure to literature, writing, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, research, and speaking.  In seventh grade, an emphasis is placed on grammar and mechanics, short stories, the Middle Ages, and Shakespeare.

Science

In seventh grade Science, students will investigate different forms of energy as they learn about physical science. They will expand on their understanding of atoms, matter, and the periodic table, and also explore the relationships of living organisms and their environment. The students will use the scientific method to carry out experiments and to explore the world around them.

Social Studies

Seventh grade Social Studies focuses on the medieval world and beyond. Students delve into the history of civilizations from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East to Asia and the Americas.

Math

In eighth grade Algebra, students encounter high school level content. Students will begin by mastering multi-step equations and inequalities. They will then begin to analyze functions to learn how to create and analyze input/output tables and identify whether or not an expression is a function. They will then focus on linear equations and their graphs, and how to identify the slope, and x and y intercepts using various formulas. Finally, students will master polynomials, their factorization, and use of the quadratic formula. In Geometry, students explore proof-writing and begin to work on abstract thinking with shapes. Triangle congruence is an important topic covered in this class, and general formulas involving circles and polygons will finalize the students’ studies. Students use Khan Academy to help enrich their experience and to build on learned knowledge.

Reading and Language Arts

Students explore the elements of reading and writing and develop the ability to create and respond to the written word. Students continue to progress throughout middle school in reference to exposure to literature, writing, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, research, and speaking.  In eighth grade, the emphasis is placed on the Holocaust, poetry, immigration, short stories, social consciousness, and Shakespeare.

Science

Eighth grade Science includes a range of topics including biology, chemical reactions, and the interior and surface of Earth. Students will also investigate bioengineering, genetics, and forensic science. The students will use the scientific method to carry out experiments and to explore the world around them. Real-world applications of science topics will be applied to daily learning.

Social Studies

Eighth grade Social Studies focuses on the United States through industrialism.  This course takes students through the powerful history of the United States from its earliest foundations to the age of industrialism.