Middle School (Grades 6-8)

English helps students become confident readers, writers, and thinkers through a focus on literature, writing, and discussion. Each year builds in complexity, from learning writing as a process in sixth grade to crafting sophisticated literary analyses in eighth grade. By the end of Middle School, students express themselves fluently and approach language, meaning, and perspective with insight and depth.

InfoTech is coding-forward, design-oriented, and project-based, turning digital natives into creative problem solvers. In sixth grade, students build digital literacy and citizenship skills while designing and coding their own websites. By seventh and eighth grade, they dive into computer science - creating animations, games, and apps in JavaScript, programming microcontrollers, and transforming their ideas into real-world innovations.

Math develops confident, curious problem solvers who see math as both practical and creative. Students build strong foundational skills in sixth grade, explore proportional reasoning and data in seventh, and deepen their understanding of algebraic relationships and functions in eighth. By the end of Middle School, they are confident problem solvers ready for Upper School mathematics.

Science is dynamic and experiential, grounded in exploration and discovery. Students study life, physical, and earth sciences through labs, experiments, and collaboration. Across all grades, curiosity, inquiry, and analytical thinking are at the heart of scientific learning.

Social Studies cultivates cultural awareness and critical analysis through a deliberate progression. It begins in sixth grade by examining how geography shapes human culture, economics, and government. In seventh grade, students explore human geography, focusing on migration, globalization, and human-environment interactions. This culminates in eighth grade with a multi-perspective analysis of modern U.S. history and the principles of American democracy, preparing students for engaged citizenship.

Visual & Performing Arts ensures that all students study art and general music each year and have the opportunity to further explore their passions through our Fine Arts electives. Options include chorus, band, orchestra, ceramics, printmaking, sculpture, graphic design, and painting.

The Middle School Musical involves a significant number of middle schoolers each year. This full-scale production provides opportunities for students as lead performers and chorus members, set designers and builders, and light and sound crews. 

World Languages ignite curiosity and passion in the study of French, Spanish, or Russian, building foundational communication skills, cultural and historical understanding, and the confidence to express oneself in the target language. Guided by the ACTFL World-Readiness Standards and Quaker values, the department aims for students to demonstrate not only Novice High-level language proficiency, but also greater empathy, resilience, cultural competency, and global awareness as they transition to Upper School.

SELI helps students develop self-awareness, empathy, and the confidence to express who they are. Lessons and discussions help them build healthy relationships, care for their mental health, make responsible decisions, navigate challenges, and further their executive functioning skills.

Students have the opportunity to be curious about a wide range of lifetime fitness and sport-related activities. Through skill drills and cooperative games, they develop critical thinking and learn the importance of maintaining physical fitness. During individual and team sport activities, students will learn the value of good sportsmanship, fun competitive play, and positive leadership skills.