The middle school provides instruction in basic skills as well as elective and exploratory experiences appropriate to the developmental needs of early adolescents. In bridging the gap between elementary school and high school, the middle school provides the vehicle by which the student moves from the child- centered, team-teaching, and unit approach of the elementary school to the departmentalized, diversified, and comprehensive instructional program available in the high school.

The sixth grade program is basically elementary in orientation, while the eighth grade program is very similar to that which the student will experience at the high school. The seventh grade program offers a combination of traditional elementary and high school instructional approaches to meet the diverse needs and aptitudes of our students.

The city’s three middle schools offer a unified body of instruction based on the Standards of Learning for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The nature of these courses is described on the pages listed on the right.

Middle School Program of Studies