An Overview of the Middle School Grades

Students are moving from childhood to adolescence and their bodies are
undergoing major changes. Students are interacting with many more
students and with more adults than they did in elementary school. Most middle school students have a different teacher for each subject.The instructional program for grades six to eight emphasizes reinforcing basic skills learned in elementary school and preparing students for the more complex work that will be required in high school. Students must pass the Maryland Functional Tests during the middle school years.

It is important that you check on your child, visit school, and ensure daily attendance. Moving from grades 5 to 6 can be a difficult transition time. Be watchful until you know that your child has adjusted to the middle grades.

All middle school students take English/language arts, social studies, mathematics, and science for a full year during each grade in middle school. Throughout middle school, students are expected to take a semester course in health education each year, and to be exposed yearly to electives such as technology education, computer applications, family and consumer studies, physical education, art, music, and a second language. Throughout middle school, students should also participate in service learning projects that enable them to meet the high school graduation requirement of 75 hours of service learning. Middle School students are expected to complete 50 hours of service learning before enterring high school.