Waverly’s middle school program is built on our belief that students in 7th and 8th grade require a unique approach to their educa­tion. Our students work with five core educa­tors who teach multi­ple subjects through­out the school day and are readily avail­able to students. This approach meets the acad­e­mic demands of middle school while support­ing the personal growth of our students.

Middle school students need creativ­ity, caring, and a rich, engag­ing curricu­lum to bring out their best at the begin­nings of adoles­cence. In alter­nat­ing years of our multi­dis­ci­pli­nary program, teach­ers inte­grate study of Amer­i­can and world themes in the English and history classes. Science classes follow an inten­sive, hands-on curricu­lum designed to prepare students for a demand­ing labo­ra­tory science program in high school. The math program offers differ­ent classes suited to each student’s ability. Spanish is a core subject at the middle school; 8th grade students may earn high school credit and move on to Spanish II their freshman year.

Teach­ers inte­grate issues that students face into class discus­sion, choice of novels, and texts. Writing assign­ments ask students to reflect, analyze, make ethical choices, under­stand other perspec­tives, and address personal goals and choices they have made. Teach­ers often refer to current events so that students make connec­tions between what they are study­ing and what is happen­ing in the world around them. Teach­ers read all student writing, from formal essays to informal journals.

A signif­i­cant goal of our middle school is to prepare students for the acad­e­mic chal­lenges of high school. Our program empha­sizes the devel­op­ment of strong and consis­tent work habits and solid skills in writing, math­e­mat­ics, and analyt­i­cal and crit­i­cal think­ing. Students need to consis­tently apply them­selves in 7th and 8th grade to develop these habits and skills.