Middle School

For our Middle School students, these years are a time of incredible physical, social, and emotional growth that build upon the curiosity instilled in them at our Lower School. They begin to try new things, take more risks, and develop independence. They gain confidence in themselves and respect for their peers as they navigate new experiences and form their emerging identities and academic interests.

Our Middle School curriculum serves a dual role: conveying important information while guiding students' critical thinking skills from simple memorization to more thoughtful, independent analysis. Our faculty challenges students to support their opinions with facts and to question the world around them, readying them for success in the Upper School.

Our curriculum supports the liberal arts background that Pingry believes to be an integral part of each student's educational foundation. Students take courses in English, history, science, math, and world languages including Spanish, French, German, Latin, and Mandarin Chinese. Remembering that students are at different stages in their development, our math and world language classes are grouped by student ability. And because our students are on a campus that spans Grade 6 to Form VI (Grade 12), they can be challenged according to their level of readiness. Our Middle School curriculum is appropriately challenging, and for those students demonstrating greater aptitude, we can encourage them to take courses beyond the walls of the Park B. Smith ‘50 Middle School.

In Grade 6 and Form I (Grade 7), all students take drama, art, and performance music, and in music, they may choose from among band, string ensemble, and chorus. Form II students (Grade 8) can select an elective for two of the three trimesters. The entire Middle School participates in a four-day activity block that exposes students to a variety of ways to be physically active and part of a team experience. We maintain a “no-cut” policy in Middle School sports, so students have the chance to participate in a team sports experience regardless of their ability level.

The Middle School emphasizes a student-centered philosophy, exemplified by initiatives like student-led conferences. These conferences empower students to take ownership of their learning and personal development.

At the end of this three-year period, students move on to the adjacent Upper School, armed with the confidence and critical thinking skills needed to realize success in a familiar, yet challenging environment.

For a more detailed look at the course offerings for Middle School students, see the Curriculum Guide below.

• Computer Science 8: A hands-on, trimester course that exposes students to both the technical and creative aspects of computer science.
• Digital Filmmaking: An introductory course in fundamental filming techniques and the basics of editing on “iMovie” and “Adobe Premier” software that sets students up for communicating in the 21st century through serious art or shared experiences.
• Percussion Ensemble: Students will play anything they can strike, scrape, or slap. Students get the chance to immerse themselves in and perform many different genres of music, including jazz-fusion, rock, Latin, and classical.

To view more course offerings, see the Curriculum Guide below.

Middle School Schedule

MIDDLE SCHOOL CLUBS