Middle School (5-8)

While the Middle School years are considered challenging for most, students at Charles Wright Academy thrive.

Humanities

The Middle School combines English and History classes into a robust Humanities course. This allows time and flexibility for students to take a deep exploratory dive into reading and writing, as well as critical and analytical thinking. Middle School students consider big questions that cut across disciplinary boundaries. Students develop their reading, writing, and information literacy skills through engaging discussions, individual and group projects, and a variety of written assessments. The course includes a range of texts, including contemporary and classical literature, historical and narrative fiction. 

Our faculty allows students a significant amount of voice and choice for students and their learning. There are many opportunities for student agency, including book clubs and choice reading, as well as independent research topics. In addition, faculty strive to bring in opportunities for students to hear from experts in their field and learn from real-world professionals about their experiences. Our humanities courses are rich with experiential education opportunities that connect to all interwoven themes of study.

Students also spend time building important foundational skills such as note-taking, annotation, discussion practices, debate, grammar, and citation, as well as writing stamina, study skills, and time management.

Mathematics

The Middle School math program provides a balanced approach to skill development and mathematical reasoning. We emphasize the discovery and application of mathematical ideas. Middle School courses begin by reinforcing basic skills and exploring geometry and pre-algebra topics. Eighth grade students study Algebra I, though some advance to Geometry in Middle School. 

Middle School Geometry is an eighth grade equivalent to high school Honors Geometry courses. 

Science

Students will develop their science skills through reading, investigations, virtual models, engineering challenges, performance assessments, discussions, and student-designed experiments. Instruction will focus on developing students’ abilities to form strong qualitative and quantitative observations, ask testable questions, design experiments, gather and organize data, analyze data, and communicate results with their teachers and classmates.

Fifth grade offers an integrated science curriculum that exposes students to physical, earth, and space science. In sixth grade, the content focus is life science with the themes of ecosystems, adaptations, cells, and genetics. Seventh grade students learn about science through an integrated approach as they investigate the composition of matter, Earth’s processes through geological time, matter cycles and energy flows, and the distribution of Earth’s resources. Eighth grade students solve engineering problems and plan investigations about the speed of objects and waves, including modeling the light in the solar system, and exploring how non-contact forces influence phenomena. 

World Language 

Students in fifth grade learn Greek and Latin roots to help them decode more complex vocabulary words in history, English, math, and science. Learning roots helps students gain access to larger groups of words because they can break them into smaller pieces based on the prefix, suffix, or base word being used. These roots also serve as the basis for other languages such as Spanish, French, and Italian. As our students take World Language classes in the Middle School, the roots they learn will help them see similarities and patterns in other languages as well.

Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students have the opportunity to choose between two world languages – Spanish and Japanese. Most will continue studying this language through the Upper School’s advanced courses. Students learn about culture and history in these courses, as well as develop the vocabulary and grammar to speak, read, and write in another language. 

Central to the Charles Wright Academy experience for decades are opportunities that take students off campus to encounter new challenges, new cultures, and new ways of thinking about the world we share. As students learn in the classroom, they also engage and apply those lessons outside the classroom, making connections and participating in hands-on opportunities that bring students’ studies to life. 

While all students participate in our comprehensive liberal arts program, electives are a chance for them to dive deeper into areas of interest each quarter. 

Goals for the Elective Program:

• Provide opportunities for deeper, hands-on learning in a self-selected area of interest.

• Create a sense of belonging among those who share similar interests.

• Build comfort in taking risks by creating opportunities for public products and performances of work.

Past Examples of Electives Include:

• Visual & Performing Arts: Drama, Drum Line, Felting, Jazz, Ukulele, Ceramics, Cheerleading, Dance

• Skills & Activities: Student Leadership, World Cooking, Knitting, Babysitting Class, Machine Sewing, Quilting for a Cause

• STEM: Robotics, Rocketry, Navigation, Engineering Design, Creative Computing, Competition Math

• Humanities: Rethinking and Recreating Fairytales and Superheros, Improvisational Comedy and Humor Writing, Solving with Sherlock

The Charles Wright Middle School advisory program is an intentionally designed experience for Middle School students, connecting each student with a supportive faculty member as an advisor and a small group of grade-level peers. Advisory and/or community time is built into each school day. Through the advisory program, CWA students build a strong sense of self and work together to create a healthy and thriving CWA community. Within the advisory program, students will have opportunities to learn and practice the skills needed to successfully navigate the future with confidence. 

Our program provides every Middle School student the opportunity to experience both performing and visual arts. At every grade level, students take visual arts courses as a regular part of their schedule. Visual arts courses allow students to think critically, problem-solve, and explore various art techniques and media. Students are exposed to drawing, painting, clay sculpture, and digital art.

Middle School students also have a full range of opportunities in the performing arts. Our Middle School students can join choir and band, depending on their interests.

As part of our commitment to active, joyful learning, all Middle School students participate in athletics as part of their school day. This is a great opportunity for students to try something new. We are committed to allowing all students to participate and compete in a highly supportive environment. Many faculty members also serve as coaches because we know that connecting with our students outside of the classroom helps build deeper relationships. Students in eighth grade also have the opportunity to participate in Upper School sports teams on a case-by-case basis. 

We offer a variety of options and a mix of both competitive and non-competitive athletic opportunities for our Middle School students. Learn more about our athletic teams here.

Grade 5 Athletic Offerings:

Fall – Cross Country, Soccer, Tennis

Winter 1 – Boys Basketball, Girls Soccer, Conditioning

Winter 2 – Boys Soccer, Girls Basketball, Team Sports

Spring – Track & Field, Flag Football, Girls Volleyball

Grades 6/7/8 Athletic Offerings:

Fall – Cross Country, Baseball, Girls Volleyball, Tennis, Golf

Winter 1 – Boys Basketball, Girls Soccer, Weights, Conditioning

Winter 2 – Boys Soccer, Girls Basketball, Weights, Conditioning 

Spring – Track & Field, Football, Tennis, Golf, Weights