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A time to explore and prepare

SRA’s Middle School offers a challenging, safe, and supportive place to learn and grow. We meet our learners where they are, academically, socially, and emotionally, to help them develop their true potential. Our small class sizes ensure greater differentiation and personalized learning where students can progress at their own pace. An advanced curriculum inspires students to expand their academic skills and independence. Collaborative projects reinforce the importance of cooperation and collective achievement, while interdisciplinary learning helps students make meaningful connections and fosters understanding and concern for others. Field trips, community service, guest speakers, projects, and other events expose our students to the outside world, and we consider them essential parts of learning. Students leave Middle School fully prepared as ambitious, creative, self-motivated learners. 


We believe that the Middle School years are a time for students to enjoy and employ their natural enthusiasm, curiosity, and passion for learning in the classroom and beyond. Our teachers work tirelessly to create learning experiences that match students’ energy, and their efforts result in a rigorous and creative curriculum that students embrace and genuinely enjoy. By encouraging, inspiring, and empowering the young adults in our school, we create an atmosphere where students thrive.

 

Middle School Curriculum:

SRA’s Middle School curriculum embraces the 21st-century skills of communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. We continue to differentiate learning so students can advance at their own pace. High school credit classes are offered for those students who are ready for an additional challenge. Technology is facilitated by a 1-to-1 Chromebook program, coding classes, and a focus on digital citizenship.
Savannah River Academy offers a variety of quality courses to create well-rounded, engaged and informed students.  
 

Language and Literature (ELA)
  • Provides a balanced teaching and learning approach, including a focus on literature, nonfiction texts, written composition, grammar, spelling, and vocabulary. 
  • Students work with a variety of informational and literary texts, including cross-curricular reading passages, novel studies, and exposure to quality short stories.
  • Quality national and international curriculum is intertwined with meaningful IB inquiry units.
     
Individuals and Societies (SS)
  • Students cycle through a three-year rotation that includes ancient civilizations, modern civilizations, and United States history/ current events.
  • All years incorporate history, geography, civics, and economics topics.
  • An emphasis is placed on critical and creative thinking skills developed through hands-on projects, debates, and interdisciplinary learning.
     
Math
  • Inquiry-based learning is at the heart of our math curriculum.  Through the use of Singapore math in the lower middle year bands and a high-quality curriculum in the upper middle year bands, students are prepared for real-world math challenges as well as the skills necessary for success in future high school and college math classes.
  • An emphasis on real-world application, pattern analysis, communication, and computation challenges students to view the world through the lens of mathematics.
     
Language Acquisition (Spanish)
  • Through daily Spanish instruction, students will learn to communicate in another language and gain a deeper understanding of other cultures.  
  • Students will gain skills in speaking, listening, and writing in Spanish. 
  • Spanish instruction includes vocabulary practice, verbal skill development, listening, and reading. 
  • Spanish class also includes cultural enrichment through the study of Spanish-speaking countries. 
     
Science
  • Students will be introduced to the scientific way of thinking and concepts of Space, Earth, Life, and Physical Science. A particular emphasis will be given to the conceptual understanding with the use of math wherever possible. Hands-on activities and labs will be offered to aid conceptual understanding. 
     

Objectives

  • To learn and apply scientific concepts through lessons, discussion, and hands-on activities. 
  • To understand the scientific method - hypothesis formation, experimentation, and analysis.
  • To acquire a basic understanding of the use of mathematical symbols and equations to represent ideas and the ability to explain concepts mathematically.
     
Art/Design
  • Students will engage in a mixture of visual and performance art activities.
  • Interdisciplinary learning will help deepen students’ understanding of a wide variety of content learned throughout the middle school program. 
  • STEM learning focusing on the four-stage design cycle will challenge students to find innovative solutions to simple and complex problems.
     
Physical Education and Health
  • Students will engage in hands-on learning for a variety of different individual and group physical education and wellness activities.  
  • Examples of courses students will participate in are yoga, tennis, dance, team sports, and fitness.
     

Middle School Highlights:

  • Overnight trips in all grades
  • A strong advisory program
  • Weekly mentoring of younger students
  • Student-led service projects
  • Cross-curricular projects
  • Many opportunities for leadership