Middle School
The middle school years are some of the most important in a student's academic life. Skills solidify, thinking deepens, and the habits that will carry students through high school and beyond begin to take real shape. At The Crenshaw Academy, our Middle School program is designed to meet students exactly where they are during this pivotal time: challenging them intellectually, supporting them personally, and preparing them deliberately for the rigors of Upper School and the college preparatory path ahead.
Our small, discussion-based classes keep students engaged and accountable. With a 15:1 student-to-teacher ratio, no one disappears into the background. Teachers know their students well, and that relationship makes all the difference.
A Curriculum That Grows With Your Student
The Crenshaw Academy's Middle School curriculum is interdisciplinary, multicultural, and intentionally designed to stretch students from concrete thinking toward abstract reasoning. Core subjects are taught in small, seminar-style settings where discussion, debate, and collaborative thinking are central to how students learn.
All classes are small and discussion-based, keeping enthusiasm high while helping students apply concepts creatively to both individual and group work.
Middle School Curriculum
Reading, writing, analysis, and oral communication across a range of texts and genres.
Building from foundational skills toward higher-order problem-solving and reasoning.
Inquiry-based learning, hands-on experimentation, and real-world application of scientific concepts.
History, geography, civics, and multicultural perspectives that build global awareness.
Formal language instruction begins in 6th grade, building on the interdisciplinary Spanish exposure from the Lower School.
Digital literacy and technology skills integrated into coursework.
Developing the Whole Student
Academic growth at this level goes hand in hand with personal development. The Crenshaw Academy's Middle School program deliberately addresses the needs specific to early adolescence: building strong organizational habits, developing consistent study skills, taking responsibility for one's own work, and practicing the kind of mature social behavior that Upper School demands.
Students build the habits that lead to long-term academic success: managing time, organizing work, and taking ownership of their learning.
Leadership, communication, and civic responsibility through student government and school-wide initiatives.
Sharpening critical thinking, public speaking, and the ability to construct and defend an argument.
Creative storytelling, digital media production, and real-world communication skills.
Students are also encouraged to engage with the wider school community through community service initiatives. These experiences build leadership, communication, and civic responsibility in ways that no textbook can.
A Bridge to Upper School
Everything in the Middle School program is designed with the Upper School in mind. By the time students reach 9th grade, they have the academic habits, critical thinking skills, and personal maturity to thrive in a rigorous college preparatory environment.
One of the most meaningful opportunities available to Middle School students is dual enrollment. Eligible students can begin taking college-level coursework as early as 6th grade, getting a genuine head start on their academic future. Students interested in pursuing subjects beyond the standard curriculum can also arrange independent study options for additional credit.
Learn more about dual enrollment at The Crenshaw Academy and how it can give your student an early advantage.
Ready to Learn More?
We would love to show you what Middle School looks like at The Crenshaw Academy. Schedule a tour and meet our faculty, see our classrooms, and ask every question you have.
Schedule a TourYou can also explore our Academic Overview or find out how scholarship resources can make a Crenshaw education work for your family.
