At Children’s Day School, we know that in middle school (grades 5-8) challenging academics must be delivered in a way that supports and encourages students during this critical time of tremendous intellectual, physical and emotional growth and change. We are proud of our uniquely accepting school culture that embraces differences and delights in diversity because we know this means our middle school students are safe to be themselves—freed from the pressures of conforming to some external view of what to wear, what to say or with whom to be friends.
If you’re a CDS student, during your middle school years:
You will not be afraid of academic challenges. We believe in academic excellence, and at CDS you will be able to stretch for new academic experiences because you’ll know you are encouraged even if you make mistakes. After all, mistakes are opportunities for learning! Working both individually and collaboratively, you will learn to think critically, to write competently and to research in depth. You will navigate a rigorous curriculum that includes math (through Algebra 1), science, humanities (language arts and social studies) and Spanish, as well as lots of opportunities for athletics and many arts offerings including classes like sculpture, painting, Shakespearean monologues, comedy and music. You will leave CDS academically prepared for challenging high school coursework. Our high school counseling will help you identify and choose the high school that’s the right fit for you.
You will develop a strong sense of yourself and others. You will have an accurate, healthy sense of your strengths, weaknesses and your own unique talents, and an appreciation for those of others. We expect our students to care for and support each other.
You will have great teachers. Our middle school teachers want to teach students your age because they believe in your tremendous enthusiasm, intellect and potential. Whether you’re exploring the properties of a non-Newtonian substance in science class, using an online simulation in social sciences to develop a colony that seeks political freedom, creating a masterpiece in our "Altered Books as an Art Form" selectives class, learning to play the bongos in music class or discussing “I Think, Therefore I Am” and Descartean philosophy in humanities, you will have teachers who put in the time and energy to show you the joy and fun in learning.
You will connect to the larger world. By working in the community and in our unique farm and garden program, you will learn the importance of civic responsibility and environmental stewardship. You will move on to high school with a strong sense of social justice, a commitment to the larger world and the knowledge that you can make a difference.
See what a typical day in middle school looks like.
Learn about diversity and inclusion in the middle school curriculum.