Middle School
The Middle School division includes grades 5-8, with one teacher
for each of the five core subject areas:
Each subject area teacher provides instruction for all the
middle school grade levels. We believe that having the same
teachers throughout middle school is a special advantage for our
students because of the close relationships that form over those
four years together. Middle School is a period of
extreme change for students, and having the stability of the same
teachers provides a dependable support system around our
students.
The primary goal of the Middle School program is to meet the
educational and developmental needs of our students as they begin
adolescence. The Middle School years are a challenging time
because the social and emotional needs of children change along
with their maturing minds and bodies. We strive to create a
challenging yet nurturing environment that helps our students
become more advanced and confident as thinkers, communicators, and
citizens. By achieving this goal, we prepare students for
success in high school and beyond.
Building on the skills and lessons of Lower School, the
Middle School program challenges students with more sophisticated
work, a broader and more complex range of assignments, more
creative and analytical writing, more experience in
problem-solving, participation in debates and other public speaking
assignments, and an expectation that students will develop a higher
level of personal responsibility and community awareness.
The curriculum reflects a belief that teaching students how to
think and how to communicate their thoughts clearly is just as
important as expanding their knowledge base. Another
important goal is for students to learn to appreciate multiple
points of view and to have the skills for meaningful discourse,
whether through writing or classroom discussion. The small
classes at Da Vinci afford students every opportunity to develop
these crucial skills that will guide them toward a successful
future.
What happens after students graduate from Da
Vinci?
Da Vinci students leave 8th grade well-prepared to succeed
academically in any high school environment. Da Vinci
graduates have gone to all types of schools: public high schools,
independent or parochial schools, Illinois Math & Science
Academy, and selective college prep boarding schools out of
state. Wherever they have gone, Da Vinci alumni report
feeling prepared and ready to take on the challenges at the next
level of their education. Students often test into higher
placement levels as freshmen, or end up taking advanced placement
and honors courses as upperclassmen. Some of our oldest
graduates are in college and attending outstanding schools like
Columbia University, Harvey Mudd College, and Wellesley
College. As Da Vinci grows and sends more graduates into the
world, our graduates' experiences in high school, college, and
beyond will reflect the life-long value of a Da Vinci Academy
education.