What is the Middle School like?

[Guest]

If someone who has or has had kids in the middle school can help explain some of the particulars about how it works, it would be appreciated.

For example:

1) Do the kids get to pick “electives”? If so, what kind?

2) Do they start dividing the kids into academic levels (beyond the special math group)? When I went to middle school (and high school) they had several levels of classes and course work was substantially different between levels. If they don’t do this (beyond math) at the middle school, do they at Princeton High School? Either way, how do they determine the appropriate level?

3) Do they continue to use the percentage-based grading system? Does Princeton?

4) I know they also have sports teams. Beyond the above and that, what are the other differences between the elementary and middle school?

Thanks.

[Guest2]

Middle School at Cranbury --

1) Kids do not get to pick electives. Basically the same as the younger grades - library, art, IA, garage band -- a few other new ones -- but whatever courses are offered for that grade level (like in 6th I think it is Study Skills, Art, IA, Computer) they rotate through them by quarter so in one quarter they will only have Art as a special but they will go to it several times per week.

2) Math is the only leveled subject. I'm not sure how they will work it next year, as that is the first year with the special math group -- in previous years about a third of the class was placed in higher math -- not the small class they have in the lower grades now. In previous years, there were three levels of math for 6th - 8th. I don't know if they will have two or three next year. As far as Princeton High School -- they level for math and science (and foreign language) -- but not for LA (unless basic skills are required due to low NJASK score) or History until Sophomore year.

3) Percentage grades are same. You can make Honors or High Honors -- Honors is no more than one grade a C -- High honors is no more than 2 grades below 93.

4) Other differences -- they change for all their classes and they get detentions for missed homework and/or behavior. Other than that -- no different. Compared to kids who go to a "real" middle school there is VERY LITTLE change. This is good -- or bad -- depending on your kid.

Good Luck.

[Guest]

Thanks for the detailed response.

Overall, I like the nurturing approach of the middle school. But the total lack of leveling concerns me, unless they are pushing everyone to the higher standard, which is great if that works. I just know that when I was in middle school I was getting a radically different curriculum than those in the lower levels, not just in math but also English and social studies. It wasn’t just the material, but the method of study. I recall in seventh grade social studies having to read Orwell’s “1984” on our own and do 10+ page essays about it, all on top of our normal studies and homework. Or in seventh grade English having to read Shakespeare plays, act out one in its entirety in class and attend a Shakespeare festival. In math we were studying Algebra and Geometry in middle school. They didn’t have leveling for science. I recall because it’s the only academic subject we ever got to interact with the kids not in the GATE program and because we all found the homework so much easier than our other subjects.

If they don’t do leveling at Princeton either, does that mean they have no AP program? That seems unusual these days.

[Guest]

Sorry, on a closer read I see that they start leveling other subjects in the Sophomore year at Princeton, so they could have AP.

In general it seems like the schools are deferring establishing levels until much later than when I went. That may be a good thing. I have no idea. I'll probably try to do some research on that to see for myself.

[foxymoxy]

I read somewhere that Cranbury has one of THE best middle school programs in the state. Not sure where I read it, but, 6th, 7th and 8th grades are VERY good.

[Guest2]

Leveling isn't all its cracked up to be. Almost all 8th graders take Algebra. All students are pushed to a higher level at Cranbury. Princeton High School you will find has the MOST AP courses of almost any high school in New Jersey.

[NJASK]

If you look at NJASK test results for grade 8, Cranbury students did very well:

http://cranbury.info/viewtopic.php?t=3234

[Guest]

what is leveling?

[Guest 2]

Leveling is when kids are divided int heteroge o classes based on their aptitude level. Most classes are heterogeneous (all levels are mixed) in elementary school.

[Guest 2]

Posted: Mon, May 4, 7:29 pm EDT Post subject: Re: What is the Middle School like?
Leveling is when kids are divided int heteroge o classes based on their aptitude level. Most classes are heterogeneous (all levels are mixed) in elementary school.

Oops -- Meant to say -- Leveling is when kids are divided into classes based onto their aptitude level.