Academics

Colonial Middle School provides challenging academics that fuse the “whole child” concept of the elementary program with the more in-depth exploration of subject matter that is characteristic of secondary schools. This fusion is best expressed through the teaming of teachers and students, an interdisciplinary approach to learning and a wide range of support systems to help students make the transition from establishing a basic understanding of the world to expanding on that foundation by making more elaborate connections and solving more complex problems.

An innovative block schedule gives Colonial Middle School students more time in their classes to explore content more deeply. In addition to regular classes in math, language arts, social studies and science, students also receive one introductory course in each of the “unified arts:” family consumer sciences, art, music, computer science and technical education -- each trimester. The schedule also allows for four additional electives in the unified arts areas. All children benefit from year-long classes in health and physical education. Study in world languages – including French, Latin and Spanish – begins in sixth grade.

All teachers in the Colonial School District use “Differentiated Instruction”, where they plan lessons so the students are exposed to the material in a variety of ways in order to accommodate for different learning styles. The student-centered classroom gives children ownership of their learning and allows them to explore content in large groups, small groups and independently. This approach helps children develop a foundation in 21st century skills, such as learning how to communicate and collaborate effectively with their peers, as well as provides students with the strategies and confidence to discover new things on their own.