Middle School Learning: Exploratory and Supportive Grades 6, 7 & 8   Middle schools offer a friendly and challenging academic ­environment that addresses the diverse needs of 10 to 14 year olds. The curriculum provides a solid educational foundation for future studies, opportunities to sample a variety of exploratory subjects and encouragement to explore their special interests and talents. Moving Toward Independence  Middle schools also provide the guidance and positive school climate that children need as they move from close dependence on adults to greater personal independence that recognizes the special importance of peer friendships. Diverse Instruction   Courses and activities capitalize on this age group's energy and inquisitiveness by providing diverse learning opportunities in a supportive environment. The curriculum includes the required subjects of language arts, social studies, science, math and physical education. Each student is also required to explore ­activities in family and consumer science. Options   Students who would like a wider sample of study and/or a more in-depth ­experience may choose electives such as world language, band, chorus, theatre and visual art. In all areas, students are grouped in a variety of ways so they can study relationships between subjects.

{Middle School}   Find Out More  For content area overviews, choose from the sections at the left. Ask principals and teachers about the curriculum and teaching strategies. See the Course Guide to the left. Visit FCPS Teach, a valuable source for complete information about the FCPS curriculum. Here you can obtain details about a specific content area by clicking on the appropriate link to the left. For copyright reasons, some parts of this site are accessible only to authorized educators; these password-protected links appear under the "Secured Area" heading on each discipline's page.