Middle School

Education news, analysis, and opinion about schools typically serving 6th to 8th grades and the students who attend them
Brittany Hagan, an eighth year English-language arts teacher near Philadelphia, sets up her classroom each year to provide a calming environment for her middle school students.
Brittany Hagan, an eighth year English-language arts teacher near Philadelphia, sets up her classroom each year to provide a calming environment for her middle school students.
Courtesy of Brittany Hagan
Teaching Older Students Deserve Colorful Classrooms, Too
Three teachers share how they set up their classrooms to welcome, soothe, and engage their older students.
Caitlyn Meisner, August 15, 2023
6 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
Reading & Literacy Opinion Many Older Students Are Struggling to Read. How Can Teachers Help?
Educators offer targeted instructional steps to support middle and high schoolers in their journey to understand the written word.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 14, 2023
8 min read
3D illustration of a crumpled paper person's speech bubble being burned by a match in front of a multi-colored collaged printed background. Silencing opinion.
DigitalVision Vectors + iStock/Getty + Vanessa Solis/Education Week
Teaching Opinion I Put an LGBTQ+ Book on My Classroom Reading List. Then Someone Filed a Police Report
A teacher shares three important lessons from the backlash that drove her out of her classroom.
Sarah Bonner, July 31, 2023
5 min read
Illustration of various data
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
Mathematics Project The State of Math Education, in Charts
See the numbers on students' declining math scores, job demands for data skills, and teachers' math preparation.
Sarah D. Sparks, July 31, 2023
1 min read
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the historic Ritz Theatre in downtown Jacksonville, Fla., on July 21, 2023. Harris spoke out against the new standards adopted by the Florida State Board of Education in the teaching of Black history.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the historic Ritz Theatre in downtown Jacksonville, Fla., on July 21, 2023. Harris spoke out against the new standards adopted by the Florida state board of education in the teaching of Black history.
Fran Ruchalski/The Florida Times-Union via AP
Standards Here’s What’s in Florida’s New African American History Standards
Standards were expanded in the younger grades, but critics question the framing of many of the new standards.
Ileana Najarro, July 25, 2023
1 min read
Mathematics Video Skating Into STEM: Teaching Middle School Girls Math Through Movement
This Illinois program is fostering an interest in STEM for middle school girls through figure skating.
Sam Mallon, July 21, 2023
3:59
photograph Young teenage boys vlogging
E+/Getty
Classroom Technology Want to Help Students Develop Empathy? Try Making Movies
A 6th grade teacher uses moviemaking to learn about her students and help them learn about one another.
Alyson Klein, July 6, 2023
5 min read
070523 middle school genius bar 01 BS
Students help repair laptops and work in the school library as part of the "Genius Bar," an IT help desk modeled on an Apple computer concept that is used at Anne M. Dorner Middle School near New York City.
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Blye
Classroom Technology A Student-Staffed 'Genius Bar': Why It's Working for This Middle School
Starting a "Genius Bar" helped a suburban New York City school teach tech skills and support students' social-emotional needs.
Alyson Klein, July 5, 2023
4 min read
A two photo collage on dark blue paper of principal Stella Nwanguma and others from school.
Photos: Courtesy of Stella Nwanguma; Design: Gina Tomko/Education Week via Canva
School & District Management In Their Own Words Teaching 'Grand Students': A Principal Treasures Her Work With Multiple Generations
A New Jersey principal built connections over multiple generations of families.
Denisa R. Superville, June 23, 2023
2 min read
A three photo collage on dark blue paper of principal Stacy Schreiner and others from school.
Photos: Courtesy of Stacy Schreiner; Design: Gina Tomko/Education Week via Canva
School & District Management In Their Own Words 'The Kids Never Once Doubted I Loved Them': A Principal's Deep Connections With Students
This Kansas middle school principal will remember the decades-long relationships she's built with students.
Denisa R. Superville, June 23, 2023
4 min read
Illustration of woman walking into clouds.
Getty
School & District Management What This Principal Learned the First Year on the Job
Despite experience as an assistant principal, Katherine Holden found there was still a learning curve when she took the top school job.
Denisa R. Superville, June 16, 2023
6 min read
Teacher at a desk helping an elementary girl with her work.
E+/Getty
Student Achievement This School Bet on High-Dosage Tutoring. It’s Working
Here's how the school, which drew on student input to shape its program, solved thorny issues like class size and scheduling.
Denisa R. Superville, June 12, 2023
6 min read
Students ride the bus home from Russellville Middle School in Russellville, Alabama, on Dec. 9, 2022.
Los estudiantes toman el autobús a casa desde la escuela secundaria Russellville en Russellville, Alabama, el 9 de diciembre de 2022.
Tamika Moore for Education Week
English-Language Learners Project Este Distrito Está Teniendo Éxito con Estudiantes de Inglés. ¿Puede Mantener su Impulso?
Logros del sistema escolar de Alabama se ven amenazados por financiación limitada, necesidades no atendidas y política estatal moribunda.
Ileana Najarro, June 2, 2023
14 min read
A seventh grade student reads a book in the library at Sutton Middle School in Atlanta on Feb. 12, 2020.
A seventh grade student reads a book in the library at Sutton Middle School in Atlanta on Feb. 12, 2020.
Allison Shelley for EDUimages
Reading & Literacy Why One State Extended Reading Supports Through Middle School
Virginia will now require schools to offer dedicated support for struggling readers through 8th grade.
Sarah Schwartz, April 7, 2023
5 min read