Middle School at Staten Island Academy consists of Grades 5-8

During these years, students begin to stretch their wings in a safe, supportive environment. They study with teachers specializing in specific subject matters and take advantage of fully equipped classrooms that function as laboratories and studios. We put students at the center of their education and engage them in every aspect of their learning. By building our programs around students, learning can be long-lasting, meaningful, and fun.

Philosophy

Our philosophy is that education should focus on a young person's fundamental interests and explore their questions and curiosities. We teach experiential, holistic, and challenging lessons, guided by the belief that students learn best when challenged and encounter whole ideas. Learning comes when children develop a proper understanding of concepts through higher-order thinking associated with various fields of inquiry. Helping students learn socially, collaboratively, and democratically fosters a learning environment that models the community in which they live.

Environment

Staten Island Academy's Middle School has a unique learning environment that focuses on inquiry and interaction as much as achievement and success; it encourages individual growth and progress alongside teamwork and community. Students are asked to explore the material at hand by always digging deeper, asking "Why?" while valuing their opinions. Students know that our teachers take a genuine interest in their individual and collective learning by creating a safe, challenging environment. Our faculty approach teaching and learning exclusively for young adolescents, who are becoming increasingly aware of their position in the world, new freedoms, and future responsibilities.

Safety

It is vital to a child's success in school and in life that they feel safe. In addition to providing physical safety on our secure 12-acre campus, a student's learning environment must be safe to take risks, ask for help, challenge and continue to ask questions. We strive to cultivate a community in which children are not afraid to play a sport, sing on the stage, or approach a teacher for help when they don't understand something or want to take a topic to the next level.

Parents

We know that Middle School can be as much of a time of change for parents as it is for students. We are proud that, as an independent school with small classes, we can get to know our parents and work with them to find the right balance between giving their child space while remaining involved in their education. We encourage parents to be active and present in school life when they can, attending coffee gatherings, workshops, and Parents' League meetings so that parents can benefit from educational resources at times convenient for them. Education cannot happen in isolation. It is vital to a robust program that community members work together to make the learning cycle successful.