Junior High

Our Junior High program (Grades 7–8) is part of our Secondary School and is housed in the Secondary School (McLain) building. Junior High and High School are served by our Secondary School faculty, allowing students to learn from teachers they may also have later in High School. This helps students build important academic skills and confidence before they begin earning a GPA.

Junior High is intentionally designed to be developmentally appropriate while also preparing students for the expectations of High School. Students benefit from the strength of our Secondary School faculty and programs, while still experiencing a program that is distinct and supportive of the junior-high years.

Throughout Junior High, students continue to grow academically, spiritually, and socially. Learning is grounded in our Christian faith as students develop a biblical worldview and are encouraged to think, act, learn, serve, and work together in ways that honor Christ.

This approach helps students transition smoothly into High School while continuing to grow in responsibility, character, and readiness for the next stage of lifelong learning.

Uniquely Designed

At Cornerstone our teachers understand that junior high students:

• Are created by God as unique individuals

• Require opportunities to develop their independence with the support of caring adults

• Value social interactions and benefit from structured opportunities to work together

• Ask hard questions as they develop their individuality and form their worldview

• Need a safe place to grow and develop during this transitional time in their lives

Therefore, our junior high program is uniquely designed with:

• A biblically based approach to friendship and social skills

• Integration of content across core subjects

• Structured work periods for homework completion

• Yearly traditions focusing on spiritual formation and bonding opportunities

• Opportunities to practice leadership 

Junior High Course Overview

Our Junior High course offerings are as follows:

Math: Math Course II, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I

Science: Life Science, Earth Science

Social Studies: U.S. History & Civics, World Geography

Language Arts

Bible

Additional Courses: Physical Education, Choir, Computers, Health, Public Speaking

Developing Authors, Readers, and Critical Thinkers

Our secondary school teachers are committed to helping each child grow and develop academically. It is our desire that each student be engaged in the learning process and go beyond memorization to critical thinking and problem-solving. Therefore, we work to develop each student into an author, reader, and critical thinker through the following:

Biblical Integration
Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life upon which life and education are built. The Bible is the bedrock of timeless wisdom and knowledge, which equips students daily for life. Students are taught to analyze all information in light of a biblical worldview.

Cross-Curricular Alignment
Through our course schedule, students are taught to see the connections between courses, such as Science and Social Studies. The novels chosen for the LAR courses align with the social studies courses.

Content Area Instruction
Teachers seek opportunities to instruct students in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in all the content areas. These include writing research papers, giving oral presentations, and completing nonfiction reading requirements. Students are taught by teachers who specialize in their subject areas, as our Junior High and High School share the same Secondary School faculty.

Benchmark Projects
Yearly benchmark projects require students to demonstrate proficient, grade-level writing skills. Projects involve a research paper and presentation. These projects prepare students for the rigorous research and writing requirements of high school.