Middle School

Cornerstone is a Pre-K through Grade 12 school. Our middle school program for Grades 6-8 is designed to support students as they transition from the self-contained classroom of elementary school towards a high school schedule with multiple teachers.

• Study skills courses develop organization, note-taking, test preparation, and time management skills.

• A modified schedule familiarizes students with the course rotation of high school while still providing the support needed by this age group.

• Teachers value a team approach--working together to support each individual student.

• Online assignment tracking, grade reporting and communication system keep parents connected and informed.

• Incremental semester exam schedule introduces students to comprehensive testing.

Uniquely Designed

At Cornerstone our teachers understand that middle school 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 middle school program is uniquely designed with:

• Rotating, modified block schedules

• Integration of content across core subjects

• Structured work periods for homework completion

• Gender-separate physical education and health courses

• Yearly middle school retreat focusing on spiritual formation and bonding opportunities

• Opportunities to practice leadership 

Middle School Course Overview

Our middle school course offerings are as follows:

Grade 6: Bible, Math Course I, Ancient Civilizations, Physical Science, Language Arts, Study Skills

Grade 7: Bible, Math Course II or Pre-Algebra, U.S. History, Life Science, Language Arts, Study Skills

Grade 8: Bible, Pre-Algebra or HS Algebra I, World Geography, Earth Science, Language Arts, Health, Public Speaking

Common Electives (Grades 6-8): Physical Education, Technology, Band or Choir

Developing Authors, Readers, and Critical Thinkers

Our middle school teachers are committed to helping each child grow and develop academically. It is our desire that each middle school 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.

Foundations & Frameworks
Our middle school language arts (LAR) courses utilize skills learned through the elementary Foundations & Frameworks (F&F) reading program, which is taught through Grade 6. F&F is a research-based program that utilizes visual tools to engage students in critical thinking and to stimulate meaningful discussions.

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.

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