Middle School
PROGRAM SEQUENCE | ACADEMIC YEAR 2025–26
MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM SEQUENCE
GRADE 5
GRADE 6
GRADE 7
GRADE 8
ENGLISH Rites of Passage The Individual in Society: identity and Expectation A Sense of Place Coming of Age
HISTORY
Stories and Civilizations
MATHEMATICS A Journey through Numeration and Problem Solving
SCIENCE
CLASSICS
WORLD LANGUAGES
Comparative Government: Creation and Collapse
Rational Numbers in Our World
Fundamentals of Earth and Space Life Science and Earth Systems
Language Sampler (Latin: trimester)
Language Sampler (French, Spanish, Mandarin: trimester)
COMPUTER & INFORMATION SCIENCE
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
Grade 5 Technology: Intro to device and file management, security, creative hand-ons programming and building projects. (trimester)
Music: Vocal music
Visual: Studio Art (trimester)
Dance: Elements of Dance & STREB (trimester)
Drama: Elements of Drama (trimester)
Latin 6
French 6
Spanish 6
United States History The United States in the World
The Fundamentals of Algebra (or) Algebra I
Energy and Earth Systems
Latin 7
Dual Language Latin
Mandarin 6 French 7 Spanish 7 Mandarin 7
Grade 6 Technology: Block-based and text-based programming in Scratch and Code.org App Lab, Google AIY (trimester)
Music: Instrumental music
Visual: Studio Art (trimester)
Dance: Movement Storytelling (trimester)
Drama: Storytelling (trimester)
Music: Intro to Strings
Visual: Digital Design
Foundations of Drawing and Painting
Portraiture and Branding
Dance: Jazz/Modern and Social Justice Movement Studies
Drama: Improvisation and Storytelling
Intermediate Algebra (or) Algebra II
Change over Time in Earth Systems
Latin 8
Dual Language Latin
French 8
Spanish 8
Mandarin 8
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Music: Intro to Guitar
Visual: Ceramics
Digital Design
Foundations of Drawing and Painting
Portraiture and Branding
Dance: Various Genre Studies
Drama: Improvisation and Scripted Work
Throughout Grades 7 and 8, students must take at least one music, one visual, and one kinesthetic (drama or dance) semester-long class. Students can fulfill their music requirement either through a semester-long course or by two-year participation in MS Band, MS Chorus, or MS Strings. The MS ensembles meet during the school day outside the designated arts block.
5th Grade Health 6th Grade Health
PHYSICAL EDUCATION Rotations of Sport Rotations of Sport
ETHICS & LEADERSHIP
LEARNING SUPPORT Foundations Foundations
7th Grade Health 8th Grade Health
Athlete Development
Athlete Development
Writer’s Craft Stories and Systems (or)
Middle School Philosophy
ELECTIVE OFFERINGS BY DEPARTMENT
HISTORY
Grade 7: Medieval World
History of Monsters Conspiracy Theories
MATHEMATICS
Grade 8: Financial LIteracy Intro to Data Science
SCIENCE
Grade 7: Urban Farming
CLASSICS
Grade 7: Greek and Roman Mythology
COMPUTER & INFORMATION SCIENCE
Grade 7: Robotics
AFTER SCHOOL ARTS
Grades 5 & 6: Young Dancers
Young Actors Young Singers
Grades 6:
Speech and Debate
Spring Musical
Grades 7 & 8:
Tower Dancers
Fall Play
Speech and Debate
Spring Musical
Theater Tech, Stage, or Costume Crew for performances
Interested students in Grades 6-8 may enroll in Poly Conservatory instrument and voice lessons. Poly offers free group lessons for Grade 5 students who are already proficient in an instrument
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Grades 5 & 6:
After-school programming such as Poly PM or other clinics hosted by Varsity coaches.
Grades 7 & 8:
Option of participating in Middle School teams
Grades 8:
Option of trying out for Varsity and JV athletics at the Upper School level. Must complete the following steps in order to be able to complete:
• Approval from deans (students are not having any academic or behavioral issues)
• Approval from doctor (students are physically able to compete)
• Approval from parents/guardians
• Passing State Fitness Test and meeting coach’s standards
GRADE 5 SAMPLE SCHEDULE
2:30–3:35
SCHEDULE KEY
5th Grade Language Sampler
Students take one trimester each of three of the four languages offered: French, Latin, Mandarin, and Spanish.
5th Grade Arts
Students rotate between Studio Arts, Dance, and Drama each trimester and take Music once per cycle throughout the year.
Foundations
A year-long class that focuses on executive function strategies and tools for succeeding in Middle School and life.
Physical Education
Students rotate through an introduction to sports, based on season.
5th Grade Academic Elective
Students rotate each trimester through Computer Science, Health, and Library.
Extra Help
Study hall block that students can use to make meetings with teachers to get extra help.
5 D.E.A.R.
Time to Drop Everything and Read!
Forum
Students meet in a Middle School community forum once every 7-day rotation.
Clubs Block
Middle Schoolers try a different club every quarter to gain exposure to multiple interests.
5th Grade Affinity/Alliance Block
Students choose to be in an affinity, alliance, or small discussion group.
GRADE 6 SAMPLE SCHEDULE
2:30–3:35
SCHEDULE KEY
6th
6th
6th Grade
Comparative
6th Grade World Language
Students can choose between French, Latin, Mandarin, and Spanish.
6th Grade Arts
Students rotate between Studio Arts, Dance, and Drama each trimester and take Music once per cycle throughout the year.
6th Grade Academic Elective
Students rotate each trimester through Computer Science, Health, and Library.
Extra Help
Study hall block that students can use to make meetings with teachers to get extra help.
Students meet in a Middle School community forum once every 7-day rotation.
Clubs Block
Middle Schoolers try a different club every quarter to gain exposure to multiple interests.
6th Grade Affinity/Alliance Block
Students choose to be in an affinity, alliance, or small discussion group.
GRADE 7 SAMPLE SCHEDULE
1:20–2:25
2:30–3:35
SCHEDULE KEY
7th Grade English A Sense
7th Grade History United States
7th Grade Math The Fundamentals of Algebra (Advanced option: Algebra I)
7th Grade World Language: Students can choose between French, Latin, Mandarin, and Spanish.
7th Grade Academic Elective
Students choose a semester-long academic elective, such as Urban Farming or Greek Mythology.
7th Grade Science Energy in Earth’s Systems
7th Grade Health
Students take Health once per cycle throughout the year.
7th Grade Arts Elective
All students choose a semester-long arts elective. Students can also choose to participate in a music ensemble that meets during Extra Help twice per cycle.
Extra Help Study hall block that students can use to make meetings with teachers to get extra help.
7 D.E.A.R. Time to Drop Everything and Read!
Forum
Students meet in a Middle School community forum once every 7-day rotation.
Clubs Block
Middle Schoolers try a different club every quarter to gain exposure to multiple interests.
7th Grade Affinity/Alliance Block
Students choose to be in an affinity, alliance, or small discussion group.
GRADE 8 SAMPLE SCHEDULE
2:30–3:35
SCHEDULE KEY
8th Grade Math
Algebra I (Advanced option: Algebra II)
8th Grade Academic Elective
Students choose a semester-long academic elective, such as Digital Design. All Grade 8 students must take Middle School Philosophy or Stories & Systems, which are both one semester-long electives.
8th Grade World Language
Students can choose between French, Latin, Mandarin, and Spanish.
8th Grade Health
Students take Health once per cycle throughout the year.
8th Grade Arts Elective
All students choose a semester-long arts elective. Students can also choose to participate in a music ensemble that meets during Extra Help twice per cycle.
Extra Help
Study hall block that students can use to make meetings with teachers to get extra help.
Students meet in a Middle School community forum once every 7-day rotation.
Clubs Block
Middle Schoolers try a different club every quarter to gain exposure to multiple interests.
8th Grade Affinity/Alliance Block
Students choose to be in an affinity, alliance, or small discussion group.
MIDDLE SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
SCHOOL DAY CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES EXAMPLES
African Dance and Drum
Anime Club
Chess Club
Classics Club
Dungeons & Dragons Club
Embroidery & Sewing Club
Gardening Club
K-pop Club
Jigsaw Puzzle Club
Literary Magazine & Poetry
Makeup Art
Math Olympiad
Middle School Senate
Music Appreciation
Photography Club
Polyglot (yearbook)
Polygon (student newspaper)
Reading Club
Sketchbook Club
Soccer Club
Volleyball Club
MIDDLE SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
AFFINITY GROUPS
Asian-American & Pacific Islander Affinity
Black Student Affinity, 7/8
Boys Affinity, 5/6; 7/8
Changing Families Affinity
Christian Affinity
Gender & Sexuality Alliance, 5/6; 7/8
Girls Affinity, 5/6; 7/8
Jewish Affinity
Multiracial Affinity
Neurodiversity Affinity
Students of Color Affinity, 5/6
Unidad Affinity
White Anti-Racist Affinity
POLY PM EXAMPLES
Blend it Up
Chess
Clay Creations
Coding
Competitive Debate
Digital Art
eSports Keyboard Gaming
Improv & Sketch Comedy
Intro to Stepping
Seasonal Sports
Young Actors
Young Dancers, Tower Dancers
Young Singers, Tower Singers
PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND TEAMS
Baseball
Basketball
Tackle Football
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Track & Field
Volleyball
Wrestling
MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS
Our Conservatory program includes free after school group lessons for Grade 5 for flute, clarinet, saxophone, violin, trumpet, and trombone.
Grade 8 students complete a capstone project from the History curriculum and present their findings to their History faculty and families.
In Grades 5 and 6, students explore a wide variety of sports in Physical Education classes led by Poly coaches.
Students showcase their work in the performing arts through the Middle School Play, Musical, and Winter and Spring Concerts.
Grade 7 and 8 students choose an academic elective each semester. All Grade 8 students must take an Ethics and Leadership elective.
Grade 5 students choose three out of four offered languages (French, Latin, Mandarin, and Spanish) before choosing a language in Grades 6–8.
In Grades 7 and 8, we offer Middle School sports teams for each athletic season.