Middle School Girls in CEL class
Middle School strings at Convocation 2025
Group of Middle School Boys walking to and from convocation
8th grade girl at Outward bound trip 2025
Middle School Girls at SCH Academy

Welcome to Middle School at SCH Academy

As parents and educators, we share a special bond: a front-row seat to watching your children grow and evolve, each year a step closer to discovering who they are. On behalf of the Middle School faculty, we are excited to partner with you through these transformative years.

Meadow Pepino | Head of Middle School

THE FRAMEWORK FOR GROWTH IN MIDDLE SCHOOL:
SELF, SCHOOL, AND SOCIETY

At SCH, Middle School is a time of transformation—a journey in which students deepen their understanding of themselves, their community, and the wider world. Our Self, School, and Society framework supports this journey, with Self representing the importance of introspection and reflection, School encompassing the learning community in which our students connect and collaborate with others, and Society representing the unique urban and natural environments beyond our classroom walls that our students both explore and serve.

Through meaningful and experiential learning, our students develop the thoughtfulness, care for community, empathy, and resilience that is needed to authentically live out SCH’s mission to “effect positive change” in the world.
 

Dotted Yellow Line

 

Academic Overview

Browse the distinctive programs of our academic curriculum below.

English

The Middle School English program at SCH develops confident readers, writers, and speakers who think critically and engage deeply with literature. Students explore diverse voices and genres while honing their analytical, creative, and expository writing skills. Rooted in curiosity and a love of reading, the program equips students with the tools to express themselves clearly and thoughtfully, preparing them for success in Upper School and beyond.

History

Our History program fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and empathy as students investigate ancient civilizations and American history through inquiry-based learning. Using primary and secondary sources, hands-on projects, and the rich resources of Philadelphia, students learn to see the past through multiple perspectives and connect it to the present. By developing strong research, writing, and presentation skills, they gain a deeper understanding of how history shapes their own lives.

Middle School Girls in English Class
Joe, Middle School Spotlight at SCH Academy


MATH

Our Mathematics program emphasizes problem-solving, pattern recognition, and flexible thinking across real-world contexts. Students deepen their number sense, develop algebraic reasoning, and gain confidence applying mathematical ideas through collaborative, inquiry-based learning. With a curriculum designed to meet students where they are, we prepare every learner for success in Upper School math and beyond.

ARTS AND NEW MEDIA

From visual arts to music and digital media, the arts at SCH encourage creativity, self-expression, and collaboration. Middle School students explore a wide range of artistic disciplines while building technical skills and confidence as performers and creators. Whether on stage, in the studio, or behind the camera, students discover their unique voices and learn to share them with the world.

The Arts at SCH

SANDS Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership

The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL) helps students build the mindset and skills to think like innovators and problem-solvers. In Middle School, courses such as Digital Storytelling, Intro to Coding, and Money Matters give students hands-on opportunities to create, design, and lead. Along the way, they practice opportunity seeking, creative problem solving, resiliency, and resourcefulness — essential traits that prepare them to bring ideas to life at SCH and beyond.

CEL at SCH


World Languages

Through immersive experiences in Spanish, French, Latin, and Chinese, students build strong communication skills while gaining an appreciation for diverse cultures. Beginning with exposure to multiple languages in 5th grade, students then pursue deeper study in their chosen language, strengthening fluency and cultural awareness year by year. This program fosters global citizenship and equips students with tools to thrive in an interconnected world.

SCIENCE

The Middle School Science program emphasizes hands-on exploration, inquiry, and problem-solving across the disciplines of life, earth, and physical sciences. Students design experiments, analyze data, and tackle real-world challenges using up-to-date technology and the Wissahickon ecosystem as an outdoor classroom. This engaging, project-based approach not only builds scientific knowledge but also fosters creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.
 

Wizard of Oz Dorothy & Scarecrow Middle School Production
Dotted Yellow Line

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL events

Learn more about our Middle School at an Admissions Event! Parents & students are welcome to tour the Middle School for our ongoing admissions events.

Register Today

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interested
in applying?


Contact Lauryn Parker, Associate Director for Middle School Admissions, with any questions about grades 5-8.


p: 215-754-7322
e: lparker@sch.org