middle School Curriculum

In the SCH Middle School, students don’t just learn, they do. Students craft TED-style talks through our Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, design and race solar cars in science, and write about their own experiences in our digital newspaper. Project-based, hands-on classes ensure students build confidence and skills that last well beyond the classroom. Our students see how ideas turn into outcomes!

The Middle School Single-Sex Experience: A Bridge Between Lower and Upper School

At our private middle school in Chestnut Hill, a Philadelphia neighborhood, we are committed to a single-sex academic experience housed in a vibrant co-ed community. The Middle School years are transformative, both academically and socially. When boys and girls step into our classrooms, they are able to shed gender expectations, find their unique voices, and develop a strong sense of self.

Our advisory program and all core classes, including English, history, math, science, arts, and CEL, are single-sex. This aligns with our philosophy for focused and intentional learning environments. Music, world languages, and learning support are coed and multi-grade to create more robust programming. Beyond the classroom, students have the opportunity to connect with all classmates in structured and supervised coed environments, including lunch, recess, electives, community service, and some field trips, building confidence and friendships across the division.

Click the boxes below to get in-depth grade-level detail about each department.

CEL

SCH Head of Middle School

We're a place that is full of joy. When people visit our campus, one of the first things they say is, 'The kids are so happy here.'

Meadow Pepino | Head of Middle School

Middle School Curriculum Guide

Download the Middle School Curriculum Guide PDF

Student resources

Student Academic Schedule
Student academic support

Student Academic Schedule

The school year at SCH is divided into fall, winter, and spring trimesters. Middle School students begin their day at 8:00 AM and are greeted by their advisor, grade-level dean, or a member of the Middle School Leadership Team for a morning meeting. Supervision is available beginning at 7:30 AM, but we recommend students arrive between 7:45 and 7:50 AM to ensure an on-time start. The academic day concludes at 2:50 PM, after which students may go home, attend after-school enrichment opportunities, or report to approved supervised spaces available until 6:00 PM.

All courses operate on a 7-day rotating cycle, meaning students follow a schedule that shifts through seven distinct days rather than a traditional Monday–Friday format. This structure ensures that each class meets consistently, even when holidays or special events occur, and provides a balanced rhythm that supports flexibility and engagement across all subjects.

A typical day in the Middle School will include a mix of academic classes, support and enrichment opportunities during Community Time, and relationship building and engagement with peers. An example of the daily schedule is shown below.

TIME	CLASS OR ACTIVITY
7:30 - 8:00 AM	MORNING DROP OFF (recommended arrival is 7:45-7:50 AM; supervision is available in the MS Cafeteria beginning at 7:30)
8:00 - 8:15 AM	MORNING MEETING: Advisory, Assembly, Class Meeting
8:15 - 9:10 AM	PERIOD 1
9:15 - 10:10 AM	PERIOD 2
10:10 - 10:25 AM	MORNING BREAK: Snack & Recess
10:30 - 10:55 AM	COMMUNITY TIME
11:00 - 11:55 AM	PERIOD 3
12:00 - 12:50 PM	AFTERNOON BREAK: Lunch & Recess
12:55 - 1:50 PM	PERIOD 4
1:55 - 2:50 PM	PERIOD 5
2:50 PM	END OF ACADEMIC DAY: Students go home or report to school-sponsored activities or approved supervised spaces

Student academic support

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy recognizes that even within a population of very high-achieving students, there will be a need to accommodate various learning styles and needs. We are pleased to offer accommodations to the regular education program in two formats. Teachers and administrators work to provide a variety of activities, assignments, and assessments to allow success for a wide range of learners in all academic settings. In addition, students may qualify for and receive specific individual educational accommodations in their classes. Students who seek these accommodations must comply with the necessary documentation guidelines and criteria to demonstrate the need for such accommodations. Read more about accommodations and the necessary documentation here.

When students feel supported and part of a community, they don’t just succeed, they thrive. Our goal with student support is to build confidence and fuel growth, both academically as well as socially and emotionally.”

Dr. Sandra Tecosky, Middle School Psychologist

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