Middle School
The middle years are a time of incredible change for students. An education at the American School of Paris is designed to celebrate these changes by providing students with a challenging academic program and a keen focus on their social and emotional development.
Our Middle School students (Grades 6–8, ages 11–14) follow an American curriculum, developed to build their core skills for academic success and foster their personal development. We ensure that our Middle School students have the tools to become successful, well-rounded global citizens. Our Advisory program, service learning opportunities, numerous electives, and extra-curricular activities, create an ideal environment for our students to flourish during their Middle School years. With an emphasis on student agency, the Middle School program enables students to pursue new passions and skills, as they seek to develop their unique selves.
Our Middle School curriculum offers academic rigor and prioritizes a holistic view of learning, where students develop themselves as critical thinkers, artists, athletes, and friends.
While following an American curriculum, we seek to extend learning beyond the confines of the classroom. Through hands-on projects and myriad off-campus excursions, students engage in authentic learning experiences, applying skills and habits of mind to real-world contexts. We take an interdisciplinary approach to core classes, and students benefit from the deep connections between each class, and between each grade level.
Our experienced, dedicated faculty focus on the mastery of lifelong learning skills, such as research, iterative design, and communication, while encouraging exploration of a wide range of different disciplines. This prepares our students for the challenges and opportunities of high school, including the International Baccalaureate Diploma, and beyond.
Advisory
As part of our personalized approach to education, the Advisory Program is a cornerstone of the Middle School experience at ASP. Students are placed in small advisory groups with the same faculty advisor for the academic year. In a safe and welcoming environment, students discuss key issues, collaborate on group projects, and develop a genuine sense of belonging.
Through service learning initiatives, grade-level trips, and friendly advisory competitions, students develop an appreciation for the role they play in creating a strong community. Students also engage in rich conversation around topics such as peer relations, digital citizenship, and social justice. Lastly, advisory supports our students’ academic progress, as we focus on time-management, organization, and personal reflection and goal-setting.
With Paris on our doorstep, our Middle School students visit the Musée d’Orsay, the Louvre, and Versailles, and many other sites of cultural and historical importance in the city.
Students also explore different regions of France as part of the curriculum. Each year, Grade 6 travels to Guédelon Castle near Treigny, Grade 7 heads to Saint-Malo in Brittany, and Grade 8 spends several days in Provence. Beyond these excursions, our students are involved in local service-learning projects, allowing them to visit neighboring organizations and to make a difference locally.
In addition, each grade level begins the year with a week-long Outward Bound adventure in either France or the Netherlands. Students engage in activities such as biking, hiking, and boating, as they step outside their comfort zones, forge strong bonds with peers and teachers, and learn about themselves and their role on a team. These trips help acclimate new students and set an important tone for the remainder of the school year.
Learning and Language Support
As part of our holistic approach, we offer support services for all students.
Our Learning Support program is available to students with diverse learning needs. Our highly-trained Learning Support teachers provide push-in support, where they help students in subject-area classes, as well as discrete learning support classes, where they work with students on study skills and any other individual learning goals.
Our English as an Additional Language (EAL) program is available to all Middle School students who are at various stages of their English-language acquisition. Our trained EAL faculty work with students in subject-area classes, as well as in their discrete EAL classes. The goal is to help students develop their academic English skills, so that they can fully engage in the middle school curriculum.
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