ACA Middle School

Middle School Academics

Middle school students use the building blocks formed in the lower school as they develop academic abilities requiring a greater degree of critical thinking and rhetorical skills.

Their intellectual development makes the transition from the ability to think concretely and memorize vast amounts of information to abstract thinking and higher level cognitive functions.

The approach of the middle school program is founded on timeless classical liberal arts. The stages of growth and learning correlate to the trivium as a model for training students to think deeply and logically.

The Middle School instructional style resembles a combination of learning techniques ranging from drill and memorization to experiential learning. The Middle School also includes lecture, dissertation, problem solving, exploratory electives and essay exercises found on the Upper School level. The goal is to prepare students to advance to the Upper School with a strong academic foundation.

We also recognize that the Middle School years are the ideal time to develop interests in hobbies and extra-curricular interests. Thus, students are encouraged to become involved in music, drama, and journalism. They are also challenged to choose a foreign language to study and are given many opportunities to choose from a full complement of athletics.

The role of teachers in the Middle School is the critical difference at Asheville Christian Academy. The interaction of faculty and students has nurturing elements. Teachers exhibit the qualities of Upper School faculty, delivering rich content to the students in a given discipline. Added to this is the role of the teacher as counselor and helper during these transitional years in such critical areas as spiritual growth, social development, and study skills.

The Middle School Course of Study

(* indicates the five core subjects)

Grade Six

  • Bible — New Testament Survey*
  • History — Ancient History to the Reformation*
  • Language Arts*
  • Arithmetic*
  • Life Science*
  • Foreign Language (Spanish or Latin)
  • Computer Skills
  • Physical Education
  • Art
  • Music
  • Fine Arts Elective (Drama, Chorus, Band, Journalism)

Grade Seven

  • Bible — Biblical History and Archaeology/Proverbs*
  • Geography — Geography/World Cultures*
  • Language Arts*
  • Arithmetic (summary) or Pre-Algebra*
  • Earth Science*
  • Foreign Language (Spanish or Latin)
  • Computer Integration and Skills
  • Physical Education
  • Art
  • Music
  • Fine Arts Elective (Drama, Chorus, Band, Journalism)

Grade Eight

  • Bible — Acts/Early Church History/Christology/Bible Study Methods*
  • History — U.S. History*
  • Language Arts*
  • Mathematics — Pre-Algebra or Algebra I*
  • Physical Science*
  • Logic (1 Semester)
  • Computer Applications
  • Foreign Language (Spanish or Latin)
  • Physical Education
  • Art
  • Music
  • Fine Arts Elective (Drama, Chorus, Band, Journalism)

Comments on the Course of Study

All science classes utilize a laboratory component. They are further enriched by outdoor retreats that focus on the application and exploration of concepts learned in the classroom, e.g. pond and stream studies, caving, outdoor astronomy exercises, etc.

The language arts contains a robust literature and poetry component that includes the use of an anthology of classic literature and individual novels.

History and language arts classes combine disciplines for essay writing and library/computer research skill projects.

Both study skills and organizational habits are important aspects of the growing learner and are integral to the entire Middle School core program.