Middle School

Growing Independence 

In the Middle School, students begin taking greater responsibility for their own education. They collaborate closely with teachers to set personal goals and expectations, and as they progress, they rely less on their teachers for academic and emotional support. (That support, however, is always available when they need it.) Our Middle School educators help students develop effective strategies to confidently and independently tackle their coursework and the self-awareness and self-advocacy to know when and how to ask for help – abilities they will need to carry themselves successfully through high school, college, and their careers.

A Fluid Structure

In the Middle School, students benefit from a fluid and flexible curriculum. We break the Middle School into clusters of students based on age and ability as well as social and emotional needs. We also further separate students into reading and math groups, continually assessing students’ progress to ensure they receive the proper support.

While the specific books they read, math problems they solve, and historical events they study will vary based on the individual student, all Gaynor School middle schoolers build the fundamental skills to succeed in their next educational environment. We help them work confidently with textbooks, understand how to approach complex scientific experiments, and clearly present their ideas through speech and writing. Whether using flashcards to memorize facts, digitally recording their thoughts before writing essays, or devising detailed plans to complete long-term assignments, Stephen Gaynor students understand what they need to do their best work in the least stressful way.

Next Step Prep

Students’ readiness to move to a new school – whether the next level within the Gaynor School, a mainstream environment, or high school – is based on careful consideration by teachers, staff, and parents. We work together to determine whether students have built the skills, understanding, and self-confidence for continued success. Our Middle School Departmental Program, which students enter before transitioning out of the Stephen Gaynor School, helps students prepare to meet the expectations of a mainstream environment, from annotating research papers to managing a full workload.

Click here for a glimpse inside the Gaynor Middle School core curriculum.