Middle School: 5th-8th Grade

Expand each section below to find out more about why the
Middle School program at MDS is the right choice for your student.

Expeditionary Learning (EL) is at the heart of an MDS IB education. EL is an educational approach emphasizing hands-on, experiential learning while engaged in immersive expeditions. After months of in-class preparation, MDS middle school students (5th-8th grade) are spread across the globe on their expeditionary learning experiences.
An initiative undertaken by our students, in and outside academic settings, that is driven by their own interests and goals. It's a self-directed project that allows individuals to explore, learn, and create something meaningful to them, showcasing initiative and personal development.
A competition that tests students' knowledge of geography, typically involving questions about locations, map reading, and geographical features.
Item description
This assessment is used to evaluate students' writing skills. It's administered in different grade levels with varying prompts to assess different writing styles, such as narrative, informative, or argumentative.
Item description

A group of students who represent the middle school student body. They help plan activities, voice student concerns, and work with school administration to improve school conditions. SAC also plays a role in promoting citizenship, leadership, and cultural values.
A cross-curricular, project-based learning program for middle school students focused on STEM principles and the Engineering Design Process. Students imagine, research, design, and build cities of the future that address citywide sustainability issues. The program encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and the application of math and science concepts to real-world challenges.
A writing competition designed to encourage and celebrate creative writing by students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Young Authors provides a platform for MDS students to foster a love of writing, share their work, and potentially recognize and publish their stories.
As part of our IB Programme and educational philosophy of constructivism, S.T.E.A.M. integrates the study of science, technology, engineering, and math. Constructivism is a well-established theory of learning that incorporates learners as co-constructors of knowledge. The S.T.E.A.M. and Maker Ed program, provides students with the opportunity to discover their passion for science and experience the design process while competing at the state level in engineering competitions.
Item description
Item description