Middle School

5th-8th Grade

There’s No Place like the Middle

Our middle school program provides a dynamic, well-rounded education for students in grades five through eight. Each day is built around five core subjects: Humanities, Math, English Language Arts (ELA), Science, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math).

In addition to core academics, students engage in weekly enrichment classes in Physical Education, Art & Design Thinking, Spanish, and Music—ensuring exposure to creative and global perspectives.

Every afternoon concludes with a six-week rotating elective or intensive class. These sessions empower students to explore personal interests, discover new passions, and deepen their learning in areas they’re excited about.

Yearly Testing & Assessments

The Writing Assessment Program (WRAP) is administered annually to students in grades 5–8. This standardized writing assessment evaluates students’ ability to organize ideas, develop arguments, and communicate clearly in written form. Aligned with our IB curriculum and focus on communication skills, WRAP provides meaningful feedback on student growth and helps guide instruction to strengthen writing across all subjects.
Each spring, students in grades 3–8 participate in the Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP), a standardized assessment used by independent schools nationwide. The CTP measures student achievement in key areas such as reading, math, and writing, providing valuable insight into academic progress and helping inform instruction.
Middle School students are assessed using a variety of tools to support their growth and learning. Formative assessments—including quizzes, classwork, homework, journal entries, and class participation—help gauge understanding and guide instruction. Summative assessments such as tests, projects, portfolios, and student-led conferences are used to evaluate overall learning.
Students also take nationally normed standardized tests like the CTP-Online (covering reading, language, math, writing, and science) and the WrAP writing assessment.
Progress is reported each trimester through report cards, progress reports, and cumulative student-created digital portfolios. Parents receive updates at 3 and 9 weeks, and conferences are held each trimester (parent-teacher in the fall, student-led in winter and spring).
Grading follows a standard A–F scale, with detailed ranges to ensure clarity and consistency in evaluation.

Program Highlights

Special Studies Week is a hallmark of our experiential learning approach at Morganton Day School. Each spring, students in grades 5–8 step outside the traditional classroom to engage in in-depth, hands-on exploration of a specific topic, theme, or skill set. These immersive, interdisciplinary experiences often include travel, service learning, outdoor education, or intensive creative projects.
Whether students are snorkelling in the Florida Keys, learning about North Carolina History in the Outer Banks, or hiking volcanoes in Costa Rica, Special Studies Week empowers them to take ownership of their learning. Rooted in our IB philosophy, this unique program fosters independence, critical thinking, collaboration, and real-world application of academic knowledge. It’s a week students anticipate all year—and remember for a lifetime.
The IB Personal Project is a signature experience for MDS 8th graders. Students identify a passion or curiosity and then commit to a long-term, self-directed exploration under the guidance of a community mentor. The goal? To set a challenging personal objective and reach it through research, dedication, and growth.
Past year’s projects were as inspiring as they were diverse. Students took on impressive challenges such as:
- Learning to fly a plane
- Creating a professional cookbook
- Training in cosmetology and nail artistry
- Mastering volleyball skills
- Perfecting the art and kitchen chemistry of bread baking
- Improving competitive swim times through focused training
We are proud to participate in the long-standing tradition of the Geography Bee—an exciting academic competition that challenges students to deepen their knowledge of world geography, cultures, and global awareness. Our students embrace this classic competition with enthusiasm, and over the years, we’ve celebrated national and international qualifiers among both current students and alumni. The Geography Bee continues to be a meaningful way to foster curiosity, critical thinking, and a global perspective.
Our middle years Spanish program is rooted in the IB philosophy that language learning fosters international-mindedness, cultural understanding, and global communication. Through interactive lessons focused on conversation, vocabulary, and grammar, students develop a strong foundation in Spanish. By the end of 8th grade, they are well-prepared for high school placement, with many advancing directly into Spanish 2. Our program empowers students to connect with the world around them and communicate with confidence in a second language.
The annual school musical is a beloved tradition at Morganton Day School and a highlight of our arts program. Middle grade students have the opportunity to audition for lead roles and gain hands-on experience in all aspects of theater production—from acting and singing to set design, lighting, and sound.
7th-grade Community Action Project (CAP). CAP is an integral part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum at MDS, providing students with the opportunity to identify a need within their school community and address it through service learning. Every 7th-grade student at MDS participates in a CAP project, fostering skills in planning, collaboration, and meaningful action to make a lasting impact.

The Student Action Council is a leadership group that represents the voice of our middle school student body. Members collaborate with school administration to plan events, address student concerns, and contribute to a positive school environment. SAC encourages active citizenship, fosters leadership skills, and promotes a culture of respect, responsibility, and inclusion throughout the school community.
The Future City Competition challenges students to imagine, design, and build a model of a city of the future using science, engineering, and creativity. It’s an exciting, hands-on opportunity for students to apply what they’ve learned to solve real-world problems in innovative ways. Morganton Day School has a proud history of excellence in this competition—most notably winning the regional championship in 2024 and advancing to the international stage in Washington, D.C. Our students continue to impress with their vision, teamwork, and forward-thinking ideas.
Each year, our students proudly participate in the Young Authors Program through the North Carolina Reading Council. This initiative celebrates creativity and literacy by encouraging students to write and share original works. Annually, more than 40 of our students and teachers have had their writing selected for publication—an inspiring testament to the power of storytelling and the strength of our writing program.
As part of our IB Programme, the S.T.E.A.M. and Maker Ed program combines science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on, inquiry-based learning. Students explore the design process, discover their passions, and compete in state-level engineering challenges.
Our 6th Grade IB Expedition is a capstone experience that brings learning to life through inquiry, exploration, and real-world connections. Aligned with the International Baccalaureate framework, this interdisciplinary project allows students to investigate a central idea or global issue they care about. Guided by teachers and fueled by student curiosity, the expedition includes research, fieldwork, collaboration, and a public presentation. It’s a powerful opportunity for students to demonstrate independence, take action, and showcase the skills they’ve developed throughout their IB journey.