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NMSD’s rigorous academic program conforms to the Common Core State Standards and New Mexico state standards and benchmarks. The middle school classes are specifically tailored to suit each student's Individualized Education Program (IEP). The development of language, literacy, creativity, and critical thinking skills in all curricular areas is emphasized throughout the school day.
In middle school, the students participate in seven classes each day, including required classes like Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, and Physical Education. Each quarter, students take special classes that introduce them to new concepts and possibilities. These classes are listed below:
- Career Readiness
- Visual Arts
- Performing Arts
- Woodworking
- Computer Applications
- Deaf Studies/History
- Health/Nutrition
- Multimedia Skills (TV/Film/Photography)
Middle school students with special learning needs may take advantage of a specialized curriculum designed to teach life skills in a community setting. In this program, they experience learning in real-life situations, participating in activities in the community and utilizing hands-on experiences to help them learn new concepts and improve their academic and communication skills.
Every third year, the Middle School has a central theme of "New Mexico!" This follows the New Mexico State Standards and encompasses reading, writing, social studies, science, and math in units covering information about the state of New Mexico. To culminate this unit of study, the middle school group and their teachers enjoy an educational trip around New Mexico to see and experience, first-hand, what they studied all year.
In addition, middle school students participate in a variety of organizations, athletics, and other extracurricular activities that promote physical and mental health, leadership, and team-building skills.
Transition planning, for students beginning at age 14, involves helping the student plan his or her courses of study in high school so that the classes the student takes will lead to his or her post-school goals. The opportunity to take a variety of elective courses during middle school helps the student experience different things and shape his/her ideas for the student’s future.
Click here to learn more about the K-12 curriculum at NMSD.