UP Middle school features a knowledge-led, content-rich, cumulative curriculum that takes seriously the question, “What should students learn?” Teachers at the school work together to outline the specific content that every child should learn in literature, history, geography, mathematics, science, and visual arts over all four years. We identify the content and skills that comprise the foundational knowledge that all students need in order to master content, think and read critically, and solve problems.

Our students spend roughly an hour a day in all classes, and we give students the time to dive deeply into all subjects, not just math and English. In science, we conduct experiments and pose questions about the material world. In history, we explore over the course of four years the origins of the United States through contemporary times. And students complete major projects with unit-concluding performances, presentations, or papers in all their courses.

We reward and acknowledge academic work, achievement, and improvement by celebrating students who earn honors, and we invite those students to participate in our UP Middle Honors Program—an additional class that allows students to independently work on projects in small teams.

We spend a lot of time communicating with parents and families because we know they’re essential to the success of our students—both in school and out. All our teachers communicate consistently via ParentSqaure, a messaging system, and they return calls and emails within 24 hours. Our teachers also give parents family-friendly calendars in all their classes so families know exactly what their children are studying and when they’re going to be assessed on their work. And you’ll know what your child is reading—and has read—through access to our on-line book tracker.

And there’s a lot going on in our school—events, performances, meetings, programs—and we make sure our families are always connected through ParentSqaure. It’s a one-stop shop that provides families a place to connect school staff, check what’s for homework, catch up on events, news, and celebrations, and see their child’s current grades in real time via PowerSchool. Our website also provides families with a comprehensive calendar of all events—check it out.

Students at UP Middle complete homework on a regular schedule, and the work done is designed to prepare them for learning that will take place in subsequent classes. In this way, UPrep teachers can extend the time we have with students in class. Parents also know exactly what work students have each night and check more easily check it for completion and quality.

At UP we read—a lot. We use shared reading practices across all classes that emphasize understanding and expression. Students independently read both during school in Reading Analysis each morning and at home each night, and they track this reading and talk about it with their parents. In school students have a wide library of books to select from. Students read from an e-library of over 3,000 titles on their school-issued Chromebook. We emphasize the need to read for pleasure and to relax, and we celebrate the experience and joy of reading through many different events and practices throughout the school year.

Students who come to UP who have traditionally struggled with reading on grade level receive five additional hours of instruction each week during our Zero Period, where they work in small groups on a mix of independent reading, guided reading, and shared text. The goal is to get students caught up quickly, so they can read to learn on and above grade level.

We are committed to building a community of all students who use reading to do well in their classwork, learn ever more about the world, and debate ideas.

It’s important for students to learn broadly and to express themselves through the arts. All our students take Visual Arts and chess at least three times over the four years they are at UP. Students not only draw, paint, perform, and rehearse in these classes—they also learn the fundamentals about each, allowing them to expand and broaden an existing passion or begin to develop a new one. Movement and health are essential for students as they enhance focus, energy, and overall well-being, cultivating positive habits which support mental clarity, resilience, and productivity. 

We teach our students leadership and deepen their connection to their community by offering students a wide array of after-school extracurricular clubs and sports programs—all completely FREE to families. Students who remain with us after school for two hours, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm four days a week, don’t just sit in the cafeteria doing “homework help”—they learn new skills and develop passions with our teachers and staff who run more than 25 different clubs and programs each semester. 

Some of our current offerings include boys’ and girls’ clubs, chess, student government, crochet, paint and chill, podcasting, badminton, pottery, movie club, diamond painting, fitness, step, dance, skin gurus, wear your hair, bracelet making, entrepreneurship, cooking, gymnastics, robotics, art, cheering, Koroean club, anime, gaming, karaoke & songwriting, as well as the following competetive sports teams in basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, flag-football, competetive cheer, chess, track & field.

Our school day is built around three “focus times” of two periods each, with breaks for socialization and restoration in between. We also break for snack in the middle of every morning. Every day we have lunch and then head outside for recess to have fun, get air, and allow students to participate in additional activities.

Students spend their first hour each day in their Homebase, which is the place for morning celebrations, announcements and shout-outs, homework planning, student check-ins, and independent reading. Each Homebase advisor is responsible for tracking students’ independent reading progress in school and at home and for goal-planning with them. Our advisors are also the first line when it comes to contacting parents and holding them accountable for work done at home.

Our professional school counselors really get to know their students and families—because they stay with them over their entire career in middle school. Students will have one professional school counselor for each grade to address social, emotional, and academic needs. And these counselors will travel with their class over the four years of middle school. Each grade’s counselor will work closely with teachers to understand what students need to maintain a minimum GPA in their classes, and to reinforce the expectations that the school has for families around supporting students in school and completing work at home and completing independent, at-home reading. 

All students new to UP Middle spend a two weeks in the summer before their first year of school in SummerBridge, our program designed to introduce students to the school, their classmates, and their teachers. During SummerBridge, we team-build, go on trips, and learn the ropes about how UP works. The program is taught by the child’s teachers and counselors, so when school starts in September everyone can hit the ground running together. 

New families take part in a "New Family Enrollment" meeting for parents and families prior to the start of the school year. It is a time to learn about the critical support necessary to help their students succeed in middle school. The focus is on understanding the school’s behavioral norms and transitioning process; supporting their students as independent readers; supporting their students in homework completion; getting the hang of using our electronic systems; understanding where their child is in reading-level progression; and practicing how to regularly stay in communication with their child’s teachers.

Outstanding 8th grade students join our Peer Group Committee (PGC), a mentoring program for our younger middle school students. They occasionally meet as a group and with our students designed to foster community, support, and leadership among students. This committee serves as a platform where students can collaborate in small-group settings on becoming better citizens, school initiatives, and create a welcoming environment for their peers. Our high school students are also extensively trained in how to speak to adolescents and work with them in small teams to solve problems and strengthen connections.