Middle School Program

Ready for school to get more interesting?

Learning at TJ

Middle school at TJ is where you begin to discover just how much you can do.

In seventh and eighth grade, you don't have to wait to get to the good stuff. You'll read books worth talking about, start Latin, take math at the level that's right for you, work in science labs, and have teachers who want to hear what you think.

Students come to TJ from many different elementary and sixth-grade programs, so 7th and 8th grade courses build confidence and intellectual skills, equipping you with the tools you will need for the more challenging work of the high school program. While the coursework is accelerated, teachers meet each student where they are.

Growing into the work

Middle school students bring tremendous curiosity and energy to the classroom, along with a growing ability to think abstractly and tackle increasingly complex ideas. TJ's middle school faculty will guide you through this important stage of intellectual and personal development. TJ's middle school program cultivates the habits (and habits of mind) that lead to later academic and personal success.

In a nurturing environment, students build strong academic practices: organization, goal setting, time management, and study skills. Students receive instruction in each core subject, with a focus on building both foundational knowledge and a sense of joy, excitement, and confidence in learning.

Maybe school is already going well, but some of it feels too easy. Maybe there's one subject you can't get enough of, or maybe you're still figuring out what really interests you. Middle school is a great time to find out.

Ready for what comes next

A classical liberal-arts approach to education underpins the TJ curriculum. Students immerse themselves in the fundamental college-prep areas of English, math, language, science, social studies, and art, sharing a core educational experience with their classmates.

You won't spend middle school waiting for the more interesting work to come later. At TJ, you'll be asked to think seriously about what you're learning and make connections between subjects. As you grow more confident in your own ideas, you'll also learn how to question them, explain them, and listen when someone sees things differently.

By the end of middle school, you'll be ready for the greater independence and challenge of TJ's high school program.

Middle school students learning at Thomas Jefferson School

Distinguishing Features

Learning How to Learn

At TJ, learning how to manage your work is part of the work. Middle school students develop stronger habits of organization, goal setting, time management, and study. Seventh graders receive additional support through Prep Period, an ungraded class designed to help our newest students learn the routines and expectations of the TJ program.

Nobody expects you to arrive knowing how to manage everything yourself. Learning how is part of middle school at TJ.

Finding Your Voice

Small classes mean there's room for your ideas. You'll learn how to participate in serious academic discussion: listening closely, asking questions, explaining your thinking, and responding to the ideas of others. Teachers provide plenty of guidance at first, helping you become increasingly comfortable and independent in classroom conversations.

Ready for More

You don't have to wait for high school to tackle challenging ideas. TJ's middle school curriculum is accelerated, with students studying Latin, laboratory science, literature, history, and mathematics matched to their level of readiness. Teachers meet students where they are while giving them opportunities to stretch beyond what they may have encountered in elementary school.

Joy in the Day

Challenging school should still be a place where you have fun. TJ's middle school program embraces the curiosity and energy students bring with them.

Your whole day isn't spent sitting in class. TJ's 35-minute classes are separated by breaks and open time. You might use that time to finish some work, find a teacher, spend time with friends, or just take a break. Alongside your classes, there is time for art, performance, athletics, and activities.

As you grow, you get more freedom to decide how to use your time. Part of middle school is learning what to do when the choice is yours.

Support for English Language Learners

International students entering middle school may be placed in English and Social Studies courses designed to strengthen academic English while introducing them to the expectations of a TJ classroom. Students develop speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills while building vocabulary, practicing discussion, and becoming more confident expressing increasingly complex ideas in English.

These courses align with the reading and academic expectations of TJ's broader program while providing additional structure and room to practice. The goal is not simply stronger English, but readiness to participate fully and confidently in TJ's high school curriculum.

Your Middle School Years

TJ’s middle school program cultivates the habits (and habits of mind) that lead to later academic and personal success. Students receive instruction in each core subject, with a focus on building both foundational knowledge and a sense of joy, excitement, and confidence in learning.

Starting Strong: Prep Period

Our newest, youngest students benefit from additional structure and support as they learn the TJ program's standards. Seventh graders have an additional ungraded class during the first part of the day (Prep Period), which includes instruction in organization, goal setting, time management, and study skills.

7th Grade

English 1

Mathematics
Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, or Algebra 2, depending on placement

Latin 1

Science
Earth and Environmental Science and Forensics: Principles of Biology and Chemistry (combined middle-school classes, taught in alternating years)

Global Studies

Arts
Semester 1: Introduction to Digital Art
Semester 2: Introduction to Visual Art

8th Grade

English 2

Mathematics
Algebra 1, Algebra 2, or Geometry and Introduction to Statistics, depending on placement

Latin 2
Latin 1 for new 8th graders

Science
Earth and Environmental Science and Forensics: Principles of Biology and Chemistry (combined middle-school classes, taught in alternating years)

American Studies

Introduction to Drama

Beyond the Classroom

Middle school life at Thomas Jefferson School

Part of something bigger

Middle school students are full members of the TJ community. Alongside their academic courses, they participate in athletics, co-curricular programs, performances, traditions, and activities that bring students of different ages together throughout the school day.

Middle school students are not tucked away in a separate part of campus. You'll get to know older students and teachers through school traditions, activities, performances, athletics, and everyday life on campus. And before long, they'll know you, too.

Athletics

Participation in athletics is part of the TJ experience. Middle school students have opportunities to participate alongside their classmates through the school’s athletic program, building skills, confidence, and connections beyond the classroom.

Arts & Performance

The arts are built into the middle school curriculum. Seventh graders explore visual and digital art, while eighth graders study drama and performance. Students have opportunities to share their work with the TJ community throughout the year.

Co-Curricular Learning

TJ's co-curricular programs support students' social, physical, and emotional growth by encouraging their personal development outside the classroom and their involvement in both the TJ community and the world beyond. These ungraded courses and activities are incorporated into students’ weekly schedules.

Middle School FAQs

Is TJ's Middle School a good fit for gifted or academically advanced students?

Yes. Many students come to TJ because they are ready for more academic challenge. We don't require a gifted designation or a particular IQ score. Some students are advanced in one area, while others are strong across several subjects or simply unusually curious and eager to learn. Admission is about finding students who will enjoy and benefit from TJ's pace, expectations, and highly interactive classrooms.

How is TJ's Middle School different from a traditional middle school?

TJ's Middle School combines an accelerated academic program with the small classes and close faculty relationships that define the whole school. Seventh and eighth graders study Latin, laboratory science, literature, history, and mathematics matched to their level of readiness. Classes are just 35 minutes long, with breaks and open time throughout the day, so students gradually learn to make more decisions about how they use their time.

How does TJ decide which math class a middle school student should take?

Mathematics placement is based on readiness rather than grade level alone. Seventh graders may begin in Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, or Algebra 2, while eighth graders may take Algebra 1, Algebra 2, or Geometry and Introduction to Statistics. We want students to begin where they are appropriately challenged and continue moving forward from there.

What support do seventh graders receive when they start at TJ?

Nobody expects a seventh grader to arrive already knowing how to manage everything independently. New seventh graders take Prep Period, an ungraded class that helps them learn TJ's routines while developing stronger organization, time management, and study habits. Small classes also mean teachers get to know students quickly and can offer help when they need it.

Can middle school students board at TJ?

Yes. Students in grades 7 and 8 can be part of TJ's boarding community. Five-day boarding is available for students who return home on weekends, while seven-day boarding provides a full residential experience for students whose families live farther away or abroad. Middle school boarders are part of the same small community as our older students, with residential faculty nearby to provide support as they become more independent.