Middle School

Connecting newfound passion with newly honed ability

We believe the middle school years mark the momentous time when students are physically, emotionally, and intellectually mature and capable enough to pursue learning at a level far deeper than before.

Our fifth through eighth grade students benefit from robust programs provided by caring educators that help them realize and fulfill their potential.

Starting in fifth grade, project-based learning invites students into hands-on collaboration with their peers and teachers. Middle School students also sign up for far-ranging co-curriculars including a variety of athletic options, a theater production, and more. Along the way, students meet daily in their small advisory groups, a hallmark of our supportive community, and assume more responsibility for shaping their own learning as a part of their Learning Plan conferences.

Doug Sept

Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs

“EA’s strong academic program is a differentiator, but not as much as it used to be. What makes EA different is what is happening within those courses. They are collaborative in nature and not as teacher centric. When our Middle and Upper School students are in a class, they are expected to be active participants. We teach and mold them to learn what that means: advocate for themselves, share thoughts, develop communication skills.”

Academic Excellence

While our traditional liberal arts program ensures students are proficient in the core curriculum, our innovative approach enables fifth through eighth graders to delve further into age-appropriate topics and experiences through active learning.

Project Based Learning

Project Based Learning (PBL) is applied for all Middle School students as they conduct extensive research to answer an essential question. Students work together in teams to solve a problem culminating in presentations to panels of experts, sharing with the EA community.

PBL actively engages students, empowering them to be self-directed, independent learners.

While developing skills requiring critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving and self-efficacy, students are preparing themselves not only for Upper School and college, but ultimately for careers and life. Previous PBL questions include:

How can we develop a recovery plan of action to save an animal species currently on the critically endangered list?
How can we make an impact in the fight against poverty by actively addressing one of its symptoms in the Elgin community?
How can we design and create a sustainable school garden that appeals to EA students now and in the future?

Middle School students on trip week at Lorado Taft, Northern Illinois University's outdoor education center.

Student Trips

Our Middle School trip week program is an essential component of experiential learning and is designed to offer an array of cultural, historical, recreational, and real-world learning opportunities.

Students are actively problem solving and working on leadership skills as they overcome intellectual and physical challenges.

Teachers, staff, and administrators accompany students to the various destinations.

World Languages

Students in 5th and 6th grades take Spanish classes more frequently than compared to the Lower School. When students enter 7th grade, they are given the option of taking French, Latin, or Spanish. Students in 7th and 8th grades complete the equivalent of a one-year high school course in one of these three languages.

Exploratory

A wide range of opportunities, that change throughout the academic year, affords every student the chance to pursue their passions, try out new pursuits, or use their skills and talents to benefit others in the school community and beyond.

Students can select Exploratory options that resonate with them.

Recent Exploratory Classes Include:

Chess Basics
Japan and Japanese Culture
Knitting
Scholastic Bowl
Soccer
Yoga & Meditation
Shakespeare Fan Club
Literary Magazine
History & Geography Bowl
Hispanic Culture
Battle for One Wish

Innovative Student Schedule

Our unique schedule for Middle School students is geared to optimize learning and strengthen the personalized experience for our students both in and out of the classroom.

Students attend four classes (not the usual six) each day with 30-minute breaks between classes to allow for much needed downtime to absorb and reflect on the content of the previous class. This time also allows for club and class meetings, meetings with teachers for additional help and instruction, and socializing with fellow classmates outside of class. While school is in session five days per week, the daily schedule is on a seven-day rotation with classes meeting on varying days and varying times of the day.

View Sample US Schedule

“I really like how they do the classes. So many per day with group work time and lab time. Longer class periods are built into the schedule. This gives the kids time to focus on the topics. They have time to absorb it more if they are working on it in the class more.”

Current EA Parent

Our unique schedule for Middle School students allows time in the day for club and class meetings, meetings with teachers for additional help and instruction, and socializing with fellow classmates.

Advising

Our individualized advising ensures students identify their goals and develop a comprehensive academic and co-curricular plan that enables them to pursue activities that best match their needs, interests and aspirations.

Middle School students receive a new faculty advisor each year during their Middle School experience. Middle School advisors are deeply committed to the advisory program and view serving as an advisor as an integral part of their role as educators.

Advisors play a key role in helping their advisees navigate the complexities of being responsible students while at the same time leading vibrant, active lives away from school.

Middle School advisory groups reflect the diversity of interests and backgrounds of the students within the Elgin Academy community.

Middle School faculty are dedicated to helping students fulfill their potential in a values-aligned community and equipping them to make a positive impact on the world

Fine Arts

We strive to help our students discover the joy of the arts as a lifelong pursuit.

Music

The music program encourages students to develop an understanding, appreciation, and love of music by giving them the tools to express themselves musically in meaningful and enjoyable ways. Middle School students can also participate in beginning, intermediate and advanced band.

2022 Middle School production of Dorothy in Wonderland.

Theatre

The importance of the process of creating theatre is a major focus in all middle school theatre courses, as well as the importance of audience skills and constructive criticism. Middle School students have the opportunity to participate in the play each spring.

Visual Arts

Middle School students have the opportunity to express themselves visually through classes in a variety of media. Middle school art students discuss and design projects using the elements of art: line, shape, color, value, form, texture and space. Student work is exhibited regularly on campus.

Athletics

Elgin Academy Athletics programs are designed to help our students reach their potential both on and off the court. The Middle School Athletic Program supplements the learning experience by providing multiple opportunities for active learning in competitive environments.

We focus on the true purpose of team participation, which should be continuously learning and developing as a citizen, a student, and an athlete.

Our interscholastic sports start in the 5th grade, where students are taught the basics of team participation and athletic skills.

Our coaches teach and reinforce the importance of sportsmanship, leadership, hard work, commitment, and dedication to something bigger than themselves.

MS Fall Sports

Girls Volleyball
Co-Ed Cross Country

Winter Sports

Boys Basketball
Girls Basketball

Spring Sports

Boys Baseball
Girls Soccer

Afterschool Options

In addition to Athletics, Middle School students are welcome to stay on campus after school as a part of our Extended Day or Afterschool Enrichment programs.

Extended Day

If a Middle School student is not involved in a supervised after school enrichment program (athletics, theatre, or academic competition preparation), they can stay on campus each day until 6:00 pm in the Extended Day program. Registration for Extended Day is an additional fee.

Afterschool Enrichment

Enrichment activities for Middle School students currently include athletics (year-round), Science Olympiad (winter), theatre (spring) and various Afterschool Enrichment classes offerings.

Meet Our Middle School Faculty & Staff

“We found some wonderful teachers who were caring, engaging, and personalized. You know those once-in-a-lifetime teachers you get? At EA, we got them multiple times.”

Parent of an EA Graduate

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Stacey Lorenz

Middle School & Upper School Latin

B.A., Mount Holyoke College
M.A., Indiana University

The Latin language did not fall with the Roman empire. The influence of the Romans and their language can be seen in so many aspects of modern life. I hope to help my students make those connections between the past and the present. I want my students to leave my class as critical thinkers, with a strong work ethic and always wanting to learn more.
-Stacey Lorenz

Renee Nealis

Upper School & Middle School Spanish

BA, Saint Xavier University

I love to teach! Spanish language and culture have been a big part of my life and I invite my students to explore the beauty in them in my class. Elgin Academy has been an amazing place to teach at. I love getting to know each of my students and belonging to such a close knit community. My goal for my students is for them to appreciate another culture and language to its fullest!
-Renee Nealis

Jennifer Sampson

Middle School English

PhD, University of Chicago
MA, University of Chicago
BA, Kenyon College

In my classroom I want to help middle schoolers learn to be brave enough to be vulnerable, curious enough to make mistakes, and compassionate enough to forgive others and themselves. Literature is a wonderful tool for leading kids to greater self-awareness, empathy, and cultural literacy. And as they become better writers they can better connect with their audience, discover themselves, and work through problems. I feel privileged to accompany these kids as they learn to question, make good choices, and confidently engage with the world.
- Jennifer Sampson

Cassandra (Cassie) Spencer

Middle School English

BA, Aurora University

In middle school, reading and writing were my favorite subjects. I was fortunate to have teachers who encouraged me to pursue my own interests and ideas while still providing me with a solid foundation of skills for the future. It was then that I decided that I also wanted to be a middle school teacher, so that I could do the same for my own students one day.
- Cassie Spencer