Middle School Academics

At P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School, our middle school academics combine excellence, rigor, and accessibility to foster a supportive learning environment for every student. Our curriculum is thoughtfully designed to challenge students while encouraging critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration across disciplines. We are dedicated to academic rigor that prepares students for high school and beyond, while ensuring each student receives personalized support to meet their unique learning needs. With a diverse range of subjects and innovative, research-based teaching methods, P.K. Yonge empowers students to excel and develop a lifelong love for learning.

Middle School Courses

6th Grade

In sixth grade, we are dedicated to nurturing student agency, fostering self-advocacy, and facilitating a smooth transition to secondary school. During this period of transition and change, we emphasize the importance of social-emotional well-being. We believe that students should be empowered to be creative, take risks in their learning, and reflect on both their growth and their struggles. Our goal is to build resiliency through the use of mastery-based learning and the understanding that sometimes learning requires failure first. The transition from elementary to middle school is hard—this is why we believe that learning should be fun and engaging. We aim to equip students with the skills and mindset needed to thrive academically, socially, and personally.

7th Grade

In our vibrant 7th-grade teaching community, student agency takes center stage as we empower our young learners to take ownership of their educational journey. We emphasize developmentally appropriate personal and interpersonal skills development, fostering an environment where students not only excel academically but also grow into confident and empathetic individuals.Career exploration is woven into our curriculum, allowing students to explore various professions and understand the relevance of their studies in real-world contexts. Team teaching is a cornerstone of our approach, where educators collaborate closely to provide diverse perspectives and personalized support for each student.Through innovative teaching methods and a supportive community ethos, we aim to inspire curiosity, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning in every 7th grader who walks through our doors.

8th Grade

In our 8th-grade learning community, we embrace the theme “Level Up!” as we prepare our students for the exciting transition from middle school to high school. This pivotal year marks the beginning of their journey into high school credit-accruing classes, setting the stage for their future academic endeavors.Our approach focuses on elevating the level of academic challenge while providing robust support to ensure every student succeeds. We are dedicated to fostering independence, resilience, and essential executive functioning skills, helping students become confident and capable learners.We also prioritize the development of a strong sense of self and community connection. By encouraging students to explore their identities and understand their roles within the school and the broader community, we aim to cultivate well-rounded individuals who are ready to take on the challenges of high school and beyond.Through innovative teaching methods and a nurturing environment, we strive to inspire our 8th graders to “Level Up!” in every aspect of their lives, embracing new opportunities with curiosity and confidence.

Electives

Elements of Middle School Academics at PKY

Mastery-Based Learning

We don’t always get every answer right the first time. If we did, we wouldn’t have learned anything new. This is the basis for our mastery-based stance. We believe all students are capable of reaching mastery; therefore, we encourage students to retake assessments, resubmit assignments, and continue practicing until they’ve met their goals.

Advisory

Weekly advisory time focuses on community building, developing executive functioning skills, career exploration, mental health awareness, and self-reflection on academic goals.

One-to-One Chromebooks

Students are given the privilege and responsibility of being assigned their own personal Chromebooks to take home and to school each day.

Middle School Academics

Middle School Courses

6th Grade

7th Grade

8th Grade

Electives

Elements of Middle School Academics at PKY

Mastery-Based Learning

Advisory

One-to-One Chromebooks

News and Updates

Two P.K. Yonge educators become affiliate faculty with the UF Lastinger Center

P.K. Yonge Students Outperform State Averages Across Subjects on 2025 FAST Assessments

P.K. Yonge Celebrates Five Faculty Promotions at the University of Florida

P.K. Yonge Announces Kelly Barrett as Athletics Director

P.K. Yonge Announces New Secondary and Elementary Leaders

P.K. Yonge Receives National Recognition from Project Lead The Way for Commitment to Student Achievement

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