Battle Ground Academy | Academics

Philosophy

Battle Ground Academy’s Middle School curriculum is designed to address the needs of young people during the crucial adolescent years. Thorough scholarship is demanded in the core academic courses (English, Math, Science, History, and Wellness) so that the student will be able to meet the challenges of our Upper School college preparatory program. At the same time, students are exposed to a variety of exploratory and enrichment opportunities that broaden their horizons and give them a better understanding of their interests and capabilities.

The Middle School is home to students in 5th through 8th grade. While all students are part of one Middle School, there are two wings to our division: a 5th/6th wing and a 7th/8th wing. 5th and 6th graders live on the “Gold” Hall, while students in the 7th/8th grades live on the “Blue” Hall. Thus, students spend most of their time with their grade level, but they also have opportunities to be part of their larger peer group through assemblies, teams, clubs, and assorted school activities.

In addition to the 4 cores, students typically take 2 “exploratory” classes and a Study Hall. Meanwhile, students in 7th/8th grades choose a foreign language (French, Latin, or Spanish) as their 5th core class and choose two “elective” classes. Advanced or Honors courses are offered beginning in 7th grade.

Honors Philosophy

While all classes at Battle Ground Academy provide a rigorous college preparatory experience, honors classes (beginning in the 7th and 8th grade) provide a more comprehensive challenge while allowing multiple opportunities for students to take greater responsibility for their learning. These courses are appropriate for students who have demonstrated an advanced level of achievement and interest. They are distinguished from regular courses by the depth of the work rather than the quantity. A student in an honors class should be able to:

Be an independent, self-motivated learner
Complete high quality assignments in a timely manner
Be actively engaged and make productive use of all class time
Understand new concepts and apply them with little extra help
Possess the energy and persistence to solve difficult problems
Compose authentic questions, rather than just providing answers
Apply learned skills to new and unique situations
Be receptive to constructive criticism
Score at the highest levels on standardized tests

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