Accelerated and Enriched Instruction → Middle School Programs

Accelerated and Enriched Programs in Middle School

Students whose motivation, outstanding talent, performance, or potential for performing at high levels of accomplishment are identified at the local school level to receive accelerated and enriched instruction. Each school has instruction tailored for students identified as gifted and talented.

Literacy Enrichment

In middle school, students experience literacy enrichment that is directly built into daily core instruction. These resources are designed to provide students with additional opportunities for analytical reading, thinking, and writing. They are intended to deepen the work students are already doing through more complex analysis and more demanding written responses.These materials are separate from the core CKLA curriculum, so they provide teachers with another resource when students are ready for additional challenges.

Global Humanities (Social Studies)

• Historical Inquiry into Global Humanities 6 - This course is built around the core Grade 6 social studies curriculum, Historical Inquiry in World Studies 6, which includes historical content from early civilizations, the empires of Greece and Rome, the dynasties of China, and civilizations of the first millennium. Cohort students will go beyond this core as they learn additional content, explore deeper connections to today, engage in investigative inquiry to strengthen their writing through Document-Based Questions, and enhance their learning through relevant literature connections. They also will participate in a culminating Model UN simulation at the end of the year.
  

• Historical Inquiry into Global Humanities 7 - This course is built around the core Grade 7 social studies curriculum, Historical Inquiry in World Studies 7, which includes historical content from civilizations of Latin America, Africa, and medieval Europe as well as global interactions following the Columbian Exchange. Cohort students will go beyond this core as they learn additional content, explore deeper connections to today, engage in investigative inquiry to strengthen their writing through Document Based Questions, and enhance their learning through relevant literature connections. They also will participate in the National History Day (NHD) competition to research historical topics related to a NHD annual theme. 

• Historical Inquiry Into American Studies 8 - The American Studies 8 course takes students from colonization through post-Civil War Reconstruction emphasizing diverse perspectives and the connection between past and present. Aligned with Maryland state standards, the curriculum progressively develops social studies literacy skills across four thematic units. To deepen historical empathy and analysis, the course features a dedicated novel study of Erica Armstrong Dunbar’s Never Caught: The Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, By Ona Judge, alongside enriched teaching strategies, a 10-hour Student Service Learning (SSL) project on local history or public symbols, and participation in the C-SPAN StudentCam documentary contest to foster civic engagement and critical thinking.

Science Enrichment

Our core science curriculum embeds enrichment into everyday learning through hands-on "sense-making," where students figure out how and why scientific phenomena happen by investigating real-world questions and analyzing evidence. To challenge advanced learners, teachers elevate simple concepts into complex inquiries, while training students to evaluate competing explanations and defend their conclusions with empirical evidence. Through these built-in extension opportunities, teachers continuously adapt task complexity to meet individual student needs and foster deeper critical thinking. 

Mathematics Acceleration

Students have opportunities to participate in accelerated math courses in middle school, regardless of their participation in elementary school. Students that participate in accelerated mathematics in elementary school, could qualify to take pre-algebra 6 which covers grade 7 and grade 8 standards.  Alternatively, students can take Accelerated 6 and Accelerated 7 in grades 6 and 7. This course covers standards in grades 6 through 8. Both pathways will allow students to take Integrated Algebra 1 prior to high school.  More information about accelerated math courses can be found here.

For more information about enrichment and acceleration at your student’s school, you may contact the Accelerated and Enriched Instruction Support Teacher (AEIST).

Magnet Programs

Humanities and Communication

Develops students' abilities to use language and media effectively. 

Mathematics, Science, Computer Science

Features an interdisciplinary problem-solving approach to the disciplines of math, science, and computer science.