Middle School Programs

Options Available for Gifted Middle School Students

Honors and advanced-level courses in mathematics and language arts are designed to provide a more rigorous curriculum and higher expectations for student performance.

Check with individual middle schools for other courses provided at the schools. Instruction incorporates creative and productive thinking, problem-solving, critical thinking skills, research, personal development, and communication. Honors courses prepare students for high-school level honors and advanced placement courses. Advanced math is one level ahead. Honors English, science and social studies are enriched and/or advanced at grade level.

Students qualify for placement in an honors course by meeting district requirements for placement in the gifted program, or by a combination of previous success in the subject area, superior performance on related achievement tests, and/or recommendation by previous teachers of the subject. If you wish to have your 6th-grade child tested contact the Gifted office at (602) 449-2113.

View the Middle School Program Options Chart

Honors Academies at Desert Shadows Middle School

The two Honors Academies at Desert Shadows Middle School provide honors core classes – English, math, science, social studies – with an emphasis in one of two programs: world languages and pre-engineering. For more information, contact the school directly at (602) 449-6800. Visit the school website for further information.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Program at Vista Verde Middle School

The IB Middle Years Program is a rigorous academically challenging program. Students are challenged to develop in an increasingly interrelated technological society. Visit the school website.

Middle School (7-8) Gifted Resources

The following resources are provided to help middle school students enhance their education experience with subjects such as language arts, math, and more. Click on any of the following disciplines to access links to important resources:

The Arts
Language Arts
Biographies
Books and Reading
Social Studies
Science
Mathematics
Puzzles/Games