Curriculum

The Middle School curriculum is carefully designed to meet the educational and social needs of the early adolescent student. Various teaching methods and techniques are used including team teaching, individualized instruction, small group instruction, and use of audio-visual materials. The instructional program is designed to make the learning experience interesting and exciting, and a wide range of academic programs is offered. Using the menu on the left you will find a list of courses  and details on course content that are required at each grade level.

Homework Guidelines

Homework encourages student self-discipline, independence, and responsibility. It also reinforces, supplements, and extends school learning, serves as a “conversation” between student and teacher, and allows teachers to monitor the progress of students in the curriculum  Effective homework will be meaningful and designed to challenge each student at his or her level of ability. Whenever possible, teachers will be cognizant of the impact that homework has on family life. Students are encouraged to carry and use their agenda at all times and list all assignments. 

      Homework should:

• Have a clear purpose with value.
• Incorporate both review and newly learned material.
• Encourage some degree of independence.
• Receive teacher feedback, as such feedback has been found to influence completion rates and overall success.
• Involve parents through their provision of encouragement, appropriate materials, and an environment that is conducive to learning.

Students can expect an increasing amount of homework during their years at EMS. The time involved in doing this work cannot be precisely determined since assignments vary and students will work at different rates. On average, reasonable expectations for time spent on home will range between 60-80 minutes per night.

Please note that students enrolled in honors and/or accelerated courses should expect homework amounts that tned toward the high end of the above range. 

Progress Reporting

Interim Progress Reports

Interim reports are made available to call attention to areas of notable success or to call attention to areas that need improvement. The reports are accessible via Home Access Center to all students in the middle of each marking period. 

Report Cards

Report cards are mailed home four times during the year, approximately every ten weeks.  At the end of the year a final mark is computed that includes the grade received in each of the four marking periods and also the final exam score (if applicable).  The passing final average for all subjects is 65%. Final grades are calculated as follows:

• 6^th Grade:  Each marking period weighted 25% (4 x 25=100%), final exam accounting for 20% of 4^th quarter grade. 
• 7^th Grade:  Each marking period weighted 22.5% (4 x 22.5 = 90%), final exam counts for 10% of final grade. 
• 8^th Grade:  Each marking period weighted 20% (4 x 20=80%), final exam counting for 20% of final grade.  

  Each marking period weighted 20% (4 x 20=80%), with final or Regents Exam counting for 20% of final grade for: Algebra Regents Exam, Earth Science Regents Exam, World Languages final exam. For ELA/SS the final exam accounting a double 4^th quarter test grade. For IL Science Academic and Math Academic, each marking period weighted 22.5% (4 x 20=90%), final exams count for 10% of final grade.

Honor Roll

The following are criteria for placement on the E.M.S. Honor Roll in grades 7 and 8:

• An overall average of 85% or higher, with no grade on the report card below 75%.

High Honor Roll

The following are criteria for placement on the E.M.S. High Honor Roll in grades 7 and 8:

• An overall average of 92% or higher, with no grade on the report card below 85%.