Middle School Family · Grades 6–8
Becoming More Starts Here.
Middle school is a transition—not just between elementary and high school, but between childhood and the young person a scholar is becoming.
At RISE, these years are intentionally designed to give scholars greater challenge, choice, responsibility, and independence while surrounding them with the relationships and support they still need.
We're developing scholars who leave us knowing more than what's in a textbook. We want them to know their strengths, find their voice, advocate for themselves, lead others, recover when something doesn't go as planned, and take ownership of what comes next.
01 · Academics
Ready for More
Greater independence. Higher expectations. Support that doesn't disappear.
Middle school should prepare scholars for greater independence without expecting them to figure everything out on their own.
By middle school, RISE scholars are navigating a departmentalized academic experience, learning from subject-focused teachers, managing expectations across classes, strengthening study habits, and taking greater ownership of their academic performance.
Responsibility also creates opportunities for additional privileges. Scholars who maintain the required GPA, for example, can earn access to a locker.
As our scholars grow, we raise the expectations. But we don't remove the support.
02 · Eagle Academies
Meet Our Eagle Academies
Belong to something. Stand for something. RISE together.
Every RISE middle school scholar belongs to an Eagle Academy through their homeroom, creating a smaller community within the larger Middle School experience.
Each Academy has its own identity, cultural inspiration, North Stars, and vision for the kind of scholar and leader its members can become.
Peru · Integrity
Integridad Academy
Home of the Eagle Bears
United in Honor. Strong in Action.
Our North Stars
Honesty
Respect
Solidarity
We Are Guardians of Character.
Integridad scholars lead with honor. They are challenged to make strong choices, take responsibility for their actions, and have the courage to do what is right— even when it isn't easy.
The Academy emphasizes moral excellence, courageous learning, and values-driven leadership.
France · Resilience
Résilience Academy
Home of the Eagle Wolves
The courage to begin, the ambition to succeed.
Our North Stars
Courage
Perseverance
Ambition
We Are Ultimate Overcomers.
Résilience scholars learn that challenges aren't reasons to stop—they're opportunities to grow.
Scholars are encouraged to think fearlessly, persevere through difficulties, lead by example, and develop a mindset that transforms obstacles into opportunities for greatness.
Kenya · Scholarship
Elimu Academy
Home of the Eagle Leopards
Education is Light.
Our North Stars
Curiosity
Wisdom
Unity
We Are the Intellectual Engine.
Elimu scholars are encouraged to ask questions, seek knowledge, explore different perspectives, and use what they learn to help others.
The Academy develops curious, lifelong learners who understand that scholarship and leadership become even more powerful when a community grows together.
Where Will You Belong?
It's more than being placed on a team. It's about having a place to belong—and a community counting on you to RISE.
Throughout the year, scholars represent their Academy as they learn, lead, serve, compete, and grow.
Scholars contribute to their Academy through academics, academic growth, attendance, community service, clubs, sports, and demonstrating schoolwide expectations. Individual accomplishments contribute to something bigger as Academies earn points, celebrate victories, and compete for recognition.
03 · Choice
Choice & Exploration
Discover what interests you.
Middle school is a time when scholars begin asking important questions: What am I good at? What do I enjoy? Where do I belong?
At RISE, scholars begin to take more ownership of their school experience, including choosing enrichment opportunities aligned with their interests.
Current enrichment choices include STEM, Band, and PE/Health, while additional experiences such as SGA, FCCLA, Gospel Choir, Concert Band, athletics, and other activities provide opportunities to discover interests, develop talents, build relationships, and step into leadership.
We want RISE to give scholars opportunities to start finding their answers.
04 · Leadership
Leadership & Service
Your voice has a place here.
Middle school scholars are given opportunities to move from participating in their community to helping shape it.
Through experiences such as Student Government Association (SGA), FCCLA, community service, athletics, music, clubs, and schoolwide activities, scholars can practice working with others, taking responsibility, advocating for ideas, and contributing to something beyond themselves.
Leadership at RISE isn't limited to holding a title. It's learning that your choices, actions, and voice can influence the community around you.
05 · Activities
Athletics, Arts & Activities
Find your team. Find your voice. Find your place.
Middle school scholars have opportunities to become part of something beyond their academic classes.
Athletic opportunities include basketball, cheer, soccer, volleyball, and cross country, while Band, Concert Band, Gospel Choir, clubs, student leadership, and other activities provide additional ways for scholars to participate in their school community.
Whether they're competing, performing, serving, creating, or leading, scholars have opportunities to build confidence and experience what it means to contribute to a team.
Basketball
Cheer
Soccer
Volleyball
Le cross-country
Band
Concert Band
Gospel Choir
06 · What's Next
High School and Beyond
What's next isn't far away. We prepare for it now.
High School Fair
Every October
College visits
HBCU · Four-year · Community college
Our responsibility isn't simply to get scholars through eighth grade. It's to prepare them for what happens after it.
Each October, RISE hosts a High School Fair, giving scholars and families opportunities to explore high school options and begin making informed decisions about the next stage of their education.
Throughout their middle school years, scholars also explore different pathways to education beyond high school through college visits to an HBCU, a traditional four-year university, and a community college.
Along the way, scholars receive support with high school applications, counseling, goal-setting, and study skills, helping them connect today's choices with tomorrow's possibilities.
College isn't defined by a single definition of success. Scholars begin to see that there are multiple paths forward—and that they can choose one.
07 · Eighth Grade
Leave Ready for What's Next
They have a voice in what comes next.
By the time a scholar leaves RISE Middle School, our goal is bigger than a report card.
We want our eighth graders to leave with confidence, voice, maturity, leadership, independence, resilience, and a stronger understanding of who they are.
We want them to recognize their strengths, advocate for themselves, understand that setbacks don't define them, and know how to ask for help when they need it.
Most importantly, we want them to enter high school understanding that their future isn't something that simply happens to them.
See RISE for Yourself
Come see who your scholar could become.
Visit RISE Middle School, learn more about our Eagle Academies, experience our learning environment, and see how we're combining academic challenge, character, choice, leadership, belonging, and preparation for what's next.
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