Academics at TSA Middle School

Our small class sizes foster strong student-teacher relationships. Mixed-age groupings and regular reshuffling of class rosters reinforce a strong sense of community, ensuring that every student feels connected, supported, and seen. Each student is paired with a dedicated advisor who supports their academic progress and social-emotional development; advisory groups meet every other week.

A Place Where Students Are Valued

TSA places a strong emphasis on compassion, cooperation, and respect—values woven into daily life. We manifest this environment through a variety of programs designed to support students’ academic, social, and emotional growth.

Study All, held twice each week in small-group settings, blends guided study halls with discussions on topics such as study skills, executive functioning, sex education, and substance use awareness. ESP Class (Emotional, Social, Physical) encourages movement, mindfulness, and wellness through activities like yoga, archery, fitness goal-setting, and team-building. Personalized Learning Plans (PLPs) guide students in reflecting on their goals, strengths, and growth, serving as both a portfolio of their best academic work and a tool for meaningful conversations at student-led conferences. Our regular Weekly Community Meetings provide time to build relationships, resolve conflicts, and shape school culture through shared planning and cooperative activities.

A Curriculum That Challenges

TSA’s hallmark Integrated Curriculum uses a two-year thematic cycle (Year A and Year B) that explores essential questions:

Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Art are woven together in interdisciplinary units that promote deeper understanding. Rather than learning in isolated subjects, students examine real-world themes such as Human Rights, Energy, Belief Systems, and Food Justice from multiple angles—connecting literature to science, history to art, and theory to action.

Mathematics, while taught separately from the integrated themes, is equally personalized and rigorous. Students are grouped by skill level into four or five math sections and may progress through the 7th and 8th grade curriculum at their own pace. Many students advance to Algebra I by 8th grade. Because all math classes are taught at the same time, students can move between levels as needed—ensuring challenge without disrupting their overall schedule.

Learning That Lasts