Middle schools are for educating students typically in grades six through eight, though exact grade levels at each school can differ between school systems. For students in this grade range, middle school serves as a transition period and a time of social and emotional development. Middle school’s role in education is to be a social and academic bridge from elementary school to high school and prepare students for what’s to come. Students are encouraged to develop good study habits, be curious about learning and build confidence in themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions About Middle Schools
Children start middle school around age 11 for sixth grade. Typically, seventh graders are about 12 years old and eighth graders are about 13 years old.
Middle school grades don’t tend to be a reliable indicator of future academic success. In the long term, though, a middle school student’s academic experience can set them up for the type of student they will be in high school or help identify if they need extra assistance in certain subjects. Middle schoolers should not stress about their grades’ impact on future college applications: Colleges do not consider middle school grades in admissions decisions.
U.S. News has more than 58,000 public and private schools in its middle school directory.
Data from various organizations provide insight into, and estimates of, the number of active middle schools and students enrolled across the country. The National Center for Education Statistics reports the number of middle schools in one figure with preschools and elementary schools. As of 2020-2021, there were 70,055 public pre-K, elementary and middle schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and as of 2019-2020, there were 18,870 private pre-K, elementary and middle schools, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Altogether, this is 88,925 schools.
The total public school enrollment for sixth through eighth grade in fall 2021 was 11.27 million students, according to the NCES. The private school enrollment for pre-K through eighth grade in fall 2019 was 4.07 million students.
Middle school students build on the foundations of what they learned in elementary school, taking more advanced courses and finding their footing in the major subjects. They may be introduced to foreign languages and take more specialized classes in STEM, art and health, for example. Students can also engage in extracurricular activities of interest by joining sports teams, clubs or volunteer organizations.
