Successful middle schools are CHALLENGING

Challenge Defined

"Marshalling their sustained interests and efforts, challenging curriculum actively engages young adolescents. It addresses substantive issues and skills, is geared to their levels of understanding, and increasingly enables them to assume control of their own learning."

Practical Examples

Team Consistency

Challenging Content

Culture/Behaviour

School-wide High Expectations

Other Areas

Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

• Educators use multiple learning and teaching approaches
• Varied and ongoing assessments advance learning as well as measure it.

Leadership and Organization

• Organizational structures foster purposeful learning and meaningful relationships.

Culture and Community

• Every student's academic and personal development is guided by an adult advocate.