Programs

Middle School

Grades 6-8

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  • Middle school students are challenged to manage a schedule, multiple environments, and different class structures.

    In middle school, we continue strengthening our sense of community as students develop as leaders and continue to develop the habits outlined in our School Creed. Middle schoolers apply the core academic skills developed through their elementary years as they act out Shakespeare's plays, develop science experiments, work with professional poets, and meet with our nation's leaders in Washington, D.C.

Troi Carter ’26, Westover ’30

When I joined Harlem Academy, I quickly learned that asking questions was essential to fully understanding all the new information I was learning. This taught me the importance of seeking help when I need it and taking responsibility for my growth.

Core Curriculum

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  • English

    Middle schoolers explore contemporary and classic literature, refine their writing across genres, and develop an expansive academic vocabulary. Students analyze the motivations behind characters’ actions and reflect on how those choices relate to their own beliefs. Literature serves as both a mirror - helping students explore their identities and values - and a window into different times, places, and cultures. Writing plays a key role in deepening comprehension, encouraging students to clarify and extend their ideas about what they are reading and their personal stories. Students write and perform original poetry and dive into Shakespeare’s plays.

  • History

    Middle schoolers learn to think like historians, using evidence to construct and evaluate historical arguments, analyze primary and secondary sources to assess perspective and context, and examine continuity and change over time across cultures and regions. Sixth grade studies world history, seventh grade focuses on American history through 1865, and eighth grade focuses on American history from 1865 to the present.

  • Mathematics

    Using the Math in Focus Singapore math program, students develop a thorough understanding of mathematical concepts and advanced problem-solving skills. Our program helps students to develop confidence, master techniques, and employ reasoning skills to solve real-world mathematical problems. To differentiate instruction, students who demonstrate strong mathematical foundations cover advanced topics in pullout math lab sessions and will complete a full algebra 1 curriculum. Students also use the online personalized learning tool, IXL, to support their learning in the classroom and at home.

  • Science

    Students hone the skills of scientists through scientific inquiry, analysis, and validation of experimental information and data, as well as non-fiction reading and writing. Sixth graders study Earth and space, with units focused on geology, the solar system, and the weather and climate. Seventh graders study human biology using a curriculum developed at Harlem Academy. In eighth grade, students take our signature applied science course, which includes emergency medicine, chemistry, and architecture.

  • Skills Seminar

    For sixth and seventh graders, a central pillar of Skills Seminar is language development, with a systematic focus on grammar and vocabulary. By understanding how words are constructed and how they relate to one another, students build background knowledge that supports success across disciplines. In eighth grade, students receive targeted preparation for secondary school placement exams and engage in a high-school-level research project in tandem with their history class.

Co-curricular & Extracurricular Programs

A Harlem Academy education extends beyond academics – it’s about nurturing the whole child. Our co-curricular and extracurricular programs cultivate creativity, confidence, and well-being so that every child is set up to thrive.

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Learn more about our rigorous and joyful program

Harlem Academy
655 St. Nicholas Avenue
New York, NY, 10030

P (212) 348-2600
F (212) 348-3500
info@harlemacademy.org

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Harlem Academy is an independent school (grades K-8) that drives equity of opportunity for promising students, guiding them to thrive at the highest academic levels and one day make a mark on the world.