The middle school program serves students sixth through eighth grades. FLACS’ middle school curriculum develops adolescents that are critical thinkers, self-motivated to excel in school, and socially conscious of the world and people around them.

The middle school program is departmentalized with each subject headed by a different teacher. Each middle school classroom has a lead teacher and teaching assistant. It is the school’s expectation that FLACS graduates will enter top-tier public and private institutions throughout New York City in which they will continue to develop intellectually, socially, and emotionally.

The school’s academic program includes:

• Saxon Math: The Saxon Mathematics program has been continued for use in grades six through eight. In mathematics, students build on the work started at the elementary level and continue becoming mathematical problem solvers.
• English Language Arts: The balanced literacy approach first introduced in the elementary school is continued in the middle school. In literacy, students analyze and respond to literature with a critical lens. Students continue to develop their voice as writers. At the heart of a balanced approach to literacy are the varying levels of support provided by teachers to students that are gradually removed so that a student becomes an independent, skilled reader. FLACS’ approach takes into consideration the needs of the learner and the supports or challenges that a task presents. On a daily basis, teachers read to students, with students, and provide opportunities for independent reading by students. Teachers model reading aloud with expression and fluency to and with students. The ultimate goal with balanced literacy is to ensure that students develop strong reading skills and that they become life-long readers. In conjunction with the balanced literacy approach, FLACS has incorporated the use of the McDougal-Little Literature Program in grades six through eight.
• Harcourt Brace Science: In Science, there is a focus on learning about the physical world around us. The curriculum brings the physical elements of the world to the students by introducing scientific theories and enlightening students about the material world around them.
• Horizons for Social Studies: Through virtual trips provided by the curriculum, students “visit” sites of U.S. historical significance. These visual lessons reinforce social studies related vocabulary and give students an exclusive insight on history and culture. In the summer of 2010, Columbia University and “Learning through an Expanded Arts Program” (LEAP) will lead professional development seminars in American History for FLACS teachers in delivering anthropological lessons including labs where students simulate an anthropologic dig. There is also special focus on geography, cultures, and the histories of the peoples in the Eastern Hemisphere.
• Spanish Language Arts, “!Viva El Español”: FLACS provides Spanish language instruction to all students. Spanish language instruction makes students aware of all the people and places where Spanish is spoken bringing insight and understanding of the community in which they live. The course highlights rules of usage, principles of composition, matters of structure, and words and expressions commonly misused.

Special Structures:

In its first seven years of existence, a series of special structures evolved, which will be continued in the school’s next middle school phase:

• 120 minute literacy block each day
• 120 minute mathematics block each day
• D.E.A.R. Time: Students bring books, magazines, or newspapers from home to read during our daily “Drop Everything and Read Time” program where classroom lessons are suspended for 15 minutes and everyone engages in sustained, un-interrupted silent reading.
• Extended day for middle school: 8:15AM – 3:25PM
• Saturday Academy
• After School Tutoring and Enrichment