Middle School

EXPANDING PERSPECTIVES

The Middle School

Ashley Hall’s Middle School (Grades 5–8) builds on a strong academic foundation while supporting girls through a time of significant growth and self-discovery. In a nurturing environment that prioritizes both intellectual and social-emotional development, students are encouraged to think critically, explore their interests, and grow in confidence and independence. As a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, the Middle School offers a dynamic, inquiry-driven curriculum that fosters curiosity, connection, and a global perspective.

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`Alison Parks, Director of the Middle School`

"The Middle School years are full of moments of growth and learning. At Ashley Hall, the journey is honored every step of the way, and our Middle School celebrates and supports the uniqueness of each student."

The Middle School Student Experience

A tailored fifth-grade approach
Starting Middle School brings new opportunities, responsibilities, and friendships. The Middle School leadership team takes a hands-on approach to supporting incoming fifth graders, ensuring every student is welcomed, encouraged, and connected. From orientation through the first weeks of school and beyond, girls quickly discover a community where they are known, valued, and empowered to grow.
A Schedule Purposefully Planned
The Middle School schedule is thoughtfully designed to support the unique needs of girls in grades five through eight, creating a consistent and student-centered experience across the division. An eight-day rotating schedule balances five academic classes each day with dedicated time for Advisory, WIN (What I Need), Discovery, Design Studio, and intentional moments to pause, recharge, and connect. Together, these elements foster deeper learning, personalized support, creativity, and meaningful relationships—helping students build confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.
Academic Support
The Middle School Learning Support Team is committed to partnering with families to ensure every student has access to a learning environment where they can thrive. We support all students by designing and implementing responsive, individualized systems that honor each learner’s strengths and challenges.
Student Life
Life in Ashley Hall’s Middle School extends far beyond the classroom. Through leadership opportunities, Purple and White teams, House competitions, Discovery, and a strong culture of belonging, students build friendships, discover new interests, and develop confidence. Guided by Middle School Deans who emphasize restorative practices, empathy, and accountability, every student is supported as she grows into a capable leader, engaged learner, and compassionate community member.
Advisory Time
The Middle School Advisory Program ensures every student is known, supported, and connected. Guided by a trusted faculty mentor, students develop essential skills—including organization, self-advocacy, resilience, and responsible decision-making—while building the confidence and sense of belonging that prepare them for success in middle school and beyond.
Student well-being
Middle school is a pivotal time of academic, social, and emotional growth. At Ashley Hall, we intentionally support students through this important stage by integrating wellness into the curriculum. Through developmentally appropriate, direct instruction, students build the skills to navigate challenges, strengthen healthy relationships, develop resilience, and grow in confidence. By addressing these needs at key moments in their development, students are empowered to thrive academically while becoming compassionate, capable, and self-aware individuals.

Where She Belongs: Grades 5 & 6

Ashley Hall serves students in grades five and six during a pivotal time of growth and self-discovery. Recognizing the unique needs of early adolescence, a dedicated team of educators works closely together to create a connected and supportive academic experience. Within a learning environment intentionally designed for this age, students are guided as they build confidence, strengthen their skills, and begin to better understand themselves and their place in the world

A Space Designed for Her
The Intermediate Program Building is intentionally designed for girls in grades five and six and is a place where they feel known, supported, and ready to grow. Its open layout fosters connection between students and teachers, while inviting outdoor spaces—from porches to shared gathering areas—encourage community, conversation, and a sense of belonging.
Built for Collaboration and Discovery
Collaboration is at the heart of how girls learn best, and the Intermediate Program Building is designed to support it at every turn. Flexible classrooms, including dedicated STEAM spaces, and reconfigurable furniture allow students to work together, share ideas, and engage in hands-on, project-based learning. Open showcase areas highlight their work and encourage interdisciplinary thinking, creating an environment where curiosity and collaboration drive the learning experience.
Technology With Purpose
Each student in grades five and six is provided with a Chromebook for in-school use, giving her the tools to stay organized, collaborate with peers, and engage more deeply in her learning. In every classroom, Promethean interactive boards enhance instruction—making lessons more dynamic, interactive, and responsive to students’ needs. Together, these technologies support a personalized, connected learning experience that grows alongside each student.

`Poised for What’s Next:` Grades 7 & 8

In grades seven and eight, students gain the skills and confidence needed for a successful transition to Upper School. As academic expectations grow, girls develop strong study habits, time management, and independence. Opportunities in athletics, travel, and extracurriculars further encourage exploration, leadership, and a broader perspective—preparing them for what’s next.

Advisory Time
Advisory time is a purposeful program designed to encourage healthy bonding, social skills, leadership, and unconditional positive regard for others. At the start of the school year, students are placed into small advisory groups, where they build community by creating a shared identity—complete with a group name and logo. These identities carry throughout the year, fostering connection and school spirit during friendly competitions and grade-wide celebrations.
Community-led Classrooms
Classes are governed by rules established by community members. In seventh and eighth grade, students help shape a strong and supportive community. Each student commits to three shared values—being an engaged learner, a conscientious student, and a thoughtful steward of her environment—fostering a culture of accountability, respect, and pride in their collective impact.
Leaning into Leadership
Seventh and eighth-grade classrooms are almost entirely on the second floor of Jenkins Hall, Ashley Hall's Upper School.. Within a community designed for both individuality and shared experience, girls grow into confident leaders. Leadership is intentionally cultivated through opportunities like student council, where seventh and eighth-grade students are empowered to shape their experience—creating programs and initiatives that reflect their voices and strengthen their community.

I feel like I'm beginning to know myself a little better and getting to know my class really well. Advisory time helps me stay organized and ready for the day.

— Eliza ’31MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT

Middle School Academic Highlights

STEAM
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math The Middle School at Ashley Hall values the intrinsic correlation of mathematical and scientific practices. This cross-curricular approach encourages girls to see how these disciplines draw on similar resources and strategies. Our STEAM curriculum includes an introduction to robotics and coding through theme-based projects, while encouraging students to explore and pursue traditionally underrepresented fields of interest among women.
Humanities
History, Language Arts, & Literature Our interdisciplinary humanities curriculum integrates the study of literature and history with opportunities to practice the craft of writing through literary essays, personal narratives, memoirs, and research-based reports. Girls also analyze primary sources and undertake guided research projects with interdisciplinary themes.
Classics
Latin & Greek Ashley Hall is the only school in South Carolina offering an integrated classics program at the middle school level, providing instruction in Latin and Classical Greek. Why? Through the classics, students are challenged to develop computational and abstract thinking skills earlier, which are crucial as they advance to higher education. All seventh and eighth-grade students are enrolled in the classics curriculum while also studying the modern language of their choice.
World Languages
French & Spanish Beginning in fifth grade, students choose to study French or Spanish. Both modern languages are taught using a communicative language teaching method, which places speaking as the primary focus and grammar as secondary. All courses align with proficiency guidelines set by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), a nationally recognized organization of leading experts in language acquisition.

Download the Middle School Curriculum Guide

Embracing the International Baccalaureate:
Middle Years Programme

Ashley Hall’s Middle School is a Candidate School for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP), reflecting a commitment to a student-centered, inquiry-driven approach to learning. Through interdisciplinary study and real-world connections, students develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of the world around them.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

Enhancing the Experience

ARTS

Students participate in an arts rotation that exposes them to various disciplines in Middle School. Theater, dance, visual arts, and strings are just some of the opportunities available to students. Learn more.

ATHLETICS

Health, physical fitness, and intramural games are woven into life in the Middle School. Starting in Middle School, students are eligible to participate in the Ashley Hall Athletics program, and beginning in sixth grade, may try out for junior varsity sports teams. In seventh grade, they are eligible for varsity teams. Learn more.

WELL-BEING

Ashley Hall's wellness program is thoughtfully integrated into our curriculum through small group classes and regular assemblies designed to support the specific social and emotional needs of girls in this developmental stage. Learn more.