Private Middle School Program

Las Vegas Day School offers a fully departmentalized middle school for grades six, seven, and eight, with separate classrooms and instructors for every subject. The program is academically challenging with grade level appropriate coursework offered in Literature, English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Art & Humanities, Health & Fitness, Technology, and Spanish. 

High achieving eighth grade students can also earn high school credit in Computer Literacy, Health, Art, and Spanish I Honors, as well as Algebra I Honors to jumpstart their high school careers.

Sign up for a tour of the Las Vegas Day School to learn more about our middle school program!

The literature program provides an opportunity for students to become active and critical readers. Students are provided with a variety of literary forms to analyze and critique including: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, short stories, and novels. This will be done through written work, classroom discussions, and individual and group projects. Students will also discuss literary terminology such as theme, motif, symbolism, foreshadowing, setting, and point of view. Novels will cover a wide range of topics and will include different points of view. Novel discussions will be held regularly, and students will be expected to participate and offer their thoughts. Students will get a chance to read books of their own choice during the year, and reading outside of the classroom is highly encouraged. The literature program hopes to expose students to a variety of literature, encourage participation, and promote lifelong readers.

The English program focuses on academic writing including expositive, persuasive, and research writing. Through the use of the writing process, students incorporate grammar, usage, mechanics, and spelling to develop clear, concise written work. Writing focuses on original ideas integrated with research from multiple sources. Students are taught how to cite their sources, create a works cited page, and how to set up their research papers using MLA format. Technology is integrated to produce, publish, research, and collaborate on writing projects, short research activities, and group projects.

Communication skills are developed through oratorical speeches, collaborative group projects, and class presentations. Students learn important elements of listening, speaking, and responding appropriately to prepared speeches, class discussions, and presentations.

The program offers students the opportunity to compete in writing competitions and an oratorical speech competition which showcases creative writing skills and communication skills acquired throughout the school year.

Our goal in teaching mathematics is to constantly maintain a challenging environment in which a student can achieve success. Sixth-grade math develops a strong understanding and fluency in basic operations using whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and integers. Students study pre-algebra concepts as well as properties, statistics, probability, proportions, percentages, and geometry.

Seventh-grade students study pre-algebra with Algebra I beginning in the fourth quarter. Concepts include properties and operations of integers, rational and real numbers, solving equations and inequalities as well as reviewing ratios and proportions, percentages, and geometry.

The eighth-grade Algebra I program teaches students to solve and graph linear equations and inequalities as well as systems of equations. High achieving students move to Algebra I Honors the second semester. Algebra I Honors curriculum includes operations with polynomials and factoring polynomials, work with exponents, graphing and solving quadratic equations, and solving rational and radical equations. Students can earn one high school credit in Algebra I Honors.

Technology is integrated with easy-to-access online sources such as tutorial videos, homework help, and interactive practice quizzes and tests. We encourage participation and feature an environment where students can interact, feel challenged, and enjoy learning math.

The goal of the science program is to develop independent study habits and collaboration within groups, with emphasis on skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, innovation, and communication. The course is designed to give students a basic understanding of science and its relationship to their lives. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is integrated throughout the science program. Students will use interactive electronic textbooks and IXL, along with virtual and hands-on labs, to enhance learning.

All middle school students participate in the annual Science Fair which allows students to use their scientific knowledge and the scientific method to create a unique, individual project. School-wide winners in the Life and Physical Science categories will compete in the Clark County Science Fair at UNLV.

The sixth-grade life science curriculum explores the world of cytology (the study of cells and cell processes), bacteria, viruses, plants, animals, human anatomy, and Earth’s biomes. Students learn scientific inquiry and scientific methods to find answers and build knowledge. Scientific models and tools (including microscopes) are used to investigate questions and share answers. Lab work includes dissection of various invertebrates and vertebrates.

The seventh-grade earth science curriculum examines the earth’s surface, structure, composition, and the processes that formed and continue to shape the earth. Students also survey the fields of cartography, geology, oceanography, environmental science, and astronomy. The scientific method is applied along with scientific skills and equipment for the observation, collection, organization, interpretation, and presentation of data.

The eighth-grade physical science curriculum investigates non-living matter and energy as an introduction to physics and chemistry. Physics topics include motion, forces, matter, and energy. Chemistry topics include properties of matter, chemical reactions, chemical mixtures and solutions, acid/base chemistry, and organic chemistry. This course is designed to give students a basic understanding of how physics and chemistry relate to the world around them. Students continue to utilize scientific methods and equipment to conduct experiments and share results through a variety of media.

The social studies program provides students with a solid foundation in the areas of history, political systems, geography, economics, research skills, and current events. At each grade level, a different area of study is stressed: World History in sixth-grade; American History in seventh-grade; and World Geography and Civics in eighth-grade.

At each grade level, geography activities supplement studies. Emphasis is placed on the development of a working knowledge of the various types of reference materials and the ability to efficiently utilize research and note-taking skills. Current events are examined and evaluated in the general context of class study. Special projects include the state stock market competition, social studies fair, mock trial, and an interview with a prominent Nevadan.

Through the study of art and the humanities, students develop an appreciation and understanding of the world around them as well as the progression of cultures and the aesthetic movement which incorporates these cultures. Students are exposed to new ways of seeing and exploring the process of taking an abstract thought and creating a concrete form from that thought. The goal of the program is to teach students to see and understand the aesthetic elements that give a work of art enduring beauty and meaning.

The sixth-grade program is a discipline-based art curriculum designed to give experiences with a range of media, skills, and techniques. Students develop an understanding of the structure and language of art. The overriding theme throughout the year is “The World of Art.” This theme is stressed by using an art textbook to provide both cross-cultural and multicultural lessons which are developed through the students’ use of the elements of art.

The art textbook for seventh and eighth grade is a discipline-based program, offering a broad range of visual experience based on art works and art styles of various cultures and times in history. The concepts of aesthetics, art criticism, art history, and art production are applied and reinforced throughout the program. Students can earn one high school credit in Art I for seventh and eighth grade.

The study of Spanish exposes students to a different language and thereby stimulates a desire to continue developing their competence in foreign languages. Sixth-grade students begin with a first-year high school Spanish I textbook and culminate with a Spanish II textbook in eighth-grade.

Small group activities, videos, and games are used in all grades to make learning Spanish more fun and interesting. These activities expose the students to practical daily conversational vocabulary, while at the same time giving them insight into the culture, geography, and history of the Spanish-speaking world. Eighth-grade students can earn one high school credit in Spanish I Honors.

This multi-year course is designed as an in-depth study of computer science and innovative technology. Personal computer applications, career opportunities, and ethics of computer use will be examined. Word processing, information management, and spreadsheets will be continued from an intermediate level working toward advanced skill levels. Combining technology practice with computer science theory will give our students a foundation for evolving technology moving into the future.

Students will learn the foundations of computer science and basic programming with an emphasis on developing logical thinking and problem-solving skills.  Students learn about computer science and computational thinking using Python and HTML to analyze and design solutions to problems using programming skills.  Additional topics include algorithms, documentation, security and privacy, communication and collaborations, and data visualization. Eighth-grade students can earn half of a high school credit in computer science and applications for this one semester course.

The middle school health and fitness program is committed to offering an educational process in which all students are encouraged to reach their highest potential as well as their personal goals. By offering a variety of teaching techniques, students will participate in sports and leisure activities, strength training, and aerobic exercise. They will also be introduced to the importance of their own health and well-being through health education topics. Students will be given a strong foundation in the value of lifetime physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle. Students can earn half of a high school credit in Health for seventh and eighth grade.

Financial Literacy is offered as an online course for one semester in eighth grade. This course introduces students to setting goals, budgeting, and creating financial plans. Students will learn about topics such as taxation, financial institutions, credit, investments, and asset management. While learning a valuable life skill, this class also affords our students the opportunity to learn how to take and be successful in an online class which will lead to future academic success as they progress with their education. Students can earn high school credit for this course.

All middle school students are issued an iPad to use throughout the school year as part of our Apple one to one program. Students receive the latest generation iPad with 64gb memory, a rugged protective case with an integrated smart connector keyboard, and extended AppleCare+. All devices are set up to connect to the school network for internet access and printing capability. The student iPads will come with all necessary apps such as Outlook, OneDrive, Notability, Turnitin, Kahoot, and Showbie, as well as pre-loaded online textbooks for easy access. Students will be able to use their iPad to write documents, create projects, take class notes, submit homework, and to take tests.