MIDDLE SCHOOL

The Opportunity

Students-on-Laptops-Outdoors The adolescent years are often the most challenging for many young people, but they can also be an affirmative time for self-discovery and increased self-confidence when the right conditions are present. Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade are foundational for character development, social and emotional intelligence, and related interpersonal life skills that are as important to future success as academic development. In a time when parental influence often diminishes and societal and peer influences flourish, young men and women want to fit in, have close friendships, and know that their ideas and opinions are valued. At Tate’s, the middle school years are exciting, memorable, and academically unparalleled.

Our Success Equation

Classes are limited to a maximum of 18 students.
Enthusiastic, Caring Instructors who are passionate about their area of expertise thrive at Tate’s. Passion is contagious and makes learning fun.
Advanced Academics and Pre-AP courses are our standard curriculum, and incoming students are tested to ensure they can handle the pace of learning. We provide a rigorous academic curriculum based on standards for college preparatory level work. Our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) curriculum is interwoven into lessons across all content areas.
Social & Emotional Health is a priority. Most of life’s difficult problems are social in nature. As such, we emphasize building grit and lay a strong foundation on how to approach problem solving – both academically and interpersonally. We encourage students to face difficulty head-on, think for themselves about possible solutions, and involve others when appropriate. Tate’s students develop a “Growth Mindset” where challenges are welcomed, mistakes are viewed as opportunities, and perseverance is the norm.
Hands-On, Outdoor Education is intentional. Whether practicing for the Shakespearean play on the treehouse porch, or snow-shoeing through the NC mountains, we encourage our students to operate outside their comfort zone and embrace nature. Slicing through melons with medieval weapons is not only fun, it also exemplifies the combination of passionate, hands-on learning that happens throughout our 54-acre campus.
Positive Mentor/Mentee Relationships are vitally important. Our teachers and faculty form meaningful relationships with every student. Instructors recognize when a student is struggling and gladly offer assistance. Our students are comfortable approaching our teachers and administrators to ask for help or advice. We are dedicated to ensuring that the educational relationships students have are the most positive they can be.
Character Development & Leadership are emphasized through social-emotional learning, service outreach (in the community and on campus), and civic education. Our goal is to help students become responsible, caring, contributing citizens.
Middle School Should Be Fun. Small impromptu lessons on environmental biology come to life when a snake is discovered on campus. Elementary physics and mechanics aren’t just principles we read about, we observe them in action by building and testing machines. Personalized instruction is not only our specialty, it is one of our favorite ways to keep learning fun.

Why does class size matter?

Teachers with a small class can deep-dive into coursework, tackling in-depth hands-on projects. Socially, students not only have their close friends, but also a class family, developing relationships with all their peers and across grade levels.

OUTCOMES

Graduates are prepared for high school. Our students are typically placed in honors and AP English courses. 8^th Graders who pass Algebra I and the state end-of-course exam, receive a high school math credit. Tate’s middle school students get to know themselves, develop a growth mindset, and know how to build relationships with others.

They use what they know. The single greatest predictor of success is not what you know, but how you use what you know. Academically, socially, and emotionally, our students welcome challenge and apply the skills acquired at Tate’s to become successful, productive young men and women.

Relationships with peers and instructors will last a lifetime. Each graduating class stays in touch with each other and supports their Tate’s friends throughout high school and beyond.

Graduates have multiple options available to them. About 60% of our graduates attend private high schools of their choosing while the remaining 40 % choose to attend public high school.

Tate’s will always be your second home. Our Alumni prove year after year how returning to our campus continues to have meaning. We will always be here for you and your family.