Middle School (5-8) Instructional Program

Wheatridge and Pioneer Ridge Middle Schools provide a comprehensive, individually challenging curriculum.  All students participate in a core curriculum of math, science, social studies, language arts and reading.  Core teachers are organized into interdisciplinary teams with common planning time to facilitate student needs and curricular content planning.  The instructional programming centers on the needs and developmental characteristics of adolescents.  Instructional methods respond to different student learning styles. There is a school-wide guidance program to meet the needs of adolescents. Those services may include individual and group consultation, directed lessons in the classroom, and parent education classes.

At the 5th and 6th grade levels, students participate in Core Extension courses which allow them the opportunity to focus on math skills, writing skills, character education, current events, and health.  Students have the opportunity to take FACS, foreign language, art, industrial arts, band, strings, vocal music and physical education.

At 7th grade, Core Extension consists of math enrichment, writing skills, health, and global issues affecting their world today. Seventh grade electives are physical education, computers, FACS, art, Spanish, industrial arts, band, strings and vocal music.

At 8th grade, Core Extension consists of math enrichment, delivering speeches, health, laws, leadership and service learning. Eighth grade electives are vocal music, band, strings, physical education, industrial technology, Spanish, FACS, Art, yearbook and computers.