Middle School - Greensboro Day School | A Private School in North Carolina

The GDS Middle School offers just the right blend of freedom and responsibility as we guide students in grades 5–8 through these important years of growth and development. Our program is designed to support students while challenging them to stretch beyond their comfort zones.

The GDS Middle School offers an exciting program that meets the academic, social, and emotional needs of students as they grow from childhood to adolescence. Our program is intentionally designed not only to provide students with an outstanding academic foundation, but also to help them develop organization and study skills, make positive and healthy life choices, and become good digital citizens.

Get to Know the Middle School

Hear what students have to say about our program

The Academic Program

The Middle School offers a vibrant academic program that keeps students interested, active, and engaged. A student’s daily schedule includes core classes in English, math, social studies, science, and world language (Spanish, Latin, and—beginning in eighth grade—Mandarin) as well as classes in fine arts, physical education, and character and citizenship. Students enroll in sequential math and world language classes based on their demonstrated ability, readiness, and performance. Students can expand their love for academics by participating in one of several academic teams: First Lego League Robotics, Science Olympiad, MathCounts, Debate, and Model United Nations.

In addition to traditional classroom learning, students are often found learning outside of the classroom in environments that promote personal growth, team building, collaboration, and leadership. The Andreve Teaching Garden, the Outdoor Classroom and Learning Pond, the Imaginarium makerspace, and Sloan Theatre serve as tremendous on-campus spaces that provide a rich, hands-on learning experience.

We know that no student is alike and each student brings their own unique set of gifts and challenges. Student advisors, teachers, and learning support staff support each student, which may include designing an individualized learning plan for students who need extra enrichment or additional support. Middle school students are challenged and supported by a group of expert and engaging teachers who understand the middle school experience and love working with middle school students.

The Middle School Community

Overnight, grade-level Building Community Retreats (BCRs) are intentionally offered at the beginning of each school year to strengthen peer-to-peer relationships.

The Honor Code and GDS Community Cornerstones of Respect, Kindness, Integrity, and Responsibility guide our character and citizenship expectations and are embedded in our daily classes and culture. Each school year, the Middle School holds an Honor Code Signing and Community Cornerstone signing ceremony for all students.

The entire middle school student body gathers every Monday in Sloan Theatre for our weekly assembly, which features special programs, student-led activities, and cultural heritage month celebrations.

Bengal Enrichment and Academic Teams

A wide range of student enrichment activities and academic teams allows students to pursue their passions and make friends with others who share their interests. There are typically several dozen clubs active from year to year. Any student may join any club or academic team. Current clubs and academic teams include:

Academic Teams

Battle of the Books
First Lego League Challenge Team
Debate
History Lab & Competition
Math Competition Team
Model UN
Science Olympiad

A Sampling of Enrichment Classes

EcoMakers
Gardening
Middle School Buddies
Middle School Musical
Money Matters: Financial Literacy
Psychology 101: The Science of Happy
Shark Tank: Entrepreneurship
Student Council

Student-to-Teacher Ratios and Maximum Class Sizes

Our class sizes follow best practices for student-to-teacher ratios, ensuring a nurturing and responsive learning environment. Smaller class sizes allow our teachers to provide more individualized attention, build strong relationships with each child, and tailor instruction to support each learner’s growth and development. The average class size in the Middle School is 15 students. The maximum class size is 20 students for core classes, while physical education and performing arts classes have a maximum capacity of 26 students.