Academics
In each grade level, students attend 4 academic classes each day: English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Students also participate in 2 academic art classes every day. These Academic Art classes appeal to a wide variety of interests and include: Art, Media Arts, Project Lead The Way, Chorus, Strings, Band, Physical Education/Health, and Spanish.
At Bluffton Middle School we prioritize well rounded education of the whole child. We have opportunities, such as Advisory and Flex Time, that students engage in daily to support social and emotional learning as well as celebrate academic growth.
Daily Schedule
| Sixth Grade | Seventh Grade | Eighth Grade | |||
| 8:45 - 9:05 | Advisory | 8:45 - 9:05 | Advisory | 8:45 - 9:05 | Advisory |
| 9:09 - 9:59 | Academic Arts | 9:09 - 10:07 | First Period | 9:09 - 10:07 | First Period |
| 10:03 - 10:53 | Academic Arts | 10:11 - 11:09 | Second Period | 10:11 - 11:09 | Second Period |
| 10:57 - 11:55 | Third Period | 11:13 - 11:33 | Lunch | 11:13 - 12:11 | Third Period |
| 11:59 - 12:57 | Fourth Period | 11:33 - 11:53 | Flex | 12:15 - 12:35 | Lunch |
| 1:01 - 1:21 | Lunch | 11:57 - 12:47 | Academic Arts | 12:35 - 12:55 | Flex |
| 1:21 - 1:41 | Flex | 12:51 - 1:41 | Academic Arts | 12:59 - 1:57 | Fifth Period |
| 1:41 - 2:43 | Sixth Period | 1:45 - 2:43 | Sixth Period | 2:01 - 2:51 | Academic Arts |
| 2:47 - 3:45 | Seventh Period | 2:47 - 3:45 | Seventh Period | 2:55 - 3:45 | Academic Arts |
Advisory
Advisory, from Responsive Classroom, is a twenty-minute period of time where students will be greeting one another on arrival and hearing any important announcements from their teacher. They will then engage in what is referred to as acknowledgements. This portion is where students will respond to one another in a round table format to a teacher directed prompt. This gives students the opportunity to practice positive public speaking skills and to learn how to accept compliments or share dissenting opinions in a respectful manner. Finally, their teacher will have an energizing activity prepared for them. This sacred twenty minutes at Bluffton Middle allows for positive relationships to be built between classmates and their teacher which helps students feel safe in their environment to allow them to take the necessary risks to grow academically.
Flex Time
Advanced Placement Criteria
- Criteria for Advanced Math
- Criteria for Accelerated Math
- Criteria for Algebra I Honors
- Criteria for Geometry Honors
- Criteria for Advanced ELA Placement
- Criteria for English I Honors Placement
- Criteria for Advanced Science Placement
- Criteria for 8th Grade Honors Earth Science Placement
- Criteria for Advanced Social Studies Placement
Criteria for Advanced Math
For placement into 6th, 7th, or 8th grade Advanced Mathematics courses, a student may be eligible if the following criteria is met:
· Math SC Ready (or previous state test) percentile of 75 or higher AND Math MAP percentile of 75 or higher (during at least one of the last three MAP test administrations)
Criteria for Accelerated Math
Criteria for Algebra I Honors
For placement into Algebra I Honors in 7th Grade, a student may be eligible if the following criteria is met:
· Math SC Ready (or previous state test) score of “Exceeds” AND Math MAP percentile of 93 or higher
(during at least one of the last three MAP administrations)
OR
· 80% or higher probability of success on the state Algebra I End of Course exam based on the predictability component of EVAAS (state data tool)
For placement into Algebra I Honors in 8th grade, a student may be eligible if the following criteria is met:
· Math SC Ready (or previous state test) score of “Exceeds” AND Math MAP percentile of 90 or higher
(during at least one of the last three MAP administrations)
OR
· 80% or higher probability of success on the state Algebra I End of Course exam based on the predictability component of EVAAS (state data tool)
·
Criteria for Geometry Honors
Criteria for Advanced ELA Placement
For placement into 6th, 7th, or 8th grade advanced English/Language Arts, a student may be eligible if the following criteria is met:
· English SC Ready (or previous state test) percentile of 75 or higher AND Reading MAP percentile of 75 or higher (during at least one of the last three MAP administrations)
Criteria for English I Honors Placement
For placement into English I Honors in 8th grade, a student may be eligible if the following criteria is met:
· English SC Ready (or previous state test) score of “Exceeds” AND Reading MAP percentile of 90 or higher (during at least one of the last three MAP administrations)
OR
· 80% or higher probability of success on the state English I End of Course exam based on the predictability component of EVAAS (state data tool)
Criteria for Advanced Science Placement
For placement into 6th, 7th, or 8th grade Advanced Science, a student may be eligible if two of the three criteria are met:
· Science SC PASS score of “Exemplary”
· English and Math SC Ready (or previous state test) percentile of 75 or higher
· Reading and Math MAP percentile of 75 or higher (during at least one of the last three MAP administrations)
· English SC Ready (or previous state test) score of “Exceeds”
Reading MAP percentile of 90 or higher (during at least one of the last three MAP administrations)
Criteria for 8th Grade Honors Earth Science Placement
For placement into Earth Science Honors in 8th Grade, a student may be eligible if the student has successful completion of Algebra I Honors (grade B or better) or is currently enrolled into Algebra I Honors, and one of the three criteria are met:
· Science SC PASS score of “Exemplary”
· English SC Ready (or previous state test) score of “Exceeds”
· Reading MAP percentile of 90 or higher (during at least one of the last three MAP administrations)
Criteria for Advanced Social Studies Placement
For placement into 6th, 7th, or 8th grade Advanced Social Studies, a student may be eligible if two of the three criteria are met:
· Social Studies SC PASS score of “Exemplary”
· English SC Ready (or previous state test) percentile of 75 or higher
· Reading MAP percentile of 75 or higher (during at least one of the last three MAP administrations)