Middle School

Identification Process

District 181 is committed to using multiple measures to identify students for the district’s ACE and enrichment programs.  The goal is to provide an appropriate placement to meet students’ education needs.

The assessment of students for the ACE Program and math or language arts tiers occurs during the second semester of fifth grade.

Initial screening of all students involves using the SCAT (School & College Ability Tests), MAP (Measure of Academic Progress), and InView as well as a writing sample.

Please see the placement criteria located on our website under the download link.

Parents of fifth graders will receive a letter from the school district notifying them of their child’s test results and placement at the end of the school year.

District 181 does not accept scores from outside testing.

ACE Program

Academic and Cognitive Enrichment Program

The ACE program is designed to meet the unique needs of students with significantly high cognitive abilities as measured against others in District 181.

The ACE program is not performance based.

Identified students remain in the program throughout their middle school years.  

This program uses curriculum compacting and an interdisciplinary curriculum including elements of problem-based learning to challenge students at appropriate levels.  It emphasizes social emotional learning specific to the needs of gifted students.  Other components of the middle school ACE program include:

  • Problem solving skills
  • Higher-level thinking
  • Goal setting
  • Cognitive rigor
  • Executive functioning skills

6 th grade ACE students are placed in the gifted specialists advisory.  7 th and 8 th grade ACE students are heterogeneously grouped with the rest of the student body to gain more independence.

Programs

Middle school students are placed in language arts and/or math classes based upon their demonstrated performance in each area.  Students are placed where they are most likely to be challenged, yet successful.  Students may be moved within or between school years as collaboratively decided at the building level.

Math

Grade Level Math*
    • 6 th , 7 th , and 8 th grade
Advanced Math
    • Pre-Algebra
    • Algebra I, Part A
    • Algebra I, Part B
Accelerated Math
    • Pre-Algebra Enriched
    • Algebra 1
    • Geometry
Language Arts

Grade Level Language Arts
 6 th , 7 th , and 8 th grades

    • Language Arts Plus
    • Enriched Language Arts

*Please see the Middle School Math Chart under the download link.

Language Arts Plus students are clustered in small groups and placed in grade-level language arts classes with differentiation and enrichment from the classroom teacher.

Our middle school courses are designed to allow for flexibility based upon classroom performance.  Please contact the CHMS or HMS principals with middle school placement questions.