Our Middle School is a premier program in sixth through eighth grades, advancing traditional studies in all curriculum areas to prepare students for college preparatory course work.  The curriculum has seven main components:  English and Literature, Social Studies, Math, Science, Foreign Language, Fine Arts, and character education.  Generally, each Middle School student takes a course in each of the disciplines above.  Fine Arts options include band, chorus, physical education, technology, drama, art, and video production.  A safe and nurturing environment enables academic success and provides support for healthy social and emotional development.

Opportunities for Personal Growth
Our Middle Schoolers are encouraged to branch out and explore new areas of interest and participate in a variety of endeavors.  The Middle School offers many challenging and enjoyable opportunities in outdoor education, creative arts, athletics, and student leadership.  Students travel to outdoor camping programs in the fall, where they are challenged in orienteering, hiking, canoeing, and many other activities, as well as the achievement of positive group living.

Options in the fine arts program abound with band, vocal ensemble, visual arts, and drama.  Our award-winning drama department provides opportunities for our Middle Schoolers to participate each year in a musical production.

A variety of team and individual interscholastic sports are available to seventh and eighth graders, while sixth graders can participate on school-sponsored teams in the community.

Academic Enrichment and Integrated Curriculum
Middle School students can often be found conducting art projects that connect literature and social studies, taking field trips that enrich math or science, or enjoying the cuisine of cultures connected to social studies or foreign language.  Technology is playing an increasingly important role in the curriculum.  Our students are exposed to a wide variety of media and trained to interpret them with a discerning eye.  Our hands-on technological tools allow our students to expand their skills with real-life applications.

Character Development
While Middle Schoolers are continually "testing" for new limits, they correspondingly must have definite and communicated boundaries that provide safety as this transition in integrity occurs.  Individual attention, recognition of positive decisions, consequences for problem behaviors, and guidance in many forms help these students navigate each day. Middle School faculty members are fundamental to this, serving as advisors and mentors. Each student is part of a small advisory group led by a faculty member.  These groups have a weekly meeting time to get together and talk about topics ranging from study skills and social concerns to service projects.  Service projects are an integral part of the character education program as community service is an essential component of the CFA mission.  

Additionally, all CFA Middle Schoolers also make a formal commitment to the Honor Pledge:  We pledge to live our lives at Cape Fear Academy as responsible persons, whose word is our bond, whose work is always our own, and around whom the well-being and property of others is safe.  As a member of the Cape Fear Academy community of learners, we pledge our commitment to respect, integrity, academic excellence, and service to others. 

Our objective is that students will leave the eighth grade with respect for themselves and one another, a willingness to accept personal responsibility, and the integrity to make honest decisions about their academic and personal lives.

Jay Kranchalk
Middle School Director