Middle School Program

Middle School family

Grades 6-8

Middle school is a time of discovery, and our online program allows students to pursue their passions and prepare for high school, college and careers. We provide solutions for students who want to accelerate and those who need a little more time to catch up. Our certified online teachers provide live online instruction and our Learning Success Coaches are there to help students chart a path to their dreams.

Remote Teachers

We’re a Different Kind
of Online School

Like most online schools we have a flexible schedule that allows students to work anytime, any place. But we’re also a world-class university with the technology and teaching resources that make our student experience unique.

  • A model that surrounds students with support and creates a warm, safe space where they can be vulnerable enough to take risks in their learning
  • Real collaboration between parents and teachers
  • A Learning Success Coach is assigned to help students focus on the future, pursue passions and develop a vision for the type of student they want to be
  • Engaging curriculum that combines the best of online and offline, hands-on activities in layers of learning that foster deeper discovery
  • Personalized one-on-one instruction

The ASU Prep Digital Middle School Experience

Lesson
Live Lessons

Each class includes a weekly live lesson with an online teacher

Watch Video

School
Whole Class Time

This includes discussion, community building and learning

Hands
Small Group Time

Collaboration, project check-in, tutoring and targeted instruction

Video
Individual Time

One-on-one instruction, knowledge checks and support

Study
Study Time

Students work on the computer and complete offline activities

Practice
Parental Guidance

Parents serve an active role, supporting learning throughout the course

what students are saying

Having the freedom to make my own schedule and work at an accelerated pace on high level courses in an amazing community is what KWS is about.

– E.H.

The live science labs and daily seminars are very exciting to think about.

– N.C.

I can still learn the way I like to learn, on my own time, but I can also learn with peers and a teacher as a guide not a lecturer. I’m excited to learn outside the box with peers to make a better world.

– L.W.

You don’t have to follow the group average, you can structure around you and personalize it.

– D.F.

I am thoroughly impressed with how everything runs and how detailed it is. Students are actually being taught and learning. All the Live Lessons this week that I have seen my son in were engaging, I am so happy for this school year and just utterly impressed.

– C.T.

It is a place where I will learn and grow actively and collaboratively with students and learning guides who love life and learning as much as I do.

– M.N.

Sample Courses Grades 6-8

middle school homeroom

Homeroom

10:00 am (Actual times may vary)

Led by your Learning Success Coach, this is a time for learning the skills needed to become an independent student. We’ll cover time management, study skills, goal setting and the social and emotional lessons needed to be successful. And along the way we’ll have a little fun, build class community and get warmed up for the week.

math teacher

English Language Arts

Flexible Schedule

This course provides a strong foundation in grammar and the writing process. It emphasizes simple but useful composition and language mechanics strategies with multiple opportunities for modeling practical, real-world writing situations that will enable students to improve their written communication skills quickly. Through a variety of grade-appropriate reading selections, students develop a clear understanding of key literary genres and their distinguishing characteristics. Your English teacher will provide a schedule of live virtual lessons each week.

Online school girl working

Math

Flexible Schedule

We offer math for grades 6, 7, 8 as well as high school Algebra and Geometry for advanced students. All of our math courses include live lessons each week and independent online study in our adaptive platform. The work is personalized to match the student’s ability and a rich dashboard of analytics helps students, parents and teachers track progress.

Science student

Science

Flexible Schedule

All of our science courses are inquiry and lab-based, including a significant number of hands-on lab activities. The sixth-grade integrated science course focuses on basic physical science, Earth and space science, and ecosystems. Seventh grade focuses on cells, the life cycle, nutrition, chemical reactions, force fields, and energy. And Eighth grade covers genes and adaptations, evolution, energy and the Earth, the Earth’s changing climate, waves, and technology and human impacts on the Earth.

online student

Social Studies

Flexible Schedule

Middle school is a great opportunity to learn about the world, it’s history and governments. This is the time each day when students will focus on US history, world history, civics, geography and more. Sixth grade students will focus on the cultural, religious, economic and political systems of society. Seventh grade students will view the world through historical and geographic lenses. Eighth grade students will use inquiry to learn citizenship and civic engagement while connecting the major events of US History to modern day issues.

Girl playing guitar

Electives

Flexible Schedule

Our full-time middle school students will take five courses each semester. In addition to the four core courses, they will choose one of our semester-long electives each semester. Some of the electives you can choose from include: MS Spanish, MS Guitar, MS Game Design, MS Art, MS Photography, MS Coding and more!

photographer

Clubs

Extracurricular Time

We offer a variety of middle school clubs and the chance for students to pursue their passions, whether that’s music, art, athletics, or something else. Clubs meet online to socialize and plan activities.

How do I enroll or learn more?

Enrollment for our middle school program is now open! Please apply online and our admissions team will contact you after reviewing your application. This process usually takes about a week.

Want to learn more and have the chance to ask questions? Join us for an online information session where we’ll dive into the details. Follow the link below to a calendar where you can choose a date that works best. You can also watch a recorded info session here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Middle School

What middle school supplies will I need?
You can find a full list of supplies here.
When is middle school enrollment? How do I enroll?
Enrollment deadlines for middle school are the same as high school. You can view the latest info here. To get started, just fill out the online enrollment form. Once submitted, we'll review and send you an email with instructions on how to upload your required documents. After we collect all the state required docs, you'll be assigned a Learning Success Coach who will help you get started.
What is a typical weekly schedule for a middle school student?
Students should expect to spend 5-7 hours per course, per week.  Most students take 5 courses per semester. The schedule is flexible and students can work when they want. There are scheduled live lessons in each class, one per week. Some students like to do all subjects each day, some prefer to work on a single subject each day.  
How do students interact socially?
Students will have collaborative live lessons as a whole class and in small groups using Zoom. They will also have one-on-one lessons and feedback sessions with their teacher.  We also offer middle school clubs where students can socialize both online and at optional in-person events.   
What are the technology requirements?
Students need to have a computer with a modern browser and internet access.  The following items are suggested for all courses:
  • earbuds
  • webcam
  • printout of course pace chart and syllabus
  • calendar/planner
  • pencils and college ruled paper for students who would like to take written notes
There are a few materials and downloads needed for particular courses (mainly electives) and a tech and materials spec document can be requested for any course.

Devices (We recommend devices less than 5 years old)
  • Desktop
  • Laptop
  • Chromebook
  • Microphone and webcam
Operating Systems
  • Windows 10 and newer
  • Mac OSX 10.6 and newer
  • Linux
  • ChromeOS
Internet Speed
  • High speed internet (recommended)
Supported Browsers
  • Chrome(latest version)(recommended)
  • Edge (latest version)
  • Safari (latest version)
  • Firefox (latest version)
Supported Browser Plugins and Settings
  • Javascript enabled
  • Flash - latest version is recommended
  • 1024x768 is recommended
  • Pop-up blockers should be disabled
  • Cookies should be enabled.
Please contact support.asuprep.org for further assistance.
Can middle school students take a single course? Or attend part-time?
We are currently only enrolling full-time students for the upcoming semester. However if you have special circumstances, please contact an admissions advisor to discuss.
Will middle school students need to purchase any materials?
Most middle school courses include all the materials you will need online. There are some exceptions such as electives (guitar) or science (common kitchen supplies for labs).
Am I able to take all high school courses as an 8th grader?
While students are encouraged to work ahead and may take courses above grade level, taking ALL high school courses in this case would change your enrollment status to 9th grade.   
Is there a new student orientation?
Yes, all middle school students will complete one week of New School Orientation similar to our high school students. This will help students become familiar with the systems and software as well as learn some of the strategies needed to become successful online learners.  
Does our middle school offer honors courses or a gifted program?
Students are able to move through courses at their own pace and can begin taking high school courses as soon as they are ready. We personalize the learning for each student instead of grouping them under any specific label.   ASU Preparatory Academy meets the needs of all children, including those who are gifted students by utilizing Personalized Mastery-Based Learning where students are not limited to grade level curriculum,  but continue to learn by demonstrating mastery on State Standards at their pace. This allows students to accelerate in one or more content areas as they are ready.  In addition, students may expand their learning with Project Based Learning, which provides an opportunity to solve real world problems. The commitment to this personalized approach to meeting the standards prepares students for college, career, and life. Personalizing the grade-level curriculum through adaptive software programs combined with opportunities to leverage deep learning and the ability to take courses outside the current grade level (ie - a 4th grader taking Algebra 1).
How many courses does a middle school student take per semester?
Students take up to five courses per semester.  Usually four core courses (Math, English Language Arts, Science, Social Studies) and one elective. The total course load is determined by their session start date.  
Can middle school students take high school electives?
Yes, any student that is prepared for high school curriculum is encouraged to take high school electives. Parents should speak with their Learning Success Coach about student readiness and maturity.