- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Middletown Unified to move sixth grade to middle school for 2024-25 school year
On Friday, Middletown Unified announced that it will move sixth grade from elementary schools to the middle school beginning with the 2024-25 school year, which the district said is a matter of coming into line with many California school districts.
The agenda for a special meeting of the Middletown Unified Board of Trustees on Aug. 24 included an action item to consider a plan for facilities and exploring all options to accommodate the increase in student numbers.
As part of that item, the board discussed administrative recommendations in the district’s facilities master plan and implementation plan.
That board recommendation document, dated Aug. 18, states: “Middletown Unified School District administration is recommending the move of sixth grade to Middletown Middle School starting the 2024-2025 school year. Our recommendation for moving sixth grade, our Facilities Master Plan (2018), and Implementation Plan (2018) are the foundation for our Measure H Bond funding recommendations. Middletown Middle School facilities are a priority including the new gym to facilitate the welcoming of the sixth-grade students. On page 8 of our implementation plan, it states that mandatory projects are also referred to as ‘safe, warm, and dry.’ These projects relate to building code updates, repair, and maintenance of existing facilities and the physical safety of students. This plan will prepare for the influx of students over the next five years.”
As part of that meeting, the board discussed budgeting for school improvement projects across the district.
The board concluded the discussion with its unanimous vote to approve moving sixth graders to the middle school.
The district said Friday that, a year from now, Middletown elementary schools will consist of grades transitional kindergarten through fifth grade, and Middletown Middle School will comprise grades six through eight.
Part of the reason for the move is the new state requirement for public schools to offer transitional kindergarten to increasingly younger students, the district said.
In a statement released by the district, Middletown Middle School Principal Erin Dorman said, “I'm really excited for sixth graders to join us at the middle school next year. It is going to benefit them in many ways — academically, socially and athletically. I was speaking with some current seventh graders about their own switch to middle school this year and they really like the plan for sixth grade to have a slow transition to switching classes.”
At the end of this school year, the district said elementary schools will have a step-up rally for both fifth and sixth graders to celebrate their transition to middle school.
Starting in fall of 2024, sixth graders will attend school on the middle school campus, but their schedules will be tailored to make the transition to middle school easier, officials reported.
Students will have two primary teachers, as well as a teacher for their elective class, and their lunch period will only be with students in their grade.
Middletown Unified Superintendent Thad Owens said in the Friday announcement that the middle school will allow sixth graders to benefit academically and socially.
The district recently purchased a science and math curriculum designed to support California state standards, which is structured based on middle schools comprising sixth, seventh and eighth grades.
Sixth graders will have 50-minute classes for each subject, including physical education, which will better prepare them for both standardized testing and the academic rigors of high school.
The district said sixth graders also will benefit from access to elective courses. Middletown Middle School offers students four electives per year (one per quarter).
For student athletes, middle school will offer the opportunity to join school sports teams and compete with other Lake County schools.
“We’ve already gotten tons of positive feedback on this move,” Dorman said in the district announcement.
Owens explained that having enough lead time will allow the district to do things right.
“This fall, we’re planning classroom renovations,” Owens said. “This spring, we’ll get those renovations done. This summer, we’ll work with sixth grade teachers to prepare for the transition. We’re looking forward to this — it’s going to be really good for our students. If anyone has any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.”
Owens can be contacted via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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