Knox County Schools
Middle School Instruction
Knox County operates 16 middle schools that serve grades 5-8. These schools serve students during a crucial developmental period, providing a supportive environment that aims to foster social, emotional, and academic growth. Their primary goal is to foster exploration and nurture creativity as students participate in healthy self-discovery and prepare for the high school experience.
General Info
Curriculum
Curriculum includes the concepts and skills students learn in class, the strategies used to teach them, and how their progress is measured.
In KCS, we invest in high quality instructional materials that have been vetted and approved by the TN Department of Education. We are proud to provide students and teachers with the tools they need to ensure student success.
TN Standards
Tennessee Academic Standards are a common list of expectations for the skills students will be able to master by the end of each grade level.
Teachers use standards to determine what concepts they will teach throughout the year.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks here.
The resources provided for each content area are designed to help parents support their student’s learning at home.
Testing / Assessments
An overview of testing requirements for the State of Tennessee can be found here.
Sixth Grade
English Language Arts
Curriculum
All of our middle schools use Amplify ELA, a research-backed curriculum designed specifically for middle school learners.
Details on the 6th grade Amplify Curriculum, including units of study and texts read can be found here.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more information on what your child will be learning in class, look for the class syllabus provided by your student’s English teacher.
A parent and family guide that includes text summaries and discussion questions for each Amplify unit can be found here.
Mathematics
Curriculum
All of our middle schools use the math curriculum iReady Classroom Mathematics that focuses on developing mathematical reasoning and the skills to become real-world problem solvers.
Click here to learn more information about iReady Classroom Mathematics.
TN Math Standards
A list of the standards for 6th grade math can be found here.
Resources
For directions on how to access i-Ready Connect for KCS students and Families, click here.
Directions for how to add the “Math Support Page” to your family portal on Aspen can be found here.
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, look for the class syllabus provided by your student’s math teacher.
Science
Curriculum
6th graders will build their science literacy as they explore how energy drives Earth’s ecosystems, natural resources, and processes like oceans, weather and climate.
KCS middle schools use a textbook called TN Middle School Science to guide their instruction.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, look for the class syllabus provided by your student’s science teacher.
Social Studies
Curriculum
Sixth grade students will study early human history and ancient civilizations. Students will analyze the cultural, economic, geographical, historical, and political foundations for early civilizations.
Middle schools across the district use HMH SS G/6 Ancient Civilizations as their core textbook.
TN social studies Standards
A list of the standards for 6th grade social studies can be found here.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, look for the class syllabus provided by your student’s social studies teacher.
Related Arts
The value of Related Arts education is helping kids find their voice, rounding out their education and tapping into their undiscovered talents. Related Arts reaches the “human side” of every student, encouraging and developing important 21st century skills such as creativity, innovation, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Across the district we offer a wide selection of Related Arts courses.
The most commonly offered related arts classes across the district are:
Art, Band, Chorus, Health & Wellness, General Music, STEM, and Physical Education (PE).
For an official list of the related arts classes offered at your child’s school, call or visit your school’s website.
Find more information on textbooks here.
Seventh Grade
English Language Arts
Curriculum
All of our middle schools use Amplify ELA, a research-backed curriculum designed specifically for middle school learners.
Details on the 7th grade Amplify Curriculum, including units of study and texts read can be found here.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, look for the class syllabus provided by your student’s English teacher.
A parent and family guide that includes text summaries and discussion questions for each Amplify unit can be found here.
Mathematics
Curriculum
All of our middle schools use the math curriculum iReady Classroom Mathematics that focuses on developing mathematical reasoning and the skills to become real-world problem solvers.
Click here to learn more information about iReady Classroom Mathematics.
TN Math Standards
A list of the standards for 7th grade math can be found here.
Resources
For directions on how to access i-Ready Connect for KCS students and Families, click here.
Directions for how to add the “Math Support Page” to your family portal on Aspen can be found here.
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, look for the class syllabus provided by your student’s math teacher.
Science
Curriculum
7th graders will study how matter and reactions are the basis for life science, particularly the molecules that make up life.
KCS middle schools use a textbook called TN Middle School Science to guide their instruction.
TN Science Standards
A list of the standards for 7th grade science can be found here.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, look for the class syllabus provided by your student’s science teacher.
Social Studies
Curriculum
Seventh graders will study changes and compare civilizations in Western Europe, East Asia, West Africa, Southwest Asia, and Northern Africa from the 15th to 18th centuries.
Middle schools across the district use McGraw Hill: Middle Ages to 1700s as their textbook.
TN social studies Standards
A list of the standards for 7th grade social studies can be found here.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, look for the class syllabus provided by your student’s social studies teacher.
Related Arts
The value of Related Arts education is helping kids find their voice, rounding out their education and tapping into their undiscovered talents. Related Arts reaches the “human side” of every student, encouraging and developing important 21st century skills such as creativity, innovation, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Across the district we offer a wide selection of Related Arts courses.
The most commonly offered related arts classes across the district are:
Art, Band, Chorus, Health & Wellness, General Music, STEM, and Physical Education (PE).
For an official list of the related arts classes offered at your child’s school, call or visit your school’s website.
Find more information on textbooks here.
Eighth Grade
English Language Arts
Curriculum
All of our middle schools use Amplify ELA, a research-backed curriculum designed specifically for middle school learners.
Details on the 8th grade Amplify Curriculum, including units of study and texts read can be found here.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, look for the class syllabus provided by your student’s English teacher.
A parent and family guide that includes text summaries and discussion questions for each Amplify unit can be found here.
Mathematics
Curriculum
All of our middle schools use the math curriculum iReady Classroom Mathematics that focuses on developing mathematical reasoning and the skills to become real-world problem solvers.
Click here to learn more information about iReady Classroom Mathematics.
TN Math Standards
A list of the standards for 8th grade math can be found here.
Resources
For directions on how to access i-Ready Connect for KCS students and Families, click here.
Directions for how to add the “Math Support Page” to your family portal on Aspen can be found here.
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, look for the class syllabus provided by your student’s math teacher.
Science
Curriculum
8th graders will learn about how force and motion affect the world around us and beyond.
KCS middle schools use a textbook called TN Middle School Science to guide their instruction.
TN Science Standards
A list of the standards for 8th grade science can be found here.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, look for the class syllabus provided by your student’s science teacher.
Social Studies
Curriculum
Eighth grade students will explore United States history beginning with European colonization and ending with the Civil War. Students will learn to think like historians as they uncover the development of the United States.
Eighth grade classrooms across the district use TN Experience Grade 8 as their core curriculum.
TN social studies Standards
A list of the standards for 8th grade social studies can be found here.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, look for the class syllabus provided by your student’s social studies teacher.
Related Arts
The value of Related Arts education is helping kids find their voice, rounding out their education and tapping into their undiscovered talents. Related Arts reaches the “human side” of every student, encouraging and developing important 21st century skills such as creativity, innovation, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Across the district we offer a wide selection of Related Arts courses.
The most commonly offered related arts classes across the district are:
Art, Band, Chorus, Health & Wellness, General Music, STEM, and Physical Education (PE).
For an official list of the related arts classes offered at your child’s school, call or visit your school’s website.
Find more information on textbooks here.