Middle Level Education Policy The Board of Education recognized that youth adolescence is a critical period in the development and education of students. Middle Level school shall implement specific practices to effectively meet the unique needs of young adolescents. The Department of Education shall ensure that middle level schools address the physical, social, and emotional developmental needs of young adolescents and set high expectations for academic achievement through incorporation of the following criteria based on National Middle School Association (NMSA) characteristics of developmentally responsive middle level schools.
A challenging standards-based curriculum
Small communities of learners through inter-disciplinary teaming of students and teachers
Exploratory and co-curriculum programs
Varied instructional strategies and flexible use of instructional time
Caring school staff in a nurturing environment
Promotion Policy
Highlands Intermediate School's promotion policy requires students to pass all courses in order to be promoted to the next grade level.