Academics

Middle School

The Stony Brook School Middle School curriculum stresses skill building in a nurturing environment that encourages self-discipline and imagination. This work prepares students for the rigors of our Upper School curriculum and the pace of a college preparatory education.

During the seventh grade year, a double period gives students a powerful grounding in English. This experience prepares them to read and assess literature with more sophistication and also gives them the foundation in grammar necessary to begin developing their own voice. Seventh graders also begin the study of the Bible that is woven throughout the School's curriculum.

During the eighth grade year, a cross-pollination of themes and skills used in English, social studies and Bible encourages critical thinking and introduces students to a multifaceted world with historical depth and spiritual complexity. Various forms of visual and dramatic arts are integrated into these classes. Students also begin the challenge of their foreign language sequence and are prepared in pre-algebra for the Upper School math sequence. The Middle School curriculum also prepares students with the foundational life science and earth science classes. Maturity and self-advocacy are emphasized throughout to help ensure that the student will enter high school with confidence and skill.

The commitment to small class size (average of 14 to 18 students) as well as the structured approach to personal organization, time management, and responsibility gives Middle School students the environment and skill to thrive on the road to college.

As students become excited about their own learning and growth, they are also encouraged to contribute to the larger community. The Stony Brook School prizes service to others, and the Middle School offers regular opportunities for community service.

Middle School students are also offered the opportunity to be assigned an Upper School mentor, usually a junior or senior. This mentor works with and encourages his/her younger counterpart, serving as an important role model as they prepare for entrance into the Upper School program.

Select a Department

Department

List of 5 news stories.

Office Hour Locations
9/5/2023
Course Add/Drop Form
8/27/2023
Dear Students,

If you would like to add/drop a course for this semester or year, please fill out the form below:

https://forms.gle/RnnRQQyHQi2C5Hin7
ABC News Article on SBS Students!
3/29/2023

Yesterday afternoon, Stacey Sager from ABC News joined our Engineering, Innovation, and Design class to learn more about an impressive project our students first hatched last summer. Newsday profiled the project on Saturday, which will be launched to the International Space Station in May. ABC News followed up with a feature that aired yesterday evening.
View the feature here.
Online Robotics Class
2/26/2023
Together with the Upper School FTC Robotics Team, working with other Long Island and NYC robotics teams, some students are putting together a robotics class on 3D modeling (CAD), programming, and mechanism building, aimed at middle and high schoolers in robotics programs and students interested in STEM in general.
Academic Updates
1/27/2023

Dear Students,
Here are a few updates from your Academic Prefect and Academic Council!

Academic Support
Would you like to meet with our new Academic Support Specialist Ms Duboski? She is available during your Office Hours times (and maybe a study hall or free period!) to meet with an go over study skills, edit an essay or assignment, do some time management, etc. Sign up for her Calendly times here.

Peer Tutoring
Need some help in a class? Fill out this Peer Tutoring form!

Academic Advising
Would you like to get a bonus of 8 points in Humanities 9? I have a chance for you to do so!

The Academic Office this year is aiming to provide individualized academic advising to each student as they consider their future courses at SBS. We are therefore meeting with each student in the 9th and 10th grades to talk through their course options for the next academic year and even through their senior year. This four year graduation plan will allow students to maximize their course selection and strategize how to make the most of their time at SBS.

Of course, your course selections are entirely adjustable and can be changed at any time in the future. We have also included some sample graduation plans based on other students and student-athletes, which you may find at the bottom tabs of the document.

Please find a link to this plan HERE and a link to the Course Catalog HERE

Please note that formal Course Registration will stay the same as in recent years, and students and families will register for these courses through our Portal system in April. Thank you!

You may find an appointment time with me at this link or you may drop by the Academic Office. For most students, this meeting will take 5-8 minutes. Thank you!

Internships and Publications
We will be posting a handful of excellent research and internship opportunities on this page throughout the year. Please find a running list of these internships at this link. Please contact the Academic Office to learn more.