Middle School
Inspiring character, confidence and creativity.
The TFS middle school welcomes our adolescent learners into a culture crafted to support academic curiosity, emotional energy, crazy creativity, and ongoing growth.
Small class sizes at the TFS middle school provide teachers and students with space to discover together. Our students take on challenges because they trust their teachers can support them.
Students learn in a collaborative and engaging environment as they are immersed in stories, experiences, and real-world scenarios. Their creative juices flow in art classes, drama productions, and musical performances.
Opportunities for teamwork, building confidence, and developing leadership skills abound in clubs, fine arts, athletics, and our character development program. TFS teachers, counselors, coaches, and administrators are dedicated to ensuring that our middle schoolers are supported and encouraged as they move toward future independence.
ACADEMICS
In middle school, students begin to think like scientists, historians, writers and mathematicians.
They build confidence in speaking and writing while growing in independence and creativity. Through inquiry, experimentation, and analysis, they become critical thinkers and global citizens, ready to shape their future.
Our passionate teachers guide this growth by sharing specialized knowledge and nurturing curiosity. This engaging, college-preparatory approach empowers students with the confidence and courage to pursue academic success and meaningful exploration.
Our middle school curriculum is thoughtfully designed to build a strong academic foundation while preparing students for the rigor of upper school.
- Sixth-grade students explore math, earth science, language arts, and Georgia/US history.
- Seventh graders dive into life science, world history, language arts, and either math or pre-algebra.
- Eighth-grade students transition into a modified upper school schedule with rotating classes, offering a more advanced academic experience. They study physical science, social studies, language arts, and choose between pre-algebra or honors Algebra I.
(High school credit is available for both physical science and honors Algebra I, giving motivated students a head start on their academic journey.)
“The individualized attention, Tallulah is student-centered. Each one of my kids has had a teacher, coach, or mentor advocating for them and bringing them to life.” Middle School Parent
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Our middle school students participate in multiple interactive and experiential learning field trips. These experiences provide students with genuine connections to one another and an awareness of cultures and worlds beyond their community. Trips include visits to museums, zoos, lakes, farms, and the beautiful Northeast Georgia mountains right in our backyard. Every January, the entire middle school spends a day skiing on the slopes at Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley, NC.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
We don’t just talk about character, we live it! Our mission is to thrive in life by elevating character and intellect! The two go hand in hand. Character development starts at the lower school with the Tallulah 12 and our house system, which begins in fourth grade and continues through graduation. The Tallulah 12 is a set of guiding principles that inspire character, confidence, and commitment. Houses bring students into the school community through collaborative projects and friendly competition.
Incoming fourth graders and new students are inducted into a house - the Owls, Ravens, Wolves, or Hornets. As students build relationships across grade levels, they foster a sense of community, establish social connections, and take on leadership opportunities.
FACILITIES: WHERE WE LEARN
The Lucy A. Willard Academic Complex features state-of-the-art classrooms, a student activity center, an outdoor classroom, green space for recess, forest trails, and a pond for habitat observation and exploration. Students regularly participate in aquatic activities in our natatorium. In addition, we have access to the Northeast Georgia mountains right out our backdoor for kayaking, swimming, hiking, fishing, and more!
EXPLORATORIES AND FINE ARTS
As our middle schoolers fine-tune their creative pursuits, we find ways to engage their curious minds.
Every nine weeks, they rotate through various courses, including art, music, chorus, digital art, yearbook, and drama. This is a favorite time of day for students as they explore activities that pique their interests.
Students perform in concerts and plays throughout the year. Seventh graders put on a fabulous show at the spring madrigal – an interactive medieval dinner theater. Students participate in multiple ways, including building puppets, creating costumes, designing the set, acting, singing, sword fighting, and dancing.
Seventh and eighth-grade students enjoy opportunities to explore their interests through a variety of elective and exploratory classes. They can choose from engaging options such as choir, instrumental music, performance drama, TOME, and art studio. In addition, they rotate through a range of enriching disciplines, including stagecraft, visual art, Spanish, media production, physical education, and graphic design.
Eighth-grade students have the added opportunity to apply for the middle school yearbook staff and may take Spanish for high school credit.
COUNSELING & ACADEMIC RESOURCE CENTER
We work closely with students and their families to support them as they transition from the lower to the middle school.
We work closely with students and their families to support them as they transition from the lower to the middle school.
Counselors provide a range of student learning and behavioral services. Counselors support all students in developing academic achievement strategies, promoting emotional growth, managing interpersonal skills, and planning for postsecondary options.
We achieve this collaboratively through individual and small-group counseling, classroom guidance, grade-level meetings, and various learning activities based on the Tallulah 12. These activities are designed to teach self-awareness, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, social awareness, and self-management.
The school counselor provides bi-weekly school counseling/classroom guidance lessons with fun, interactive activities to help teach essential life skills.
- Screenings, provider referral, and interpretation of psycho-educational testing
- 1:1 private tutoring on campus (additional cost)
- Occupational Therapy space for private providers
- Coaching and classroom support
JOIN THE ACTION
Our students have endless opportunities to get involved, explore their passions, and make their mark!
SWIMMING OPPORTUNITIES
By providing all of our students with the basics of swimming through the American Red Cross Learn to Swim program, we can springboard into fun and exciting aquatic activities like water polo, snorkeling instruction, aquatic-based PE classes, and if they so choose, competitive swimming. Additionally, the benefits of proficient swimming and water safety last a lifetime.
TECHNOLOGY
From online educational games to immersive virtual reality, TFS students have access to a wide range of technological resources, including interactive boards in every classroom, a 1:1 laptop program, Z-Space labs, virtual reality, campus-wide internet access, computing classes, and IT support.
MIDDLE SCHOOL TRIPS AND ACTIVITIES
Our middle school students expand their learning beyond the classroom through dynamic experiential opportunities— team building adventures, hiking mountain trails, boating local waters, attending live theatrical performances, and exploring culturally rich destinations. Some explorations have included the following:
- 6th Grade - Georgia Zoo, Young Harris Planetarium, Fernbank Museum, snow tubing, Smithgall Woods
- 7th Grade - Biltmore House Egypt exhibit, A Christmas Carol, iFly, Medieval Times, High Museum of Art, ski trip
- 8th Grade - Tellus Museum, Georgia Supreme Court/State Capitol Tour, white water rafting, ski trip
MIDDLE SCHOOL CLUBS
Our middle school students have additional opportunities to participate in on-campus clubs, where they can explore their passions in a fun and engaging environment, continuing to build their curiosity, creativity, and courage. Clubs vary based on student interest.
- Tome Society (Literary Club)
- Science Olympiad
- Water polo and synchronized swimming clubs
MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS
Beginning in the sixth grade, middle school students can compete on school athletic teams.
Our sports programs provide multiple opportunities to develop confidence, competence, and leadership skills. Baseball
- Basketball
- Bass Fishing
- Cheer
- Cross Country
- Equestrian
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swim
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball