Grade Level Information Hub

At Westborough Middle School, we are committed to providing a well-rounded education that empowers every student to learn, thrive, and make a positive impact in their community and beyond. Our programs and curriculum are designed to help students confidently navigate the middle school years while building the academic, social, and personal skills needed for success in high school and future opportunities. Here, you will find curriculum details and resources for each grade level—6th, 7th, and 8th—as well as the programs and experiences that support every student’s growth and achievement.

6th Grade

6th graders take a core curriculum of English language arts (ELA), math, social studies, science, and physical education (PE).

English Language Arts (ELA) 6

6th grade ELA builds students' skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening, grammar, spelling, and vocabulary. Students read and analyze a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts, and practice writing in multiple forms, including argument, informational, and narrative writing.
SSFUSD uses StudySync from McGraw Hill as our adopted curriculum for middle school ELA/ELD.

Math 6

6th grade math deepens students' number sense as they work with ratios and proportional relationships, fractions, decimals, and positive and negative numbers. Students also begin exploring expressions and equations, geometry concepts such as area and volume, and an introduction to statistics and data analysis.
SSFUSD uses Illustrative Mathematics (IM) from Imagine Learning as our adopted curriculum for middle school math.

Math Pathways

6th grade students are placed into one of two math pathways:

Core (grade-level) Mathematics: This is the typical math pathway for middle school students. It includes Math 6, Math 7, and Math 8, then Algebra when students enter high school in 9th grade.
Advanced Pathway: Students enter the advanced math pathway through a combination of summative state test (CAASPP) scores, prior grades, SSFUSD benchmark testing scores, and teacher recommendations. The advanced pathway for middle school students includes Math 6, Advanced Math 7, and Algebra 8, then Geometry when students enter high school in 9th grade.

If you are interested in knowing more, please contact your student's math teacher and/or school counselor.

Social Studies 6

Social studies instruction is based on the California History-Social Science Content Standards.
6th grade social studies introduces students to geography and world civilizations, from early humans and Mesopotamia through ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, with many opportunities for interdisciplinary projects that connect history, writing, technology, and the arts.
SSFUSD uses IMPACT from McGraw-Hill as our adopted curriculum for middle school social studies.

Science 6

Science instruction is based on the California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS).
6th grade science focuses on Earth and space science, including Earth's systems and resources, weather and climate, oceanography, and how human activity shapes the natural world. Labs, hands-on activities, and projects help students think and work like scientists.
6th grade science also includes a health unit covering topics such as substance abuse prevention, family life, self-esteem, personal health, and decision-making skills.
SSFUSD uses Green Ninja as our adopted curriculum for middle school science.

7th Grade

7th graders build on the foundation from 6th grade, continuing their study of English language arts (ELA), math, social studies, science, and physical education (PE).

English Language Arts (ELA) 7

7th grade ELA expands students' skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening, grammar, and vocabulary. Students read and analyze a range of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, biography, and autobiography, with a focus on how authors develop theme, setting, character, and point of view. In writing, students practice crafting arguments, informational texts, and narratives, using evidence to support their ideas.
SSFUSD uses StudySync from McGraw-Hill as our adopted curriculum for middle school ELA.

Math 7

7th grade math extends students' understanding of ratios and proportional relationships, operations with rational numbers (including negative numbers and fractions), and algebraic expressions and equations. Students also explore geometry concepts such as scale and area of geometric figures, and apply statistics and probability to real-world problems.
SSFUSD uses Illustrative Mathematics (IM) from Imagine Learning as our adopted curriculum for middle school math.

Advanced Math 7

Advanced Math 7 covers all of the 7th grade math standards at an accelerated pace and also introduces key 8th-grade concepts, including proportional and linear relationships, functions, and an introduction to algebraic reasoning.
This course prepares students to take Algebra in 8th grade. Placement is determined by a combination of summative state test (CAASPP) scores, prior grades, SSFUSD benchmark scores, and teacher recommendations.
SSFUSD uses Illustrative Mathematics (IM) from Imagine Learning as our adopted curriculum for middle school math.
Classes meet daily for 83 minutes.

Social Studies 7

Social studies instruction is based on the California History-Social Science Content Standards.
7th grade social studies takes students on a journey through world history and geography: medieval and early modern times (approximately 300-1750 CE). Students explore civilizations and cultures across the globe, including medieval Europe, the Islamic world, China, Japan, Africa, and the civilizations of the Americas, and examine how geography, trade, religion, and ideas shaped these societies. Interdisciplinary projects connect history with reading, writing, technology, and the arts.
SSFUSD uses IMPACT from McGraw-Hill as our adopted curriculum for middle school social studies.

Science 7

7th grade science centers on life science, with students exploring cells and the building blocks of living things, how body systems interact, ecosystems and the flow of energy and matter, and how organisms grow and respond to their environment. Students also investigate how human activity affects biodiversity and ecosystems. Labs, hands-on activities, and projects help students develop scientific thinking and problem-solving skills.
7th grade science also includes a health unit covering topics such as substance abuse prevention, family life, self-esteem, personal health, and decision-making skills.
SSFUSD uses Green Ninja as our adopted curriculum for middle school science.

8th Grade

8th graders continue building on their middle school foundation as they prepare for the transition to high school, studying English language arts (ELA), math, social studies, science, and physical education (PE).

English Language Arts (ELA) 8

Program Overview

English Language Arts (ELA) instruction is based on the California Common Core State Standards.
8th grade ELA builds on prior years with an increased emphasis on analyzing complex literary and informational texts, including how authors use structure, point of view, and literary techniques to shape meaning. Students write well-developed arguments, informational essays, and narratives, and continue to strengthen their speaking, listening, grammar, and vocabulary skills.
SSFUSD uses StudySync from McGraw-Hill as our adopted curriculum for middle school ELA

ELA Pathways

8th grade students are placed into Core (grade-level) ELA: This is the typical pathway for 8th grade students.

Math 8

Mathematics instruction is based on the California Common Core State Standards.
8th grade math introduces students to linear relationships, functions, and the foundations of algebra, including solving equations and systems of equations. Students also explore geometry through transformations, the Pythagorean Theorem, and volume of three-dimensional figures, and work with statistics to analyze bivariate data.
SSFUSD uses Illustrative Mathematics (IM) from Imagine Learning as our adopted curriculum for middle school math

Algebra 8

Students in the advanced math pathway study linear, quadratic, and exponential functions; write and solve equations and inequalities; analyze and interpret data; and develop algebraic reasoning skills that prepare them for Geometry in 9th grade. Successful completion of this course earns high school math credit.
SSFUSD uses Illustrative Mathematics (IM) from Imagine Learning as our adopted curriculum for middle and high school math.

Social Studies 8 - U.S. History

8th grade social studies covers United States history and geography, spanning from the founding of the nation through Reconstruction. Students study the development of American democracy, westward expansion, the causes and consequences of the Civil War, and the Reconstruction era, while developing skills in reading primary sources, historical analysis, and evidence-based writing.
Students complete their study of United States history in 11th grade.
SSFUSD uses IMPACT from McGraw-Hill as our adopted curriculum for middle school social studies.

Science 8

8th grade science focuses on physical science, including the properties and interactions of matter, chemical reactions, forces and motion, and energy transfer. Students also explore waves and their applications in communication and technology, and examine how evolution explains the diversity of life on Earth. Labs, hands-on activities, and projects help students develop scientific thinking and problem-solving skills.
8th grade science also includes a health unit covering topics such as substance abuse prevention, family life, self-esteem, personal health, and decision-making skills.
SSFUSD uses Green Ninja as our adopted curriculum for middle school science.

Pathways

Westborough Middle School offers clear academic pathways to support every student’s growth and readiness for high school. These pathways are designed to meet students where they are, providing opportunities for enrichment, acceleration, and a strong academic foundation. Explore the sections below to learn more about how students progress through each grade level.

Mathematics

Mathematics

Our mathematics pathways are designed to build strong foundational skills while offering opportunities for acceleration based on student readiness. Students may follow a standard or accelerated path, allowing them to deepen their understanding and prepare for advanced coursework, including Algebra in middle school. Each pathway supports critical thinking, problem-solving, and long-term academic success.

English Language Development (ELD) 6-8

SSFUSD’s English Language Development (ELD) program supports multilingual learners in building the language skills needed to succeed in grade-level academic content. At the middle school level, students receive either a dedicated ELD class or embedded support within language arts. Instruction is delivered by credentialed teachers, and students are grouped by proficiency level to support language growth.

Designated English Language Development (D-ELD) provides daily, targeted instruction to help multilingual learners build social and academic English. Instruction is explicit, standards-based, and aligned to the California ELD Standards. Teachers are supported through ongoing professional development, including training in GLAD (Guided Language Acquisition Design) and California Reading & Literature Project's (CRLP) linguistically responsive instruction.

Curriculum
Assessment

Curriculum

Assessment

Promotion

An 8th grade student’s participation in Westborough’s end-of-the-year promotion activity and other 8th grade celebrations is dependent on each student's overall performance during the year. We want every student to finish strong and to celebrate all they have accomplished. 8th grade promotion is a milestone, and we look forward to recognizing each and every student. Our staff is committed to supporting all of our 8th graders in meeting the expectations outlined below.

Grades: By Progress Report 4, the student has a 1.5 GPA or higher and maintains this GPA or better until the end of the year.
Behavior: Consistently met the District Behavior (Handbook) and Site (PBIS) expectations and was not suspended from school for 3 or more days due to a Level 3 or 4 infraction, especially in the 3rd or 4th quarter of the school year.
- Safety Risk: Has not been deemed a safety risk due to his/her actions during the school year.

During the Spring semester, students who are struggling to meet the basic expectations outlined above will be placed on an improvement plan. Students who do not show improvement in the year-long academic requirements above by Progress Report 4 may lose their ability to participate in the Promotion activities and other end-of-the-year celebrations.

Improvement plan steps can include:

Assigning a teacher mentor
Weekly progress reports with parent/guardian signature
Required Homework Group/Academic Center until grades improve
Regular Attendance at the Academic Center

The final determination of eligibility will remain up to the 8th-grade team and the WMS Administration.

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