Rising 6th & 9th Graders

 Middle school counselors will visit elementary schools in the spring to give students information about middle school and course selection. Information regarding 6th grade course selection will come through your 5th grade class. Each middle school is a little different but you can expect your child to have the core academic subjects (math, social studies, language arts, reading, and science) as well as several elective options. 

•  Please see the Spring 2026 Middle School Transition table for additional information. 

In May, there will be a transition event at the school you will be attending. We want you to know that although students may experience some worries around the transition, they do an amazing job at becoming a part of their new school community. 

Additionally, on the first day of school, 8th grade 360 student leaders are there for your student, to welcome them and show them the ropes. Sixth grade teachers are skilled at acclimating students to their new schedules, and how to navigate middle school. Counselors are also there to support concerns, worries, and apprehensive moments. See the Parent Tips For Middle School Success tab for some tips that we hope will be of support to you.

In March, 5th Grade math teachers will make a recommendation regarding the 6th Grade math class that would best meet your child’s needs. They will share that recommendation  with the middle school. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher. This Math Pathways Flowchart explains the possible course sequences. In short, the traditional 6th grade class deeply covers all 6th grade skills. There is also an option to add an additional layer of math support to help teach concepts your child may have struggled with in the past. Finally, there is an Advanced 1 class which covers a year and a half of skills in 6th grade. Learn more on the Mathematics page of the BVSD website.

If you are on a Choice Enrollment waitlist for a middle school, you will want to attend the transition events for your “home” middle school. If your student is on the waitlist, they will only be able to register for classes at the middle school they are currently enrolled in. If you are taken off the waitlist, the new middle school will reach out to you directly regarding course selection.

For children going into middle school, there can be anxieties, and apprehensions to deal with and overcome. Middle schools are larger than elementary schools, the school work can be more challenging,  there are more classes and more teachers – all with different expectations and personalities. If you have a child who is entering middle school for the first time, know that it is normal for your child to express concern.

1. Don't be too anxious about your child going to middle school.

• Talk about the middle school experience in a positive way! Your enthusiasm and support can help make this BIG change in your child's school life a positive one.

2. Help your child develop an organizational strategy.

• Designate a study space and set a consistent study time
• Provide your child the necessary folders and binders to stay organized (let us know if you need help)
• Conduct a weekly clean-up of binders and/or locker
• Keep a master calendar
• Prepare for the week/day ahead
• Provide help and support while your child is learning to become more organized

3. Utilize your Middle School's resources:

• Explore your school’s teacher and grade level websites with your child
• In lieu of the Friday Folder, many schools have grade level webpages to keep you up to date about important events and assignments. 
• You can access Infinite Campus to check grades and progress. There are MANY other links to important information and updates on the homepage of your school’s website 

4. Read over the summer. Anything is better than nothing! 

5. Talk about social skills.

• Talk about traits that make a good friend. Discuss how words and actions can affect other people. Practice skills needed for difficult social situations.

6. Openly communicate with your child.

• Keep the lines of communication open between your child and school staff. Be informed, listen, and talk to your child.

7. Get involved as a parent.

• Attend parent-teacher nights, open houses, PTO meetings and/or other events where you can connect with your child's teachers and the school.

8. Encourage your child to get involved in school activities!

• Have them join a team, club, or other extra-curricular activity and attend after-school events.

9. Help your child to be his or her own advocate.

• Encourage your child to discuss problems and solutions with teachers on their own, but be ready to help as needed.

10. Attend these events that your school is hosting.

We are here to support you through this exciting transition, please do not hesitate to reach out to elementary school teachers or counselors with any questions. 

First things first, please take a moment to review the slide presentation below to learn about some important high school information, including credits and graduation requirements.  High School counselors will do an initial visit to all district middle schools to present information to assist 8th graders with the transition to high school, picking classes, and to answer any questions they might have. High School 101 Presentation

In early February, high schools will be hosting their rising 9th grader evenings and/or pushing out presentations to families. It is important for you to attend these events to learn about specific course offerings, extracurricular activities, etc. and hear about how and when to register for classes. See the Spring 2026 High School Transition table linked here for further information on event dates and important links; there may be minor changes to these links, so double check as the important dates come up! High school websites will also have up-to-date information.  

Your student will be responsible for completing their course selection through their Infinite Campus account. High School counselors will be visiting 8th graders for a second time in February or March to assist students in inputting course requests into IC for high school, and to answer any questions. 

• During the next several weeks, we highly recommend that you attend or view your high school’s transition presentation for specifics on course offerings, number of courses to select, electives, course sequences, and course descriptions.

• If you would like to see a full list of course offerings, course catalogs are available on each high school website. 

During course selection, your student can sign up for an advanced class(es).  Your student should correspond with their current 8th grade teachers to find out if an advanced class is recommended. Math teachers will be making recommendations about which class your student should take. If you have any questions about math classes, please contact their teacher. 

If you are on the Choice Enrollment  waitlist for a high school, you will want to attend the transition events for your “home” high school. If your student is on the waitlist, they will only be able to register for classes at the high school they are currently enrolled in. Please refer to high school websites for specific details regarding these events. If you are taken off the waitlist, the new high school will reach out to you directly. We are here to support you through this exciting transition. Please do not hesitate to reach to your Middle School Counselors with any questions.