Academics
Grades 6–8 | Ages 11–14 | Where Purpose Meets Possibility
The middle school years are unlike any other. Students are discovering who they are, what they believe, and what kind of person they want to become. At AWS, we’ve built a Middle School experience that honours this extraordinary developmental stage.
Our Junior Scholars programme is designed not just to move students through content, but to shape thinkers, collaborators, communicators, and entrepreneurs who are ready for the rigour and independence of high school and beyond.
No two Junior Scholars follow exactly the same path. Our flexible approach allows students to revisit foundations or accelerate into deeper territory. Students demonstrating exceptional readiness may participate in high school level courses.
Mixed-age interactions create natural opportunities for collaboration and peer mentorship. Upper School students frequently lead academic discussions and mentor younger peers in clubs and activities.
Small class sizes, weekly advisory groups, and dedicated teacher relationships ensure every Junior Scholar feels supported, valued, and genuinely seen as they navigate these formative years.
Beyond academics — purposeful learning experiences
Our school day is rich enough that students aren’t spending evenings completing tasks. Learning is maximised. Burnout is minimised. Balance is the foundation of excellence.
Personal organisation, financial literacy, stress management, critical thinking, and interpersonal effectiveness — skills students will use every day for the rest of their lives.
Students design and deliver real service projects that benefit the school or wider Chennai community. Real projects, real stakeholders, real outcomes.
Small, stable groups of 8–10 students meeting with a dedicated advisor every week. Not administrative — relational. The anchor of each student’s experience.
Protected independent working time built into the school week. Students choose how to use their time purposefully, developing self-management and self-direction.
Each term, students choose from coding, entrepreneurship, photography, debate, environmental science, music production, graphic design, film-making, and more.
Rigorous American academics enriched by entrepreneurship and real-world application
From analysis to advocacy — sophisticated reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. By Grade 8, students write with clarity, persuasion, and genuine voice.
Building from strong foundations towards algebraic thinking, geometry, data analysis, and pre-calculus. Connected to real-world business and financial contexts.
Inquiry-based learning through hands-on experimentation. Investigating the living world, physical systems, earth and environmental sciences.
World history, geography, economics, civics, and current global issues. By Grade 8, students develop sophisticated perspectives on the world they are inheriting.
Spanish or Mandarin Chinese — with a focus on real communication, cultural understanding, and global awareness.
Typical day for a Junior Scholar
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Arrival & Morning Preparation |
| 8:30 AM | Advisory / Morning Check-In |
| 9:00 AM | English Language Arts / Humanities |
| 10:00 AM | Mathematics |
| 11:00 AM | Break & Outdoor Time |
| 11:20 AM | Science |
| 12:20 PM | Lunch & Social Time |
| 1:10 PM | Social Studies / World Languages |
| 2:10 PM | Applied Learning / Exploratory / Life Skills (rotating) |
| 3:00 PM | Goal Time / Independent Study |
| 3:30 PM | Dismissal / After-School Activities |
Where students discover who they are, what they believe, and what they’re capable of.