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Quick Answer for Busy Parents
Flintridge Prep’s middle school covers grades 7 and 8 only — the school doesn’t enroll 6th graders. Class sizes run small (around 8 students on average), with core academics in English, math, science, and history alongside required arts, technology, and PE electives. World language study begins in 8th grade, and every middle schooler completes a hands-on design-thinking project each year, culminating in the school’s STEAM & Service Fair.
What Grades Are in Flintridge Prep’s Middle School
One detail worth clearing up before anything else: Flintridge Prep’s middle school is two years, not three. The school enrolls students starting in 7th grade, so families researching a 6th-grade placement should know that’s not an entry point here — 7th and 9th grade are the school’s two primary admission years.
7th Grade: Building Foundations
Seventh graders take two separate English courses each day: English 7 and Writing 7, designed to build verbal fluency and analytical reading skills in tandem rather than folding writing instruction into a single English block. Math moves from pre-algebra toward geometry, and science leans heavily on hands-on experiments rather than lecture. Seventh grade is also when students take Flintridge Prep’s design-thinking course, working through 3D printing, laser cutting, robotics, and woodworking projects.
8th Grade: Expanding Independence
Eighth grade introduces two things that mark the shift toward high school: world language study (students choose from French, Latin, Mandarin, or Spanish) and greater independence in project-based work. Academic expectations step up, and students take on more self-directed research and writing as preparation for the upper school curriculum.
Core Academics and How They’re Taught
Across both middle school grades, English, mathematics, science, and history form the academic core, taught with an emphasis on critical thinking rather than memorization. Class sizes are notably small, averaging around 8 students, well below what most middle schoolers experience at larger schools — which means teachers can adjust pacing for individual students rather than teaching to the middle of the room.
| Middle School Snapshot | Detail |
| Grades enrolled | 7 and 8 only |
| Average class size | ~8 students |
| Student-teacher ratio (schoolwide) | ~7:1 |
| World language start | 8th grade |
| Core subjects | English, math, science, history |
| Signature project | STEAM & Service Fair |
Weighing whether Flintridge Prep is the right middle school fit? Cardinal Education’s admissions consultants work with 7th and 9th grade applicant families throughout the Flintridge Prep process, from building a strong application to interview preparation. Schedule a consultation to talk through your timeline.
Electives, Design Thinking, and the STEAM & Service Fair
Middle schoolers round out their schedule with electives in visual and performing arts, technology, and physical education, giving students early exposure to disciplines they might not otherwise try before high school. The standout piece of the middle school program, though, is its interdisciplinary STEAM & Service Fair: 7th graders build and present original design-thinking projects, while 8th graders design and carry out Community Impact Projects — a structured first attempt at applying classroom skills to a real-world problem.
This project-based approach extends into the school’s Makerspace, open throughout the day for students working on independent builds, and gives middle schoolers a running start on the kind of hands-on STEAM work that becomes more prominent — including robotics and the school’s on-campus science research — once they reach the upper school.
Advisory, Social-Emotional Support, and the Move to Upper School
Flintridge Prep treats the middle school years as a distinct developmental stage, not just a scaled-down version of high school. Advisory periods, clubs, and community service projects are built into the schedule specifically to support collaboration, leadership, and emotional development alongside academics. The goal, according to the school, is for students to leave 8th grade with both the academic footing and the resilience to handle the jump into a more independent, elective-heavy upper school schedule.
Is Flintridge Prep’s Middle School Right for Your Child?
Flintridge Prep’s middle school suits students who do well with small classes and hands-on, project-based work — kids who’d rather build something for the STEAM Fair than sit through a lecture. It’s a more intimate environment than many alternatives in the area, which is worth weighing against your child’s temperament: some students thrive in that closeness, while others may prefer a larger middle school cohort.
If Flintridge Prep looks like a fit, the application itself is competitive at both the 7th and 9th grade entry points. Cardinal Education’s consultants have worked with Flintridge Prep applicant families for years and can help you build a timeline that starts well before the January application deadline. Get in touch to talk through your family’s next steps.
Related Articles:
How to Get Into Flintridge Preparatory School: A Complete Admissions Guide for Parents — the full School Profile, covering admissions requirements, application events, and notable alumni.
Upper School Academic Excellence at Flintridge Prep — what changes academically once students move from 8th into 9th grade.
How to Succeed in the Flintridge Prep Admissions Interview
Flintridge Prep Application Checklist: Key Steps to Apply Successfully