I have loved my first year as a MacDuffie Middle School student, and I have felt welcomed since Day 1. From the wide variety of sports and clubs, to the very active arts department, as well as many opportunities to get involved in musicals and plays, there are many ways to get involved after the school day ends. There are many options for food every day, as well as a salad bar and many other options. I feel challenged, but not pushed too far beyond my limit, and I always feel as though I can ask any of the teachers for help, and there is even a designated time after school for if you need help in a class. Since MacDuffie is an international school, I have learned so much about other cultures just this year, and I can't wait to learn more in the future. I would very highly recommend it to anyone interested in going.
Middle School student, 2023, Niche.com
The MacDuffie Middle School provides a coeducational day and boarding program for grades 6 through 8. Our school embraces and respects cultural diversity while recognizing our shared humanity.
The Middle School curriculum includes English, History, Science, Math, Language, Physical Education, and the Arts. One of the benefits of being a middle school student at MacDuffie is our connection to the Upper School. Students accelerated in a subject may be placed in an upper-level class or receive differential instruction at their level.
Our faculty and staff are committed to helping students achieve academic success as well as to encourage them to advance their interests in athletics, the arts, leadership, and community service. Our small school and small class sizes allow students and teachers to connect personally and intellectually in a warm, supportive environment. Each student is paired with a faculty or staff member who serves in an advisory capacity. The advisor meets weekly with students in a small group setting. The strength of our advisor programs lies in its emphasis on The MacDuffie School’s CIRCLE values of Community, Integrity, Respect, Leadership, and Excellence.
The Middle School has a series of signature events that further define the student experience: the team-building Middle School Excursion, Classics Day (off-campus workshops and competitions hosted by the Pioneer Valley Classics Association), the Orienteering Trip (a 7th-grade rite of passage involving navigation on Northfield Mountain), the Court House trip (which ties into civics coursework), the all-school Science Expo, the Town Hall Meeting (debate on social issues), 8th Grade Project (semester-long project on a social issue), the Egg Drop and Rocket Launch to put science skills to the test, and Exam Time Enrichment (activities for 6th and 7th grade during exam week).
We maintain the MacDuffie mission of fostering high ethical standards, intellectual habits of mind, and an appreciation for diversity and offer a supportive community of learning for each child to cultivate.