Many school districts across the country are returning to kindergarten through eighth grade programs. The Beaverton School District is committed to establishing a K-8 school in each quarter of the district, and Springville is the third K-8 school. The two other Beaverton K-8 schools are Aloha-Huber Park and Raleigh Hills. While research indicates that a variety of structures can be successful for middle level education, K-8 schools in Beaverton provide another choice besides the large neighborhood middle schools.

K-8 schools offer several unique opportunities for students in sixth through eighth grades:

• A smaller learning environment. Some students feel lost or disconnected in large middle schools. Smaller environments can provide a stronger sense of belonging and connection with staff and other students in the school.
• A proactive structure to meet the social developmental needs of middle schoolers. The early adolescent years are characterized by a strong need to be accepted by peers and to be viewed as "cool" by friends. Although this is a normal developmental stage, this need for acceptance can lead to inappropriate behavior, such as impressing friends by making fun of other students, violating school rules, or behaviors that risk health. K-8 schools can meet this social need by offering a special role in the school – becoming models to younger students and leaders within the school. Service projects within the school and community provide opportunities to develop self-esteem and leadership skills.

Emerging research regarding K-8 schools indicates that students in these schools:

• Demonstrate greater leadership skills
• Are less likely to be bullied
• Receive fewer referrals for inappropriate behavior
• Achieve at least as high as students in traditional 6-8 middle schools

Springville will also focus on another way to offer unique experiences to 6th, 7th and 8th graders – an inquiry-based learning approach called Expeditionary Learning. This approach focuses on high level thinking within social studies and science themes. These big themes connect learning experiences and include the development of high quality products which have a purpose in the school or community. For more information about Expeditionary Learning, go to "Educational Approach" on this website.