Benefits of a Preschool-8 Education

School systems across the country are discovering what we’ve known at Langley for years… preschool through eighth-grade schools provide the ideal emotional, social, and academic setting for a successful transition to high school and beyond. As reported in the August 8, 2005, issue of Time magazine, major cities like Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and Baltimore have realized the benefits of a preschool– 8 education and are rapidly expanding the numbers of these schools in their districts.

So why should Middle School students attend a school with four-year-olds down the hall? It’s precisely this relationship between the oldest and youngest students that makes the educational experience at Langley so special. Just take a look at our “Little Buddies” program that pairs eighth-graders with kindergartners. The little ones look up to their big buddies as role models, giving the eighth-graders a sense of confidence, responsibility, and maturity they would not find at a high school full of older students. In addition, the presence of younger students keeps our Middle Schoolers grounded and focused on academics instead of drugs, alcohol, and the social ladder.

In their role as the leaders of the school, Langley Middle School students run the student government, put together the yearbook, star in drama productions, and participate in a variety of sports, giving them much-needed confidence and leadership opportunities at a time when they are going through physical and emotional changes. As UCLA psychologist Jaana Juvonen says in the Time article, “Research suggests that the onset of puberty is an especially poor reason for beginning a new phase of schooling….It is a very fragile period.” Why place preteens into an unfamiliar high school setting at such a critical time in their development when they could shine and mature as the leaders of a pre-K through eighth-grade school?

While Middle School programs in high schools are often given fewer resources and less attention, we showcase our Middle School program as the culmination of the Langley experience. With faculty who are truly dedicated to grades 6-8, the program is geared toward the needs of the students and gives them the opportunity to explore a variety of subjects. In fact, many of our students find their passion for sports, science, music, or another area while in Middle School because the familiar environment allows them to embrace new activities and ideas.

Eighth-graders who graduate from Langley enter high school as self-assured, confident freshmen who are ready to face the academic and social challenges ahead.