Hope Lutheran Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Middle school students in grades 6-8 experience rigorous academics within a Christ-centered environment. Our program challenges students intellectually while nurturing their faith and preparing them for high school success.
Our middle school students benefit from experienced teachers, small class sizes, and hands-on learning opportunities including unique STEM programs like our butterfly garden and beehive projects. Our graduates consistently score in the top 20-25% nationwide on standardized tests and transition smoothly to high school, with many qualifying for advanced placement and honors classes.
Rigorous Middle School Curriculum
Hope Lutheran School meets or exceeds Kansas State College Readiness Standards across all subject areas. We administer Kansas Assessments yearly to students in grades 6-8 and MAP (Measurement of Academic Progress) testing to track student growth throughout the year.
Students are encouraged to apply classroom concepts to real-world problems both individually and collaboratively. Independence, responsibility, and self-discipline are fostered while students develop strong organizational and study skills.
Reading & English
My Perspectives (Savvas) with several novels, Wordly Wise 3000, Grammar I and II (Abeka) for grades 7-8
Science
iEarth Science, iLife Science, and iPhysical Science (McGraw Hill)
Math
Rocket Math, MAP testing, Kansas State Assessments (KITE), Fundamentals / Foundations of Algebra (Sadlier), Algebra/Geometry (Glencoe) for grades 7-8
Social Studies
World History: Ancient Civilizations for 6th grade, Discovering World Geography for 7th grade, Discovering our Past: A History of the United States for 8th grade (McGraw Hill)
Spanish
Español Santillana (High School Level 1)
Religion
Enduring Faith (Concordia Publishing House)
Faith and Character Development
Lutheran schools serve as discipleship centers where students are reminded daily of God’s love through Jesus Christ. Our Christian teachers model God’s love and forgiveness while responding to His love through Christian living.
Middle school students develop specific virtues that equip them to become responsible, effective Christians for life.
Faith Formation Includes:
- Daily religion curriculum based on Scripture with application to students’ lives
- Weekly chapel services led by pastors, teachers, or classes
- Scripture memorization and regular prayer
- Celebration of Christmas and Easter with focus on their true meaning
- Service and caring projects in every class
- Teaching students to follow Jesus’ ways and share their faith with others
Hands-On STEM Excellence
Hope Lutheran School’s middle school STEM program provides unique, hands-on experiences that bring science and technology to life:
Butterfly Garden (Grades 6-7): Our certified monarch waystation gives students hands-on experience maintaining habitat for pollinators while learning about ecosystems and environmental stewardship.
Beehive Program (Grades 7-8): Students work with both indoor and outdoor beehives, learning about pollinators and their crucial role in our food system. The outdoor beehive provides direct experience working with live bees—students take turns wearing bee suits and working alongside our partner beekeeper during honey harvest. Students bottle and sell the honey, then donate half of the proceeds to charities they choose (past recipients include Paws for Autism and Braden’s Hope).
Technology Applications: Sixth through eighth graders learn to select the best digital tools for specific tasks, working with Canva for design, Google Sheets for budgets, Google Docs and Slides for presentations, and email for professional communication.
Partnerships:
- Local beekeeper partnership for hands-on apiculture experience
- Johnson County K-State Extension Master Gardener’s program volunteers
- Corn STEM partnership for agricultural education
Genius Hour: Students discover and develop personal interests through self-directed research and creative projects.
Academic Fair: Middle schoolers engage in extended research projects showcased at our end-of-year Academic Fair, demonstrating skills in inquiry, analysis, and presentation.
Electives Program
Students in seventh and eighth grades participate in an electives program that allows them to explore interests beyond core academics:
Spring Play: Middle school students participate as actors, stage hands, or both, learning theater production basics while enjoying Christian fellowship.
Visual Arts: The Visual Arts Program supports National and Kansas State Standards for Visual Arts. It includes weekly formal art instruction including drawing, painting, sculpture, graphic design, collage, and pottery using high-quality tools and materials.
Music Programs: Our music students perform at worship services, Grandparents Day, Veterans Day, Christmas programs, Crown Center, National Lutheran Schools Week, and Fine Arts Night.
- Band: Available for grades 6-8, for students with previous instruction or beginners
- Choir: Available for grades 6-7, directed by Mrs. Schkade (25+ years experience directing children’s and adult choirs). Students sing their praises to the Lord while learning music theory, vocabulary, and concepts.
Fall Sports:
- Boys Soccer
- Girls Volleyball
Winter Sports:
- Boys Basketball
- Girls Basketball
- Girls Cheerleading
Spring Sports:
- Coed Track
- Cross Country
Academic Competition:
- Math Club
- Student Council:
Small Classes, Expert Teachers
Middle school class sizes typically range from 15 to the low 20s, with a maximum of 25 students. This allows teachers to provide individualized attention and adapt instruction to each student’s needs.
Our Teachers:
- All core teachers are credentialed with the State of Kansas
- Most have Lutheran Teacher certification
- 75% hold Master’s degrees
- Average 20 years of teaching experience
- Many are active in local, regional, and national leadership roles
- 60% are members of Hope Lutheran Church, 40% are members of other Lutheran or Christian churches in the community
All teachers are strong believers in Jesus Christ who lead lives of active service to Him. They view their work as a calling and ministry to God’s children, not just a job to be filled.
Preparing for High School and Beyond
Hope Lutheran School’s middle school program culminates with an eighth grade class trip to Washington D.C., providing students with firsthand experience of American history and government.
High School Preparation: Our graduates report that high school is an easy transition. About half attend local public schools, and half enroll in Lutheran high schools in Kansas City, MO. Many qualify for advanced placement and honors classes, and some have been recognized as honor students. They score high on placement tests given at Lutheran high schools.
Test Performance: Students score in the top 20-25% of all schools nationwide on Kansas Assessments and MAP testing. We don’t teach to these tests—they provide a snapshot of student performance and valuable information about our curriculum and student progress.
Long-Term Impact: Graduates cite the faith building they received at Hope Lutheran as a significant influence on their lives. Several former students have now enrolled their own children at Hope Lutheran School.
Ready to see our middle school program in action? Schedule a tour or call us at (913) 631-6940.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What makes Hope Lutheran's elementary program unique?
Hope Lutheran combines rigorous academics that meet or exceed Kansas State standards with comprehensive Christian faith formation. Our unique STEM programs—including a certified monarch butterfly waystation and hands-on beekeeping where students actually work with live bees—provide experiential learning opportunities rarely found in middle schools. Students score in the top 20-25% nationwide on standardized tests while growing in their faith through daily religion classes and weekly chapel.
How does the electives program work?
Seventh and eighth grade students participate in an electives program that includes the Spring Play, advanced visual arts instruction, band, and choir. These electives allow students to explore interests beyond core academics while developing creative skills and discovering talents. The program helps students become well-rounded individuals prepared for high school and life beyond.
What STEM opportunities do middle schoolers have?
Middle school students maintain a certified monarch butterfly waystation (grades 6-7), work with indoor and outdoor beehives including hands-on honey harvesting (grades 7-8), participate in Genius Hour self-directed projects, and conduct extended research for our Academic Fair. They also learn to select appropriate digital tools for different tasks and benefit from partnerships with local beekeepers, K-State Extension Master Gardeners, and the Corn STEM program.
How does Hope Lutheran prepare students for high school?
Our rigorous curriculum exceeds Kansas State standards, and students score in the top 20-25% nationwide on standardized tests. Teachers with an average of 20 years experience (75% with Master’s degrees) provide individualized attention in small classes. The eighth grade Washington D.C. trip provides real-world learning. Graduates report easy transitions to high school, with many qualifying for advanced placement and honors classes in both public and Lutheran high schools.
What are the extracurricular options for middle school students?
Middle school students can participate in fall soccer and volleyball, winter basketball and cheerleading, spring track and cross country, Math Club with Mathletics competitions, Student Council, Chess Club, Lego Club, American Sign Language Club, Rocket League Esports team (grades 6-8), Scouting, band, choir, Spring Play, and visual arts. Extended field trips include the eighth grade Washington D.C. trip.
Can students from other faith backgrounds attend?
Yes! All families are welcome at Hope Lutheran School. Typically about 25% of students are members at Hope Lutheran Church, about 18% are not affiliated with a church, and the rest are members of other Christian congregations in the community. While we teach from a Lutheran Christian perspective and all students participate in religion classes and chapel, we welcome families who support our values and seek partnership with our school.