Middle School FAQs

We have 1,236 students in our JK-12 community, and 60 percent of our students join MICDS in Middle School. We have 405 students in our Middle School with entry points in 5th and 6th grades, and our biggest entry point is in 7th grade. In a typical year, there are 15 to 18 students in each classroom.

MICDS has a diverse, welcoming community. Here are some quick facts:

• 43% of our students identify as students of color
• Over 70 zip codes are represented in our student body
• 27% of our students are supported by more than $7.4 million in need-based tuition assistance
• School-wide, new students this year came from over 109 schools in the metro area and around the world

We have a significant number of students who are alumni of Andrews Academy, Central Christian School, City Academy, Community School, Forsyth School, New City School, Rohan Woods School, Rossman School, Wilson School, and a number of public and parochial schools in the area.

Our community is intentionally diverse. We practice different faiths, are ideologically and racially diverse, learn differently, and hail from homes around this city and the world. What unites us is a common belief in the call to action of our Mission Statement: to embrace all of the world’s people with compassion, to stand for what is good and right, and to lead lives of purpose and service.

One of the top three reasons current parents love MICDS is our best-in-class faculty. More than 76 percent hold advanced degrees. Faculty teach their passion and expertise, as well as sponsor student activities. Serving as advisors and coaches, teachers get to know students both in and out of the classroom. Our Middle School teachers are experts at the developmental needs of kids at this age, and they love teaching Middle School! Teachers develop deep, trusting relationships with their students and ensure all children are engaging in meaningful academic, social, emotional, and physical growth in their Middle School years.

At the Eighth Grade Celebration ceremony in May 2025, Emma Oesch ‘29 shared a lot of gratitude for the teachers and staff at MICDS. “Thank you to all the adults who have dedicated countless hours of their time making sure that we have the highest possibility of succeeding in high school, college, and the rest of our lives. Whether that was teachers staying after school or getting there early in the morning to help you on an assignment…every student sitting here is grateful for you.”

Soham Gadi ‘29 shared at the Eighth Grade Celebration a bit about the teachers too. “Whether it was learning to get my thoughts down quickly in Ms. Caufield’s English class, diving deep into spider web discussions in Dr. Miller’s class, or breaking a glass jar in Dr. Sonty’s Winter Term class, each teacher helped us learn and grow from our mistakes,” he said.

Middle School students experience physical education every day, during which they learn the skills of many traditional and nontraditional sports. Students are taught and experience first-hand the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle.

Our athletics program offers 21 sports teams for 6th through 8th graders. Student-athletes enjoy state-of-the-art facilities and outstanding coaching—over half of our head coaches are also faculty members.

Over the last 10 years, our athletic teams (school-wide) have claimed 74 state championships in 15 different sports. But winning is just part of the experience for our student-athletes. Our coaches focus on instilling values in our student-athletes that they’ll carry their entire lives: leadership, empowerment, and teamwork.

MICDS offers a true Middle School experience within a Junior Kindergarten (age 4) to 12th-grade community. Grades 5-8 are housed together on one end of campus, offering a developmentally-appropriate program academically and socially.

In our Middle School, students have leadership opportunities immediately through student council, activity clubs, and athletics. Our teachers are experts at teaching middle schoolers and fully participate in the vibrant, fun, and often messy life of the school. By the time our students complete eighth grade, they are ready to spread their wings on the Upper School campus with the confidence and compassion gained during their Middle School years.

Middle School students experience physical education every day, during which they learn the skills of many traditional and nontraditional sports. Students are taught and experience first-hand the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle.

Our athletics program offers 21 sports teams for 6th through 8th graders. Student-athletes enjoy state-of-the-art facilities and outstanding coaching—over half of our head coaches are also faculty members.

Over the last 10 years, our athletic teams (school-wide) have claimed 74 state championships in 15 different sports. But winning is just part of the experience for our student-athletes. Our coaches focus on instilling values in our student-athletes that they’ll carry their entire lives: leadership, empowerment, and teamwork.

Tuition for grades 5-6 is $31,460 and grades 7-12 is $37,090. Many of the costs associated with attending MICDS are included in tuition, such as lunch, laptop and fees, after-school snacks, field trips, and the Summer Bridge orientation program for new students.

We have a significant tuition assistance budget at MICDS. Schoolwide, we award over $7.4 million of need-based tuition assistance each year to families. About 27% of our students receive some amount of financial support. The average award for grades 7-12 this year is $23,500.

Additional costs beyond tuition can range from $300 to $1,500, depending on the student’s grade and interests. Those receiving tuition assistance also receive assistance with costs essential to full participation in the MICDS community.

We have an honor code at all levels of MICDS. In the Middle School, the Honor Code reads, “I will live by the principles of Trust, Respect, Responsibility, and Honor as a student at MICDS.” This is ingrained in our community as the guiding expectation of conduct. As Middle School educators, we seek to develop in each of our students a sense of personal honor and an appreciation of their rights and responsibilities as members of our school community.

As an extension of the School’s Mission and our Middle School Honor Code, we have created student-friendly language that speaks to our expectations and ideals for how to be our best selves. Recognizing that each of us has a role in shaping our school culture and community, we commit to LEAD each and every day.

• Learn with curiosity and joy
• Embrace challenge
• Advocate for self and community
• Demonstrate collaboration and teamwork

The goal is to establish a healthy community in which all students feel welcome and included, and that our Middle School is a safe and supportive place for all.

At MICDS, college counseling begins in the ninth grade. Through our unique, four-year program, students recognize their strengths and goals—ultimately choosing paths that meet their personal criteria and will provide a challenging environment for them to flourish after high school. It is our philosophy that strong communication among students, parents, and college counselors lies at the heart of a meaningful and successful college application process.

Our Class of 2025 graduates matriculated to excellent and highly competitive programs at 87 schools in 32 different states as well as Washington, DC, and Rome, Italy. Sixteen student-athletes are continuing their athletic careers at impressive colleges and universities.

MICDS alumni from the past several classes are attending some of the most selective institutions in the country, including Harvard, Stanford, Brown, Columbia University, Vanderbilt University, Dartmouth College, Cornell University, University of Southern California, Carnegie Mellon University, Georgetown University, United States Air Force Academy, United States Military Academy, University of California – Berkeley, University of California – Los Angeles, Washington University, and Yale.

MICDS has a vibrant and active parent body. Our Parents Association offers all MICDS parents and guardians numerous ways to engage in our community, including through educational speakers, cultural events, book clubs, social gatherings, and volunteer opportunities. Most importantly, we collaborate with our parents through our Parent-School Partnership, a formal commitment between families and the School to embrace the tenets of our Mission Statement as we work together to support the growth of our students.

With so many new students joining our Middle School, we are experts at transitions. We offer a Summer Bridge program for students new to grades 5-8 that includes orientation, a preview of our academic expectations and procedures, and the opportunity to begin building relationships with MICDS students and teachers. 

Each grade level also starts the year with orientation, team-building activities, and advisory lunches to ensure kids are connected and comfortable before diving into their academic work. 

With so many new students joining our Middle School, we are experts at transitions. We offer a Summer Bridge program for students new to grades 5-8 that includes orientation, a preview of our academic expectations and procedures, and the opportunity to begin building relationships with MICDS students and teachers. 

Each grade level also starts the year with orientation, team-building activities, and advisory lunches to ensure kids are connected and comfortable before diving into their academic work. 

We are a wireless campus with a one-to-one tablet laptop program for grades 5-12. All Middle School students receive a tablet laptop as new students, along with ongoing guidance on how to use this important resource effectively and responsibly, ensuring that they graduate as good digital citizens with the tools and resources they need for success in college and beyond.

Our teachers understand technology is a powerful tool that, when used responsibly, facilitates the development of a rigorous, engaging, and innovative curriculum. Technology allows our teachers to differentiate, be creative, use real-world data, test complex models, and deliver a 21st-century education.

Soham Gadi ‘29 reflected on his Middle School experience at the 2025 Eighth Grade Celebration, saying, “It feels just like yesterday we were all nervously walking into those first days of school, wondering if we’d fit in or if we’d survive the massive homework load. When I think of middle school, I think of the people: our classmates, teachers, and all the shared experiences that brought us as a class closer. And now, as I reflect on my middle school journey from fifth grade to eighth grade, one word keeps coming to mind: community.

“One of the best parts of being in such a diverse and thoughtful community is seeing different perspectives. I met classmates who challenged the way I thought, who showed me new ways to solve problems. In fact, one of the most important lessons I’ve learned during middle school is that it’s okay not to have all the answers—and that there’s so much to gain by learning from people who know more than you. Whether it was a classmate, a teacher, or even a friend, some of my biggest growth came from simply listening and being open to new ideas.”

Last year, Lydia Brown ’28 commented about the Middle School community at the celebration too. “We are a diverse blend of talents, cultures, and backgrounds, a testament to our resilience and growth,” she stated. “We are students, athletes, musicians, singers, dancers, actors, leaders, and, most importantly, friends. Each of us brings our strengths to the table, and we are always cheering each other on, pushing one another to achieve more and be our best. This mutual respect runs deep, forming an unbreakable and resilient bond. I am so proud of all we have been through and where we stand today. I am confident that each and every one of us possesses the potential to achieve remarkable things, and I am filled with anticipation for the accomplishments that await us in the years to come.”

As you have more questions, please contact Kerry Bryan, the Associate Director of Admission – MICDS Middle School. Her contact information is below:

• kbryan@micds.org
• 314.995.7368

Additionally, our entire Admission team is delighted to help answer any questions. Meet the whole Admission team here.

Best wishes for your search!