Phoenixville Area School District

As part of our redistricting plan, all rising 6th grade students will attend their designated elementary school for the 2025–26 school year. This means there will some changes to the current 6th grade experience that many families are familiar with.

If after viewing the presentation or the other FAQs below, you still have questions, please use this form to submit those to us. We will continue to update our Frequently Asked Questions page with this information. 

 

Information Night Video

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Frequently Asked Questions

General

Will this be the new norm - will all other classes now attend 6th grade at their elementary school or is this temporary for only THIS class? 
6th grade is now a part of the elementary school for future years, not just one year. 

Can you confirm the before and after care options for 6th grade now? 
All grades K-6 will have YMCA-provided before and after care in each building. More information will be coming from the YMCA about registration. To accommodate the addition of grade 6 students, the Y is working on a specific curriculum for this age group.  

What about lockers? 
Lockers will be available to all Middle Schoolers in grades 7 and 8 at Phoenixville Area Middle School. 

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Curriculum

Will the Realize platform replace Canvas? 
Savvas Realize will not replace Canvas. It is a learning platform that integrates with Canvas. We will provide information for access and user information for parents and families as the school year approaches. 

It sounds like foreign language will not start in 6th grade now. Is that correct? 
World Languages will begin in 7th grade. 

Will the students still only get 2 marking periods of science and 2 of social studies? 
Social Studies and Science will be run all year in 6th grade. 

Will Pre-Algebra still be offered for 6th grade? 
Advanced math is still an option for students who meet criteria. Enrichment is available within the core math program as well.  

Does advanced math equal pre-algebra?
Pre-algebra is being replaced by the Math 7 accelerated course. 

Can you provide more detail on math levels? How will classes be determined? 
We develop a comprehensive student profile based on multiple data points such as local and state assessment performance, diagnostic reporting and algebra readiness skills. Our goal is to enroll all students into their best fit classes to build a strong foundation for future success.  
 
Will the Science program be comparable to what PAMS offered? 
Science will be the same as 6th now - Open Sci Ed. 

No social studies in 6th grade? 
Yes! Social Studies. It will be integrated into the ELA block and all year. 

Will they start earning letter grades on report cards 
Grades and report cards will match the elementary model. Keep in mind, the district is updating our Student Information System so all report cards will have a slightly different format, but content will look like elementary standards. 

What will homework look like? 
The procedures for homework have not changed. PASD Homework policy can be viewed here. For more specific information about homework, please contact your child’s teacher.  

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Social/Emotional Learning

Will there be an elevated expectation for 6th graders to demonstrate responsibility for communication with teachers? That’s usually a big change in middle school.  
As students age, expectations around classwork and communication increase. Our staff provide the support necessary for students to achieve expectations. For specific information, please refer to your child’s teachers.  

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Clubs/Activities

Will kids have after school activities they can join?  
Similar to our current procedures, clubs and activities are specific to each building and are based on student interest and teacher availability. Specific information about clubs and activities available to your child will be shared by your building principal in the fall.  

Will we still get to play on middle school teams in 7th grade? 
7th grade students are eligible for middle school sports. 6th grade students are not and have not been historically.