High-performing schools with middle grades are socially equitable, democratic, and fair. They provide every student with high-quality teachers, resources, learning opportunities, and supports. They keep positive options open for all students.

1. To the fullest extent possible, all students, including English learners, students with disabilities, gifted and honors students, participate in heterogeneous classes with high academic and behavioral expectations.
2. Students are provided the opportunity to use many and varied approaches to achieve and demonstrate competence and mastery of standards.
3. Teachers continually adapt curriculum, instruction, assessment, and scheduling to meet their students' diverse and changing needs.
4. All students have equal access to valued knowledge in all school classes and activities.
5. Students have ongoing opportunities to learn about and appreciate their own and others' cultures.
6. The school community knows every student well.
7. The faculty welcomes and encourages the active participation of all its families and makes sure that all its families are an integral part of the school, such as:
8. Staff members understand and support the family backgrounds and values of its students.
9. The school rules are clear, fair, and consistently applied.