Middle School

Discover Passions in a Caring Community

APIS Middle School encourages students to discover passions, combining foundational curriculum with project-based experiences that engage students in solving real-world problems. Small classes and advisories create an environment where students are known, support is readily available, and instruction is individualized. Because APIS instruction is individualized, teachers are able to provide interactive lessons, where students have the ability to apply concepts and practice critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and citizenship - skills that transcend the changes of the future.

Middle school core courses integrate English language arts, social studies, science, and art lessons, mastering the concepts and going deeper to connect lessons and solve problems. All grade eight students are encouraged to take advanced level math, building on our strong math continuum. Our personalized, project-based approach to education also features ample opportunities to speak with local and global experts, have place-based experiences, and showcase projects during exhibitions.

Middle school students have elective course options of Korean, Japanese, Chinese, computer science, investing and economics, sports, music, theater, and dance.

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS

East Asian Languages

Middle school students choose to study Chinese, Japanese, and/or Korean. From Kindergarten to Grade 12, APIS students immerse in East Asian languages and cultures to become true global citizens. APIS offers a fully-articulated language continuum, building students’ language skills within our personalized, project-based learning environment.

Performing and
Visual Arts

In the middle and high school, students learn guitar, sing in the chorus, and can select an instrument to play in the band, which performs for the community. Visual art across grade levels includes drawing, painting, printmaking, and ceramics, while digital imaging and video classes focus on storytelling through media manipulation. Students showcase their performance abilities in regular theatre productions and dance recitals.

English as an Additional
Language (EAL)

The APIS English as a Language (EAL) program provides multilingual students with individualized instructional and social support, enabling and empowering each student to participate fully in APIS’s academic and social activities as well as in local and global English-speaking communities. We offer a comprehensive approach to English proficiency screening, placement, program delivery, and assessment, focusing on targeted skill development in a student’s areas of need.

STEM

APIS has a fully-articulated computer science program, which begins with coding and robotics in elementary, advances to app building in middle school, and masters coding languages like Java, C++, and Python in high school. Math students have the opportunity to compete against other island schools in the MathCounts competition. Additional science, technology, and engineering projects include construction, digital and video imaging, and architecture exploration. Our STEM program is supported by one-to-one computer access, a maker space, and IT infrastructure.

Agriculture

Beyond being an integral part of planning, planting, and sustaining a working farm, students experience the systems involved in producing healthy food while encouraging respect for the ʻāina (land), collaboration, and creativity. Living on an island rich in culture and history provides a unique opportunity to develop an appreciation for traditional Hawaiian farming methods and to raise awareness about each students’ ecological footprint.

Hawaiian Studies

Through service trips to the taro patch or fish pond, integration of Hawai‘i-focused texts into language arts courses, or exhibitions of hula or oli (chants), students explore the rich historical and cultural context of our campus.

Outdoor Education

APIS’ outdoor education program explores our rich resources within our 97-acre campus and in our neighboring and global community. Through camping trips on O‘ahu and neighboring islands, hiking, survival training, and team-building activities, students gain leadership skills and take steps to become sustainable stewards of resources.

Economics and Investing

Throughout this course, students compete in The Stock Market Game, investing $100K and competing against other schools to have the greatest returns. With this Wall Street-based curriculum, students build a fundamental understanding of investing through real-world skills practice in math, English language arts, economics, social studies, and other subjects.

The New Pacific Century
Academy

Every year, our middle school students are allowed to participate in a month-long project-based learning collaborative between the two campuses. Students from the Seoul campus will have the opportunity to travel to Hawai‘i during the Fall semester while the Hawai‘i campus students travel to Seoul during the Spring semester. Each group will be given a chance to explore topics such as cultural identity, globalization, and sustainable development.

Washington D.C. Trip

History lessons come to life as students explore the United States’ capital, visiting museums, the Capitol, and more. Students also tour universities in the area, including George Washington, Georgetown, and the University of Maryland.