Middle School · Grades 7-8
Online Middle School at VSA
At VSA, middle school is the start of Secondary School. In 7th and 8th grade, students grow from memorizing facts to reasoning about them, all in live classes with real teachers at an accredited classical Christian school.
- Accredited by Middle States
- Live classes, 20 students at most
- Real teachers, real classmates
- Logic from 7th grade
- Classical and Christian
- Enroll year-round
Where Middle School Fits at VSA
| Elementary | Middle School | High School | |
|---|---|---|---|
| VSA division | Grammar School | Secondary School | Secondary School |
| Grades | K-6 | 7-8 | 9-12 |
| Classical stage | Grammar | Logic | Logic (9), Rhetoric (10-12) |
VSA has two divisions: Grammar School (K-6) and Secondary School (7-12). Middle school at VSA means 7th and 8th grade, the first two years of Secondary School. What is the Trivium?
The Years When Everything Starts to Change
Middle school can sneak up on a family. The subjects get harder, almost overnight. The child who once loved to memorize now wants to know why, and may want to argue about the answer. And many parents who’ve taught happily for years start to wonder whether they can keep up with Algebra, Latin, and five-paragraph essays.
If that’s where you are, you’re in very good company. It’s one of the most common reasons families find us.
The classical tradition sees this stage as a gift. Around 7th grade, students enter what’s called the Logic stage. They want to know how one thing connects to another: how the War for Independence relates to the War Between the States, or why an argument that sounds convincing falls apart. Rather than fight that instinct, we train it. Students begin with informal logic, learning to spot weak reasoning and build sound arguments of their own, and many move on to formal logic in 8th grade.
From Grammar School to Secondary School
6th grade closes Grammar School, and 7th grade opens Secondary School.
Before Middle School: 6th Grade
The Capstone of Grammar School
Students finish the five-year journey through history that began in 2nd grade, reaching the modern world, and complete their survey of the Bible with Acts to Revelation. They begin formal Latin and pre-algebra, and their literature grows up with them: Around the World in Eighty Days, The Call of the Wild, A Christmas Carol. You’ll find the full 6th grade plan on our Elementary page.
7th and 8th Grade
The Start of Secondary School
Students begin Omnibus, our Great Books course that brings history, literature, and theology together. They begin logic and Algebra I, and write more than ever. Classes become more discussion-based, and students take more responsibility for their own work.
What a Week of Online Middle School Looks Like
Live Classes, Twice a Week
Each course meets live twice a week with the same teacher and the same classmates, up to 20 students. Students join with a webcam and microphone, raise their hands, and answer questions out loud.
Learning to Discuss
Middle schoolers are graded on how well they take part in class. Week by week, they get more comfortable sharing ideas, asking good questions, and respectfully disagreeing.
Work Between Classes
Students read, write, and complete assignments between classes, using a clear assignment sheet for each course. Every course listing shows its expected homework hours, so you can plan a balanced load before you register.
Quick, Real Feedback
Teachers grade most assignments within 48 hours and longer papers within a week, so students learn from their mistakes while the lesson is still fresh.
Every class is recorded, so a student who misses one can catch up before the next class.
Middle School Courses at VSA
Here’s our recommended plan for 7th and 8th grade. Every plan is built around the student, so some students move ahead in subjects like math while taking more time in others.
| Subject | 7th Grade | 8th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Omnibus (history, literature, and Bible) | Omnibus I Primary and Omnibus I Secondary | Omnibus II Primary and Omnibus II Secondary |
| English | Composition I or Grammar and Writing Transition | Composition I or II |
| Logic | Logic I (informal logic) | Logic I, or Logic II (formal logic) |
| Math | Algebra I | Geometry or Algebra I |
| Science | General Science | Physical Science |
| Language | Latin I, Latin II, or Latin Transition | Latin II, Latin Transition II, or Greek I |
Omnibus is two courses, Primary and Secondary. Both cover books of the Bible, and students earn a Doctrine and Theology credit when they take both in the same year. New to Veritas? Transition courses in history, literature, grammar and writing, and Latin help students who haven’t followed our Grammar School plan step in with confidence.
Your Role in the Middle School Years
In middle school, your role starts to shift from teacher to coach. Your child takes on more of the daily work, and you help them build the habits that will carry them through high school: planning the week, keeping track of assignments, and asking for help when they need it.
You’ll still see everything. Grades update as soon as they’re entered, teachers share progress comments every quarter, and you can contact any teacher directly. Each quarter, a “Save Your Grade” Day alerts families early if a student is struggling in a course, while there’s still time to turn things around.
And if you love teaching certain subjects, you don’t have to give them up. Many families keep teaching one or two subjects at home and hand the hardest ones to a VSA teacher.
It was clear he needed a bit more than I could give him… When I enrolled him in Lit 6, I wasn’t sure what to expect. What unfolded shifted our school year. He was motivated to finish assignments on his own, show up to class prepared, and even started pen pal relationships with two friends from class.
Lyndsey B., VSA parent
Ways to Do Middle School at VSA
Full-Time Diploma
A full course load, an Academic Advisor, and yearly report cards, with the option to teach some courses at home through You Teach Diploma.
$5,828 typical yearly cost
Part-Time Courses
Choose one live course or several, such as Latin, math, or Omnibus, alongside the subjects you teach at home.
$829 per course, per year
Self-Paced Courses
Interactive online courses, including Omnibus, that students complete on their own schedule.
Ready for High School, and for More Than That
By the end of 8th grade, VSA students have read and discussed some of the most important books ever written, from Homer and Herodotus to Augustine and The Lord of the Rings. They’ve learned to build an argument and spot a weak one. They’ve written more, and more clearly, than most students their age.
That foundation makes the step into high school feel natural. Students enter 9th grade already used to live discussion, regular writing, and managing their own assignments, the same habits colleges look for later on.
Questions About Online Middle School
When does middle school start at VSA?
At VSA, middle school means 7th and 8th grade, the first two years of Secondary School. Many schools also count 6th grade as middle school. At VSA, it’s the final year of Grammar School, and a Family Consultant can help you plan the move from one to the next.
What is Omnibus?
Omnibus is our signature Great Books course. It brings history, literature, and theology together in one discussion-based class, and it’s often the course students remember most. Omnibus I begins in 7th grade and is taken as two courses, Primary and Secondary. Learn more about Omnibus.
Can 8th graders take courses for high school credit?
High school credit begins in 9th grade, so courses taken in 7th or 8th grade don’t appear on the high school transcript. They still give students a real head start: a student who finishes Algebra I or Latin II in middle school begins high school ready for the next course, with more room for advanced classes and dual enrollment later on.
How much independence is expected in middle school?
More each year, at a pace that fits the student. Teachers post a clear assignment sheet for every course, so students always know what’s due. Parents stay involved, especially in 7th grade, while students learn to manage their own work.
Will my child make friends in an online middle school?
It’s an important question at this age. Students see the same classmates in every class session, and friendships often grow from there. Clubs, field trips, and our End-of-Year Gathering give students time together outside class. Explore student life.
How much does online middle school cost at VSA?
A typical full-time year in 7th or 8th grade comes to about $5,828, including the Diploma enrollment fee. Part-time students pay $829 per live course. Build a plan on our tuition page.
Let’s Plan Your Child’s Middle School Years
A Family Consultant would love to hear about your child and help you find the right mix of courses for the years ahead.
Keep Exploring
VSA at Every Grade Level
Grades K-6
Elementary
Grammar School, where young children build a joyful foundation of knowledge.
Explore Elementary
Grades 9-12
High School
Rhetoric, honors and AP courses, dual enrollment, and an accredited diploma.
Explore High School
Also helpful: Tuition · Educational Philosophy · Switching Schools · Diploma Program