Academics

Middle School

Grades 6th - 8th

Middle school is a season of change.

Students are asking deeper questions. They are navigating friendships, identity, responsibility, and independence. It is a stage that requires guidance, patience, and a steady foundation.

At CAK Middle School, students are surrounded by a Christian community that understands this season. Our faculty walk alongside students, not just as teachers, but as mentors. They model faith, encourage critical thinking, and help students begin to take ownership of their beliefs.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

Middle School Leadership

List of 2 members.

  • Photo of Lynette Fowler

    Lynette Fowler 

    Middle School Principal
  • Photo of Bart Kareken

    Bart Kareken 

    Middle School Assistant Principal

Hands-on Academics

At CAK, learning goes beyond the textbook. With smaller class sizes and teachers who know their students well, middle school students are encouraged to explore, ask questions, and experience what they are learning in meaningful ways.

Throughout the year, students participate in hands-on lessons, collaborative projects, and educational experiences that bring classroom learning to life across the curriculum. Each grade also takes part in a class trip designed to extend learning beyond the classroom, giving students the opportunity to connect what they are studying with real-world experiences while building friendships and creating lasting memories.

Every experience is thoughtfully designed to reinforce classroom instruction while pointing students to God's truth. By teaching every subject through a biblical worldview, we encourage students to grow academically, spiritually, and personally as they prepare for high school and beyond.

Spiritual Life

As a non-denominational Christian school, we desire for students to grow in their relationship with Christ while building meaningful connections with teachers and peers who encourage and support them along the way.

Students gather weekly for chapel, where worship, biblical teaching, and guest speakers challenge and encourage them to live out their faith with confidence and compassion. Throughout the year, students also participate in Choice Chapel, where they can select from a variety of biblically focused experiences such as guided discussions, worship gatherings, service projects, and practical faith-based workshops. These opportunities allow students to engage in ways that connect with their interests and spiritual needs.

Mentor lunches provide another meaningful layer of connection, giving students time to build relationships with faculty and staff in a relaxed setting while having conversations about faith, life, and personal growth. Through each of these experiences, students are encouraged to develop a faith that is authentic, personal, and lived out both inside and outside the classroom.
Middle school is a time when students begin to make their faith their own, and at CAK, spiritual growth is woven into everyday life. 

Clubs, Activities & Athletics

Middle school is a time for students to discover new interests, build friendships, and grow in confidence. With a wide variety of clubs, activities, and athletic opportunities, students are encouraged to explore their passions, develop the talents God has given them, and find where they belong.

Whether participating in one of our middle school athletic teams, our award-winning Robotics Club, Scholars Bowl, Chapel Tech Crew, Student Council, or many other student-led opportunities, students are encouraged to get involved, try new things, and become active members of the CAK community.

These experiences help students develop leadership, teamwork, perseverance, creativity, and lasting connections both inside and outside the classroom.

Middle School Student Life

Middle School FAQs

List of 9 frequently asked questions.

  • Will my student have summer reading to complete?

    Yes. Each middle school grade level has summer reading books selected specifically for its students. The books are chosen to be age-appropriate and help students stay engaged in reading over the summer while preparing for the upcoming school year. Summer reading assignments and book information can be found HERE.

    To find out more about CAK's Libraries, click HERE.

  • What electives are available for my middle school student?

    • PE
    • Digital Art
    • Studio Art
    • Coding
    • Choir
    • Piano
    • Book Club
    • Drama
    • Discipleship (8th)
    • Chapel Leadership (8th)
    • Intro to French

  • What is the timing of a typical day in middle school?

    Middle School Day
    • 8:15 am - 3:20 pm
    • Drop off at or after 7:30 am
    • Optional 8th grade Zero Period Class: Begins at 7:20 am
    • Aftercare options available until 5:45 pm

  • What are the typical class sizes in middle school?

    Each grade level has about 100 students. Our elective classes have about 25 students per class, and core classes have around 20 students per class.

  • What accelerated classes does middle school offer?

    • CAK provides a distinctive accelerated math pathway for middle school students. Through this program, students may complete a combined Math 6/7 course in sixth grade, progress to Pre-Algebra in seventh grade, and finish with Algebra I Honors in eighth grade, earning a high school elective credit before entering high school.
    • Students in seventh and eighth grade who are eager for greater academic challenge in English may enroll in Honors English. These courses provide higher-level learning opportunities and a more rigorous academic experience designed to support advanced readers, writers and critical thinkers.
    • The middle school also offers French I and Spanish I to eighth-grade students, allowing them to earn high school elective foreign language credit before entering ninth grade.

  • Do students wear a uniform?

    Yes, our middle school students wear uniforms, just like the rest of our campus community. Uniforms can be purchased from Lands’ End, Tommy Hilfiger, or My APlus Uniforms, and our online spirit store through BSN offers additional spiritwear.

  • What about technology in the middle school?

    CAK Middle School is a 1:1 iPad program, providing every student with their own school-issued iPad to use both in the classroom and at home. Technology is thoughtfully integrated into daily learning to enhance instruction, encourage collaboration, strengthen organization, and prepare students for future academic success. Rather than replacing meaningful classroom experiences, technology serves as a tool that supports critical thinking, creativity, research, and communication, all while being used in a way that reflects our commitment to a Christ-centered education.

  • What about lunch?

    Lunch is included in tuition for all middle school students. Through CAK’s partnership with SAGE Dining Services, students enjoy healthy, all-you-can-eat meals made from scratch with a variety of daily options like hot entrees, salads, and sandwiches. SAGE also prioritizes allergy awareness and nutritional needs, giving families peace of mind.

    Learn more about SAGE

  • What trips do middle school students take?

     
    Every middle school grade enjoys a signature trip that brings learning and community to life. Sixth graders visit Nashville to explore Tennessee's state capitol. Seventh graders travel to Washington, D.C. for a four-day experience at our nation's capital. Eighth grade begins with a spiritual retreat focused on faith and class community, and the year concludes with a memorable trip to Charleston to celebrate the end of their middle school journey.

    For students seeking an additional adventure, eighth graders also have the opportunity to apply for a 16-day educational trip to Europe. This optional experience is limited to just 18 students. Interested students complete an application, respond to essay questions, and participate in an interview with the trip chaperones. Students who successfully complete the application process are then selected through a lottery system.
Knoxville's premier preschool to 12th grade private, college preparatory, Christian school located in Knox County, Tennessee.
Address: 529 Academy Way, Knoxville, TN 37923
Phone: (865) 690-4721

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