Washington Middle School for the Arts

The primary focus of the Washington Middle School for the Arts is to provide students with an integrated fine arts education in 6th grade, and opportunities to explore pathways in the fine arts in grades 7 and 8. Middle school students will expand opportunities initiated in elementary school growing their knowledge and skills in the fine arts through middle school and into high school. In the 6th grade fine arts “house,” students will be immersed into an integrated arts approach where they may participate in expanded course offerings including dance, visual arts and photography, theatre, choral and instrumental music, and orchestra.

The opening of the Washington Middle School for the Arts in the fall of 2018 completes the district-wide Fine Arts Institute pathway that began in 2011 with the opening of the Fine Arts Institute at Green Bay East High School. In 2013, Webster Elementary School launched the Children’s Center for Integrated Arts. Starting in the 2018-2019 school year, Washington Middle School will initiate a 6th grade fine arts “house,” a unique blend of exploratory courses including Art Foundations, Introduction to Theatre/Literary Arts Workshop, World Drumming, and Popular Music Workshop.

In 6th grade, students will be immersed in a “school within a school,” with a focus on an integrated fine arts curriculum. In addition to English Language Arts, reading, mathematics, science and social studies, students will take unique exploratory courses described above offered only for students in the fine arts house. In addition, social studies will be taught in an integrated arts approach. Students will learn with a cohort group of 75 students in the fine arts wing of the middle school, while being with their 6th grade peers for lunch, physical education and health, computer science, and band. The student lockers will be located in the fine arts wing of the school.

In 7th and 8th grade, students will have the opportunity to take multiple fine arts courses concurrently, pursuing “pathways” in visual arts, vocal music, instrumental music, theatre and dance. At the Fine Arts Institute at East High School, students will study with master teachers, develop a fine arts portfolio, and position themselves to be ready to pursue a vast variety of college and career opportunities.

The 6th grade fine arts house is located on the first floor of the north wing of the middle school.

Students enrolled in the fine arts house will take English Language Arts, reading, mathematics, science and social studies, in addition to unique exploratory courses described above offered only for students in the fine arts house. Social Studies will be taught in an integrated arts approach and in collaboration with the fine arts instructors and 6th grade teachers. 

Sixth graders in the fine arts house will attend courses within the fine arts wing of the school. The students’ lockers will also be located in this area. The students in the fine arts house will be with their peers in the red house or the white house for lunch, physical education and health, computer science and band, while the rest of their school day will be spent with students enrolled in the fine arts house. 

Students will take the same courses as their peers in the areas of English Language Arts, reading, mathematics, science, social studies, physical education, health and computer science. In addition, students will take band with their 6th grade peers. The school day starts at 7:35 a.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m. Sixth graders have a 32 minute lunch period. 

In addition to the classroom arts experiences, Washington Middle School students have many before and after school arts learning opportunities including, but not limited to: piano club, mariachi, school plays/musicals, show choir, solo ensemble, jazz band, talent show, etc. Washington Middle school students also have the opportunity to participate in many clubs, organizations and athletic activities.

Student and staff safety is the District’s and Washington Middle School’s highest priority. Concerns raised last spring regarding student and staff safety were taken very seriously. A multi-tier plan was implemented that included hiring additional staff at Washington, improving structures and systems in regard to student discipline, and providing additional staff training.   

Parents are responsible for providing transportation if their students are not eligible for district bussing. Families who live outside the Washington Middle School enrollment area may wish to consider metro bus transportation or a parent paid contract for bussing. Ridership is based on district policy. For additional information please visit the Transportation page on the District website.

Students and their parents can receive an application from their elementary school principal or fine arts teacher. Applications can also be obtained from the main office at Washington Middle School the WMS for the Arts webpage.

In 7th and 8th grade, students will continue their education in the core academic areas (English Language Arts, reading, mathematics, science, social studies, physical education, computer science, and health). Students may also pursue a pathway in fine arts that may include instrumental music, vocal music, visual arts and theatre/dance. In 7th and 8th grade students will take core academic courses with their peers, while taking pathway courses with peers interested in the same areas in the fine arts. 

Studying fine arts will provide a foundation for any career a student may be interested in pursuing, including a number of fine arts careers, and careers in science and technology. Any college and career opportunity a student pursues will be enhanced by studying the arts. Students and their parents are encouraged to work with their school counselor and teachers to explore careers and align their middle school and high school course selections to their individualized academic and career plan.