Middle School Enrichment Program (5th-8th Grade)

I.J. Holton Intermediate School (grades 5-6) is utilizing the Total School Cluster Grouping model to build sections.  This model creates a balance of ability and achievement across the grade level.  The narrowed range of abilities within a classroom allows the teacher to focus their instruction to increase achievement. Beginning in fall of 2022, there will be a section of advanced math at the sixth grade level.  Students have been identified for this class based on their assessment results.

Ellis Middle School (grades 7-8) currently offers advanced courses in Language Arts, Math, and Science. Students who perform well on standardized tests are recommended for these courses. Students who are interested in advanced Science courses may self-select into these.

Pi Academy is a district program fifth and sixth grade students are invited to join if they meet qualifications.  Student must be intellectually gifted in both reading and math (based on standardized assessment scores) and perform in the top stanine on the CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) ability test.  Teachers deliver complex, challenging instruction through increased pace, depth, and complexity.

All students who attend I.J. Holton Intermediate School (grades 5-6) in Austin get an experience in Project Lead the Way. The units in this program expose students to Science/Technology/Engineering/Mathematics (STEM) activities that are tied to the real-world.

Ellis Middle School (grades 7-8) offers two electives that continue this STEM focus: Robotics and Flight/Space.

UMTYMP (pronounced "um-tee-ump") is an accelerated program for students who are highly talented in mathematics. During the first two years of UMTYMP, students cover all four years of the "traditional" high school curriculum - Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and Math Analysis (Precalculus). During the final three years of the program, students earn up to 12 University credits in a sequence of Calculus courses. Students interested in this program apply and take a qualifying exam (families are responsible for the cost of the exam). The University of Minnesota determines who qualifies. Classes are held in Rochester, typically from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m one night per week. The Hormel Foundation and Austin Public Schools pay the tuition and book fees and provide the transportation to Rochester for qualifying Austin Public School students. Students taking UMTYMP math classes have a study hall placed in their school schedule rather than a math class. For more information about this program, please visit www.mathcep.umn.edu.

Because of a generous donation from the Hormel Foundation, each year two students from Austin Public Schools are awarded scholarships to attend the Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth (MITY) Expand Your Mind Summer Enrichment Camps. These summer camps are held at Macalester College. Scholarships include tuition and room and board for the two-week session. This opportunity is available to students in grades 7-11. Students who are interested complete the application form (available in January on this site and in their school counseling office) and return it to their school office (or the Educational Services office at Austin High School) by the deadline noted on the application. Applications are judged by a team and all applicants are notified of the results.

Activities for middle school (grades 5-8) students sponsored by the Gifted Services for Talent Development Department include the following:

• The APS Poetry Contest (grades K-12)
• Math League (Grades 7-8)
• Math Masters (Grades 5-6)
• Project E3 (Grades 4-6)
• Robotics teams (Grades 5-8)
• Science Olympiad (Grades 7-8)
• Spelling Bee (Grades 5-8)
• STEAM Expo (Grade 5)
• Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl (Grades 5-6)
• Young Authors, Young Artists (Grades 5-8)

Please see the school handbooks for a listing of other extracurricular offerings.