Scarsdale Middle School

CHOICE: An Alternative Option

Since its inception in 1974, the CHOICE program provides an alternative learning experience for seventh and eighth-graders. In this small-school atmosphere, students and teachers work together to create a positive, supportive community. Built upon a foundation of trust, respect, and kindness, as well as an inherent love of learning, CHOICE develops a close-knit community of learners over a two-year period. In addition to its academic focus, the program especially seeks to foster personal growth and development. Group process, community service, and self-governance help students form a sense of community that is special and meaningful. Students are eager to be active contributors to group work and class discussions, as well as in the larger CHOICE Community.

The CHOICE program is an interdisciplinary program that aims to promote student independence, advocacy, and ownership of learning. The classes require a high level of student independence, flexibility in thinking, and resilience to “fail forward.” Designed to cultivate students’ problem-solving abilities, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills, the curriculum includes Mathematics, Science, Humanities, and CHOICE Studies while students integrate with the main building for world language, quarterly, and PE/music.

In math, students follow the 7-2 curriculum in 7th grade and the 8-2/8-3 curriculum in 8th grade, which is consistent across the houses. Students who are recommended for Math 7-1 or Math 8-1 take this class in one of the other houses since it is not offered in CHOICE.

Science classes emphasize hands-on laboratory learning and science applications. The two-year program includes life science, earth science, and physical science with a focus on the garden in year one and studies of the Catherine Road stream in year two. In science class, many learning experiences are designed to happen through student discovery and questioning. Students are challenged to apply their learning in new and different scenarios.

The Humanities course is a model most often found in high school or college. It is a reading and writing course that emphasizes critical thinking and real-world application. As a result, some students may find the volume and complexity of the work challenging. The Humanities program combines the teaching of literature and history, and develops reading, writing, and thinking skills. Students learn about the “human side of history” through historical turning points with a focus on the impact of decision-making and choices. In addition, there is direct instruction to strengthen reading comprehension and writing skills, including grammar instruction.

The CHOICE Studies period is a class unique to CHOICE that incorporates many different activities and serves several different purposes. Most activities addressed during this period are academic in nature, while others focus on the team aspect of the CHOICE community. There are activities like electives that are traditional to CHOICE, where students lead the instruction in an area they are passionate about, while other activities are ever-evolving as current events, new trends in education and student interests dictate. As an end-of-year project, students will work in teams to create a documentary film on a topic they are passionate about. This culminates with the annual CHOICE Film Festival in June.

In early Spring, sixth grade students will hear a presentation about the CHOICE program and be invited to an open house in the CHOICE classrooms. There will also be an evening presentation to parents of interested students. Students must complete an application for admission. The overwhelming popularity of the program has necessitated a lottery system for applicants and those accepted will be notified in late May. Others will be placed on a wait list and notified if any openings occur. All applications that are complete and on time will be part of the lottery.

Important dates for 2025:
Week of April 21st- Presentation to 6th graders in Houses
Wednesday, April 30, 2:45-3:20 - Student Open House in CHOICE classrooms
Wednesday, April 30, 6:00-7:00 pm - Parent Information Night
Friday, May 9 - Deadline to submit applications via the Google Form linked below

Application Links: Students must be logged into their school Gmail account to access the applications.

7th Grade Application (Will be posted on April 28th and is due May 9th)

Frequently asked questions

Answer: All applications that are completed by the stated deadline will be included in the lottery. There has been a lottery process for many years and it is a random selection.
Answer: After the first 24 names are selected in the lottery, several more names are selected for our wait list. Rankings on the wait list will not be released, so please do not inquire about positions on the wait list. If someone accepted into CHOICE informs school personnel that they no longer wish to be part of the program, the next person on the wait list will receive an email offering them the position.
Answer: The written response provides some sense of purpose to the application process on the part of students. The application is designed to help students reflect upon whether the program is the right fit for them, as it requires thoughtful and reflective responses about how the students would actively and purposely contribute to the community. Additionally, after the lottery is held, the application gives the teachers an opportunity to get to know the student and what the student values in their learning experience.
Answer: The Humanities course is a model most often found in high school or college, and is a reading and writing intensive course. As a result, some students may find the volume and complexity of the work challenging. The math classes follow the curriculum of the higher levels of math offered at the middle school (Math 7-2 in seventh grade and Math 8-2 and Math 8-3 in eighth grade). In science class, many learning experiences are designed to happen through student discovery and questioning. Additionally, the course tends to move at a faster pace as students are typically learning how topics in life science, physical science, and earth science overlap. Furthermore, students are expected to learn how to apply the concepts in new and different scenarios. The classes require a high level of student independence, flexibility in thinking, and resilience to “fail forward.”
Answer: We want students to understand that CHOICE is a two-year commitment. However, we certainly do not want anyone to be unhappy with the decision to join CHOICE. The student and/or parents would need to meet with the principal to explain their decision. This situation happens extremely rarely, but it is possible that the student may NOT return to their original house. They will be placed based on balancing numbers across the four houses.
Answer: If that decision is made prior to the start of seventh grade, simply email Ms. Vella and the house counselor to inform them of your decision. You will then remain in your original house and your spot will be given to someone on the wait list.
Answer: We would hope that you are applying because there is something about the program that you are attracted to and you are serious about your commitment to the program. However, we certainly do not want anyone to be unhappy with the decision to enter CHOICE. The student and/or parents would need to meet with the principal to explain their decision. This situation happens rarely, but it is possible that the student may NOT return to their original house. They will be placed based on balancing enrollment across the four houses.
Answer: This only happens if a 7th grade student leaves the program, creating an opening for 8th grade. If more students express an interest in entering as an 8th grader than there are openings, then a lottery will be necessary to fill the vacancy.
Answer: Homework load may feel greater in the beginning as students adjust to the expectations of application-based thinking, and learn how to manage their time efficiently. However, as the year progresses, the homework load is comparable to that of other houses.
Answer: Students will remain with their 6th grade house counselor.
Answer: CHOICE students eat in the cafeteria of their choosing. This may be with the house they came from or not. We ask that students sign up for their cafeteria each marking period so that we know where to find them if needed. They do not get to choose on a daily basis.