The Central York Middle School is a structured and caring environment for over 1100 students in grades six, seven, and eight where expectations are clearly defined. Central York Middle School offers a dynamic balanced curriculum responsive to, and reflective of, the needs of our students.

Our staff provides a nurturing child-centered atmosphere where young adolescents can make a gradual transition from dependence to independence. This transition includes orientations in the spring for fifth grade students and their parents. A second orientation for all new students and their parents is held in August before school begins. Parents and students have access to the school so that students can find the location of their classes before the first day of school.

All parents are encouraged to communicate with school personnel as often as necessary. We promote open communication, honesty, trust, and mutual respect among our staff, parents, and students. Our school community is one of mutual support and encouragement that contributes to the overall cohesiveness across our middle level program.

The team teaching approach is used at the Central York Middle School enabling students and their parents to develop better relationships and communications. Our counseling staff helps to provide a wide variety of services, including teaching guidance classes and holding extended hours for parents who find it difficult to make a regular school day appointment. In grades seven and eight, an individual scheduling approach addresses specific needs and interests of the students. Career interests are touched upon at all levels, but in eighth grade, career interests are talked about at length. Parents of eighth grade students meet in the spring to discuss ninth grade course selection, including the initial selection of a Career Academy at CYHS.

Academic instruction in core subject areas is enhanced with health, foreign languages, family and consumer science, technology education, music and art. Teachers utilize the two computer labs, as well as classroom computers to enrich the curriculum. The computer education curriculum, recently developed, assures each student a variety of learning experiences.

Peer mediation is a program that addresses minor conflicts within the school setting. The peer mediation philosophy centers around the belief that students are responsible individuals who are often capable of solving their own problems with the assistance of a trained mediation team. Also, our program addresses students who engage in bullying activities. We have an active anti-bullying initiative in place.

Central York Middle School offers a student assistant program called INTAC to identify high-risk students who are experiencing school-related problems because of alcohol and other drugs. The intervention program enables school personnel to identify, intervene, and refer these at-risk students.

Interscholastic sports, vocal music, student government, newspaper, chorus, orchestra, and band are available throughout the school year. The Colonial Fife and Drum Corps is a unique musical group at the Central York Middle School.

A major addition and renovation project at CYMS was completed in September 1996. The school’s student capacity is now 1400 with a brand new media center, cafeteria, and 26 classrooms.